The chicken is just the egg’s way of making another egg.Mary Norris

'Well,' says Mary Norris – New Yorker copy editor and author of Between You & Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen, 'it’s true that my life has been completely squandered on words. I’ve hardly ever done anything!'

As part of The Interrobang, Norris unpicks the complex relationship between words and actions. If actions give birth to words, and words may inspire actions, does it really come down to deciding between the figurative chicken or the egg?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

<div class="pull-quote figure figure--pull-quote figure__display--left-aligned">
<blockquote class="pull-quote__quote">The chicken is just the egg’s way of making another egg.</blockquote>
<cite class="pull-quote__attribution caption">Mary Norris</cite>
</div>
'Well,' says Mary Norris – New Yorker copy editor and author of Between You &amp; Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen, 'it’s true that my life has been completely squandered on words. I’ve hardly ever done anything!'
As part of The Interrobang, Norris unpicks the complex relationship between words and actions. If actions give birth to words, and words may inspire actions, does it really come down to deciding between the figurative chicken or the egg?See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Catch up with the best discussions and reflections from The Interrobang: a new festival driven entirely by your questions, from the Wheeler Centre.

The Interrobang

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One last question: Mary Norris, on the importance of words

Unapologetic, sometimes controversial, and always unflinchingly honest, Roxane Gay has built a remarkable career using her powerful voice to articulate the nuances of our most pervasive issues. Body image, civil rights, feminism, popular culture, social etiquette – you name it, Gay has written about it.

The esteemed writer, professor and cultural commentator was joined by host Jan Fran at Melbourne Town Hall for one night only as they discussed her most strongly held views on the culture and politics of the past decade, celebrated in her latest book, Opinions: A Decade of Arguments, Criticism, and Minding Other People’s Business.

In this conversation, Gay reflects on the fundamental importance of holding complicated views in our complicated times.  

This event was recorded on Tuesday 27 August 2024 at Melbourne Town Hall.

Roxane Gay was presented in Melbourne by The Wheeler Centre and Now or Never. She was presented in Sydney by the Festival of Dangerous Ideas. The official bookseller was Hill of Content.

Featured music is ‘Diffuser’ by Shiruky.

Unapologetic, sometimes controversial, and always unflinchingly honest, Roxane Gay has built a remarkable career using her powerful voice to articulate the nuances of our most pervasive issues. Body image, civil rights, feminism, popular culture, social etiquette – you name it, Gay has written about it.
The esteemed writer, professor and cultural commentator was joined by host Jan Fran at Melbourne Town Hall for one night only as they discussed her most strongly held views on the culture and politics of the past decade, celebrated in her latest book, Opinions: A Decade of Arguments, Criticism, and Minding Other People’s Business.
In this conversation, Gay reflects on the fundamental importance of holding complicated views in our complicated times.  
This event was recorded on Tuesday 27 August 2024 at Melbourne Town Hall.
Roxane Gay was presented in Melbourne by The Wheeler Centre and Now or Never. She was presented in Sydney by the Festival of Dangerous Ideas. The official bookseller was Hill of Content. Featured music is ‘Diffuser’ by Shiruky.

Roxane Gay: Opinions

National treasure Noni Hazlehurst details her life on stage and screen and takes us behind-the-scenes of a brilliant career. 

Noni Hazlehurst’s versatility as a performer knows no bounds. A household name and a beloved actor, she's graced Australian screens and theatre stages for over forty years. From Playschool and Better Homes and Gardens, to Monkey Grip and her acclaimed theatrical career – Hazlehurst has earned her place as an Australian icon. 

At this Melbourne-exclusive event, Hazlehurst joins host Elizabeth McCarthy to discuss her long-awaited memoir, Dropping the Mask, which celebrates a life and career that are both ordinary and extraordinary – and all class. 

This event was recorded on Thursday 10 October 2024 at The Capitol as part of The Wheeler Centre’s Spring Fling series.

It was presented in partnership with RMIT Culture. The official bookseller was Readings.

Featured music is ‘Different Days’ by Chill Cole.

National treasure Noni Hazlehurst details her life on stage and screen and takes us behind-the-scenes of a brilliant career. 
Noni Hazlehurst’s versatility as a performer knows no bounds. A household name and a beloved actor, she's graced Australian screens and theatre stages for over forty years. From Playschool and Better Homes and Gardens, to Monkey Grip and her acclaimed theatrical career – Hazlehurst has earned her place as an Australian icon. 
At this Melbourne-exclusive event, Hazlehurst joins host Elizabeth McCarthy to discuss her long-awaited memoir, Dropping the Mask, which celebrates a life and career that are both ordinary and extraordinary – and all class. 
This event was recorded on Thursday 10 October 2024 at The Capitol as part of The Wheeler Centre’s Spring Fling series.
It was presented in partnership with RMIT Culture. The official bookseller was Readings.
Featured music is ‘Different Days’ by Chill Cole.

Noni Hazelhurst in Conversation: Dropping the Mask

Critics Eda Gunaydin, Michael Sun and Cher Tan examine the present state and potential futures of literary criticism. 

Literary criticism seems to be in an endless state of decline. In so-called Australia, a particular flavour of cultural cringe is yoked to cultural hegemony: a critic might find themselves locked within the ivory tower, or self-censoring for fear of offence, or deliberately pursuing contrarianism for clicks. How, then, do critics move beyond this deadlock? Who decides what is 'good' criticism? What, exactly, is the function of criticism at the present time? This panel discussion sees three critics examine the possibilities of literary criticism, as well as the roles and responsibilities of the critic. Together they pick apart these issues and attempt to propose a future for reviews that takes into account not only writers and editors, but readers and culture as a whole.  

This conversation was recorded on 3 August 2024 as part of the inaugural Liminal Festival, presented in partnership with The Wheeler Centre. Bringing together some of the continent’s most talented writers, the Liminal Festival contemplates the language of our shared histories and future.

The Liminal Festival was supported by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria. The official bookseller was Amplify Bookstore.

Featured music is ‘Diffuser’ by Shiruky.

Critics Eda Gunaydin, Michael Sun and Cher Tan examine the present state and potential futures of literary criticism.  Literary criticism seems to be in an endless state of decline. In so-called Australia, a particular flavour of cultural cringe is yoked to cultural hegemony: a critic might find themselves locked within the ivory tower, or self-censoring for fear of offence, or deliberately pursuing contrarianism for clicks. How, then, do critics move beyond this deadlock? Who decides what is 'good' criticism? What, exactly, is the function of criticism at the present time? This panel discussion sees three critics examine the possibilities of literary criticism, as well as the roles and responsibilities of the critic. Together they pick apart these issues and attempt to propose a future for reviews that takes into account not only writers and editors, but readers and culture as a whole.  This conversation was recorded on 3 August 2024 as part of the inaugural <a href="https://www.wheelercentre.com/events-tickets/event-series/liminal-festival">Liminal Festival</a>, presented in partnership with The Wheeler Centre. Bringing together some of the continent’s most talented writers, the Liminal Festival contemplates the language of our shared histories and future.
The Liminal Festival was supported by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria. The official bookseller was <a href="https://amplifybookstore.com/">Amplify Bookstore</a>.
Featured music is ‘Diffuser’ by Shiruky.

One last question: Mary Norris, on the importance of words

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