Passion plays and the ethics of spectacular violence

Editor's note

Every Easter, Christians around the world recreate the final moments of Jesus’ life in spectacular Passion plays. The performances, born in the Middle Ages, have raised some tough questions about the depiction of Jews and violence on stage. But, as Paul Megna argues, one person’s snuff drama is another’s devotion.

James Whitmore

Deputy Editor, Arts + Culture

Arts + Culture

Passion, Lament, Glory at Melbourne’s St. Paul’s Cathedral in 2017. Sarah Walker

Good Friday essay: Passion plays and the ethics of spectacular violence

Paul Megna, University of Western Australia

Each year at Easter, Christians recreate the spectacularly violent end of Jesus's life, raising some tough questions about the depiction of suffering on stage.

Adam Briggs and Trials from A.B. Original, winners of this year’s AMP Australian Music Prize, use swearing to make a political point in their music. Tracey Nearmy

How pop culture can (and should) change legal views on swearing

Elyse Methven, University of Technology Sydney

The pervasiveness of profanity in popular culture underscores the absurdity of punishing people for using words broadcast on our screens and heard in our music.

Politics + Society

The future of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s reign lies with Vladimir Putin’s obstinacy and ability to withstand US pressure. Reuters/Omar Sanadiki

Explainer: the war in Syria and the possibility of removing Assad

Mehmet Ozalp, Charles Sturt University

To understand the complexities of the conflict in Syria and what might happen next, it helps to untangle the three layers of strife in the war-torn country.

The over-riding priority underpinning North Korean foreign policy is regime survival and the perpetuation of the Kim family dynasty. Reuters/KCNA

Attacking North Korea: surely Donald Trump couldn't be that foolish

Benjamin Habib, La Trobe University

Regardless of how the US sending an aircraft carrier group to the Korean Peninsula plays out, the international community will ultimately have to accept and learn to manage a nuclear North Korea.

Cities

The Turnbull government’s line that supply is the key to affordability finds little support among housing experts. Dan Himbrechts/AAP

What housing issues should the budget tackle? This is what our experts say

Richard Tomlinson, University of Melbourne

Housing experts writing for The Conversation largely agree on the government policies that are causing negative distortions in the market and the wider economy. And supply is not the key concern.

Treasurer Scott Morrison is eyeing bond aggregation as a way to finance social housing, but government funding is still needed under that model. Mick Tsikas/AAP

Affordable housing, finger-pointing politics and possible policy solutions

Richard Tomlinson, University of Melbourne

In the second part of our review of what The Conversation experts have to say about housing, we focus on affordability, social housing and what government can do about a growing crisis.

Business + Economy

At least ten cents in every dollar of superannuation assets is indirectly financing house purchases via commercial bank debt. AAP/Lukas Coch

Here's how superannuation is already financing homes

James Giesecke, Victoria University; Jason Nassios, Victoria University

What critics of the plan to use superannuation for housing miss is that Australia’s super system already channels a significant proportion of retirement savings into housing.

The Australian Tax Office has released data from 2014-2015. Lukas Coch/AAP

Expert panel: ATO data shows inequality is in everything from super to the property market

Jenni Henderson, The Conversation; Josh Nicholas, The Conversation

Data for 2014-15 from the Australian Taxation Office shows inequality is growing in a number of areas.

Health + Medicine

There is no shortage of dubious slippery slope arguments. from shutterstock.com

When it comes to euthanasia, not all slippery slope arguments are 'bullshit'

Xavier Symons, University of Notre Dame Australia

People are right to be skeptical when it comes to many slippery slope arguments used by those against euthanasia. But some of them are valid and shouldn't be dismissed as 'bullshit'.

Studies have found caffeinated drinks retain about as much fluid as water or sports drinks. Kyle Meck/Unsplash

Health Check: does caffeine cause dehydration?

Ben Desbrow, Griffith University

Regular caffeine intake makes us tolerant to the effect on irregular users of wanting to go to the toilet.

Science + Technology

Yurri and Wanjel - the Gemini stars Castor and Pollux in the Wergaia traditions of western Victoria, Australia. Stellarium/John Morieson and Alex Cherney

Kindred skies: ancient Greeks and Aboriginal Australians saw constellations in common

Duane W. Hamacher, Monash University

Many of the constellations we know in the night sky come from myths of the ancient Greeks. But similar stories are told by the oldest living cultures on Earth, including those of Australia.

Laws introduced in 2009 and 2010 stipulate specific car restraints for children of different ages. from www.shutterstock.com

Yes, car seats protect children. But you need the right restraint, fitted properly

Julie Brown, Neuroscience Research Australia

Car seats and their endless harnesses, straps and buckles feel like an engineering nightmare for parents. But they work.

Energy + Environment

Diana Kleine using a CoralWatch chart to measure coral health. Chris Roelfsema/CoralWatch

Feeling helpless about the Great Barrier Reef? Here's one way you can help

Justin Marshall, The University of Queensland; Chris Roelfsema, The University of Queensland; Diana Kleine, The University of Queensland

As the Great Barrier Reef suffers a second wave of mass bleaching, there is a way to get involved.

Coal mines, such as this one near Bowen, use water for everything from equipment cooling to dust management. CSIRO

Why does the Carmichael coal mine need to use so much water?

Ellen Moon, Southern Cross University

Adani's controversial Carmichael coal mine in Queensland's Galilee Basin has been granted an unlimited 60-year water licence. But a range of measures could help the industry use less freshwater.