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The banner for the online journal/newspaper The Conversation |
and represents a new model for the conversion of university thinking and research into the flows of stories that move through the contemporary web. A forthcoming academic article I am developing will look more closely at The Conversation as well as Ted Talks and the way that these provide directions for how ideas can circulate currently. For now, this post is all about what I have written recently in a more journalistic way. Many of these articles are the germination sources for my academic work; but some just stand alone - I hope - as interesting reading..
Stephen Colbert - the persona is ending
Unless you live under a rock, you are probably aware that Stephen Colbert recently decided to take over Late Night - the talk show hosted by David Letterman for the last 25 years at CBS. This article explores the persona of Colbert with the silent "t" that he has both inhabited and constructed for most of the last decade. As one of the most interesting 'roles' in contemporary television, Colbert stayed in character both onscreen and, for the most part, off-screen. It allows us to explore the dimensions of a public self - a structure of public presentation that resembles Ancient Greeks and their separation of citizenry and domesticity.
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Colbert and Letterman selfie via Twitter and CBS |
See Marshall, PD (2014) “Stephen Colbert the persona is ending – and I will
miss him” The Conversation, 2 May, 2014, Available
online at: https://theconversation.com/stephen-colbert-the-persona-is-ending-and-i-will-miss-him-25605
The Cate Blanchett Persona and the Allure of the Oscar

Celebrity fakes – where porn meets a sense of possession
An unusual domain on the Internet is what is known as celebrity fakes - an entire world populated by graphic and hard-core images of the most famous. Unlike those ripped from Iphones recently, this is industry is built on the photoshopping of naked bodies with famous heads and are openly acknowledged as fakes. This article explores the reasons why this practice is both so prevalent and not prosecuted by celebrities and other public personalities.
See Marshall,
PD (2013) "Celebrity fakes – where
porn meets a sense of possession" The
Conversation, 12 December 2013, Available online at: http://theconversation.com/celebrity-fakes-where-porn-meets-a-sense-of-possession-20829
Glamour photography makes suburban stars of us all
Glamour photography makes suburban stars of us all
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StarShots advertising billboard in shopping centre |
Suburban shopping malls cater to efforts at reconstructing us through its construction of consumer possibilities and potentials. The efforts of firms such as StarShots are to transform the person into a version that matches the structures of fame and allure. This article investigates this 15 year old form of photography and its play with private to public transformation of the self.
See Marshall, PD (2013), “Glamour photography makes suburban stars of us all”, The Conversation, 9 December, Available online at: https://theconversation.com/glamour-photography-makes-suburban-stars-of-us-all-20828.
Netflix Australia launch could be imminent
Want to know more about the international movements and directions of the online distributor of content, Netflix, and what made it intersect with key transformations in both the entertainment industry and online culture? Here is at least one source for a reading of their success and its likely expansion into new markets such as Australia.
See Marshall, PD (2013) “Netflix Australia launch could be imminent” The Conversation. 26 November. Available online at:
Rewind, repeat: TV’s fame machine is oh-so retro
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Harrison Craig, 2013 Winner of the Australian version of The Voice with Ricky Martin and Delta Goodrem (AAP) |
See Marshall, P. David (2013)“Rewind, repeat: TV’s fame machine is oh-so retro” The Conversation. 5 November. Available online at: https://theconversation.com/rewind-repeat-tvs-fame-machine-is-oh-so-retro-19155
I will update when more popular articles that I have written appear. The next post: Part three of updating my research work. The focus will be on my recent presentations, videos, interviews and other media sources.
I really like your approach at presenting ideas to the masses by involving the contemporary media culture. Do keep sharing more quality content with the readers.
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