Counterturn

Counterturn brings life to art, and art to life. Join Nelson Rufatt and guests, as they talk music, literature, science, history, and all the pursuits of the humanist heart.

25. Poet, Philosopher... Jakob Ziguras 03/01/2024

25. Poet, Philosopher... Jakob Ziguras I had the great honour of interviewing Jakob Ziguras about his latest and most accomplished book, Venetian Mirrors. Ziguras was born in Poland in 1977 to Polish and Greek parents and came to Australia in 1984. He studied fine arts before switching to a doctorate in philosophy at the University of Sydney. His poetry has appeared in journals in Australia and internationally. His debut collection Chains of Snow (Sydney: Pitt Street Poetry 2013) was shortlisted for the 2014 Prime Minister’s Literary Award for Poetry. was shortlisted for the 2014 Prime Minister’s Literary Award for Poetry. His poetry has appeared in a number of anthologies, including: Contemporary Australian Poetry (Sydney: Puncher & Wattmann 2016), The Best Australian Poems (Melbourne: Black Inc. 2014, 2015) and Incroci di poesia contemporanea 2010-2015 (Mestre: Amos Edizioni 2015). /episode/index/show/30b5bcd1-6b9e-464a-8a3e-14cd4c6b1136/id/30197193

24. What Israel Is: A Conversation with the Multi-Instrumentalist Simon Starr 02/12/2024

24. What Israel Is: A Conversation with the Multi-Instrumentalist Simon Starr Simon Starr is a Melbourne musician. That's all he wanted in his bio. And wisely so, because this conversation about music, Israel, and the fundamental questions of history and culture, needs very little introduction. Starr has given me one of my strongest episodes to date. The theme song 'Zaftik' was composed and performed by Nelson Rufatt. /episode/index/show/30b5bcd1-6b9e-464a-8a3e-14cd4c6b1136/id/29903278

23. Anna Goldsworthy 01/29/2024

23. Anna Goldsworthy Professor Anna Goldsworthy is a concert pianist, both solo, and with the renowned Seraphim Trio. Her passion for teaching makes her the ideal Director of the Elder Conservatorium in Adelaide. Her articles, plays, recent novel, and libretto, would be enough on their own to secure her reputation as an indispensable literary talent. But in her memoirs, Goldsworthy really brings music and prose together. Eschewing decadent lyricism, she writes about music as precisely as she plays it, and in so doing, tells the story of her life. The theme song 'Zaftik' was composed and performed by Nelson Rufatt. /episode/index/show/30b5bcd1-6b9e-464a-8a3e-14cd4c6b1136/id/29691738

22. Israel -- Letter To A Friend 12/14/2023

22. Israel -- Letter To A Friend /episode/index/show/30b5bcd1-6b9e-464a-8a3e-14cd4c6b1136/id/29076328

21. Children 09/26/2023

21. Children In this episode, Nelson celebrates the up-coming birth of his child, and wonders why so many people don't want kids. The theme song 'Zaftik' was composed and performed by Nelson Rufatt. /episode/index/show/30b5bcd1-6b9e-464a-8a3e-14cd4c6b1136/id/28143719

20. Trouble and Strife: Mrs Rufatt Interviews Her Mr 09/07/2023

20. Trouble and Strife: Mrs Rufatt Interviews Her Mr In today's episode, Nelson sits down in the interviewee's chair to chat with... his wife: Emma-Mae Rufatt. Together they clear up various mysteries, including why some musicians aren't artists, what makes good art, and what the ideal meat pie is made of. Emma-Mae is a classical soprano, choral scholar, and jazz singer. She is a superlative teacher of voice, piano, and music theory. The theme song 'Zaftik' was composed and performed by Nelson Rufatt. /episode/index/show/30b5bcd1-6b9e-464a-8a3e-14cd4c6b1136/id/27966885

19. The Leaf-fattening Light: A Talk with the Poet Stephen Edgar 08/04/2023

19. The Leaf-fattening Light: A Talk with the Poet Stephen Edgar In this episode, Nelson talks to Stephen Edgar about poetry, and why it springs as much from technique as from inspiration. Edgar's poetry can be read, listened to, and purchased at: http://www.stephenedgar.com.au/newsite/ The theme song 'Zaftik' was composed and performed by Nelson Rufatt. /episode/index/show/30b5bcd1-6b9e-464a-8a3e-14cd4c6b1136/id/27657705

18. Barry Humphries: A Whole Way of Being Funny 06/22/2023

18. Barry Humphries: A Whole Way of Being Funny This episode is about the genius of Barry Humphries, and the Shakespearian magnitude of his characters. Like Shakespeare, Humphries created personalities who really did exist, in books, on stage, on television and film, in his head, and in our heads. Rufatt wrote this essay around the time of Humphries' death. The theme song 'Zaftik' was composed and performed by Nelson Rufatt. /episode/index/show/30b5bcd1-6b9e-464a-8a3e-14cd4c6b1136/id/27234837

17. Martin Amis 05/24/2023

17. Martin Amis This episode is a short tribute to Martin Amis, who died of Oesophageal Cancer, only last Friday. /episode/index/show/30b5bcd1-6b9e-464a-8a3e-14cd4c6b1136/id/26933250

16. Christianity and Humanism 04/25/2023

16. Christianity and Humanism A late Easter message. Christianity and Humanism are words usually claimed, and guarded by, opposing parties. This episode reflects on the moment when Christianity and Humanism met, and when Christianity transcended its religious story by becoming uniquely human. This first appeared as an article in Issue 4 (Christmas Issue) of 'The Parrish Paper', St. Peter's Eastern Hill. It was printed by the paper's editor, Philip Harvey. The theme song 'Zaftik' was composed and performed by Nelson Rufatt. /episode/index/show/30b5bcd1-6b9e-464a-8a3e-14cd4c6b1136/id/26658015

15. Dark Sods of the Moon | Jonathan Craig 04/11/2023

15. Dark Sods of the Moon | Jonathan Craig Nelson and Jonathan continue their discussion of J. G. Ballard's novel 'Crash'. Pink Floyd get a mention, and Jonathan exposes for the whole world, one of Nelson's most closely guarded secrets. Now you're interested. The music was composed and performed specially for these episodes by Jonathan Craig. /episode/index/show/30b5bcd1-6b9e-464a-8a3e-14cd4c6b1136/id/26514930

14. Crash | Jonathan Craig 03/28/2023

14. Crash | Jonathan Craig In 1973, J. G. Ballard published 'Crash', an orgy of a novel, which made an aesthetics of sex and violence. In what Ballard called an 'extreme metaphor', the car crash became the culmination of orgasm, celebrity worship, and nihilistic longing. Yes, well, quite. Who better to discuss this distasteful blemish on literature, than with writer and old friend, Jonathan Craig, with whom Nelson recorded the first episode of Counterturn, all those months ago. The novel can be purchased here: Jonathan Craig's aside on Princess Diana was based on this article: Music for synthesizers was composed by Jonathan Craig. The theme song 'Zaftik' was composed and performed by Nelson Rufatt. /episode/index/show/30b5bcd1-6b9e-464a-8a3e-14cd4c6b1136/id/26371755

13. On Boredom (Season's Greetings) 12/15/2022

13. On Boredom (Season's Greetings) Nelson discusses boredom, its causes and who they are. He reflects on the importance of furnishing your mind, and liking it. The theme song 'Zaftik' was composed and performed by Nelson Rufatt. /episode/index/show/30b5bcd1-6b9e-464a-8a3e-14cd4c6b1136/id/25335009

12. Odd Cast 11/19/2022

12. Odd Cast Something slightly different. The theme song 'Zaftik' was composed and performed by Nelson Rufatt. /episode/index/show/30b5bcd1-6b9e-464a-8a3e-14cd4c6b1136/id/25069485

11. An Interview with Kate Burridge 11/01/2022

11. An Interview with Kate Burridge This week, Nelson talks with Professor Kate Burridge. Prof Burridge has the Chair of Linguistics at Monash University. She has thoroughly researched changes in vocabulary and grammar, linguistic taboo, and the structure and history of English. She has written and edited more than twenty books on different aspects of language, has regular segments on ABC Radio and 3AW, and was a weekly pannelist on the ABC's television program 'Can We Help?'. A selection of her books can be purchased here: The theme song 'Zaftik' was composed and performed by Nelson Rufatt. /episode/index/show/30b5bcd1-6b9e-464a-8a3e-14cd4c6b1136/id/24865728

10. Bellerophon and Bix Beiderbecke 10/18/2022

10. Bellerophon and Bix Beiderbecke In this episode, Nelson recites two of his poems — 'Bellerophon' and 'For Bix Beiderbecke', both of which were published in the June issue of Quadrant. The phrases 'a sequence of desolate exuberance' and 'playful grief', are taken from Clive James's essay on Beiderbecke, in 'Cultural Amnesia'. Bix, playing the song 'I'm Coming Virginia': Louis Armstrong Remembers Bix Beiderbecke: The theme song 'Zaftik', and the poems quoted in this episode, were composed and written by Nelson Rufatt. /episode/index/show/30b5bcd1-6b9e-464a-8a3e-14cd4c6b1136/id/24722286

9. Salman 09/21/2022

9. Salman Nelson speaks an impassioned essay about, for, in defence of, Salman Rushdie, his life, and his prose. And — it can never be argued for often enough — enlightenment, and freedom of expression. It is dedicated to Rushdie, and to his family. May he and they live long. You can buy ‘The Satanic Verses’ here: What Are the Satanic Verses The Robertson-Islam Interview: This episode was produced by Johnathan Craig. The theme song is 'Zaftik' and was composed and performed by Nelson Rufatt. /episode/index/show/30b5bcd1-6b9e-464a-8a3e-14cd4c6b1136/id/24430770

8. The Picture of The Picture of Dorian Gray 09/06/2022

8. The Picture of The Picture of Dorian Gray Nelson reflects on the Sydney Theatre Company's production of 'A Picture of Dorian Gray', which he saw at the Playhouse in Melbourne in early August. Authenticity, art, myth, and music, are pampered, prodded, and inverted in this episode. This episode was produced by Johnathan Craig. The theme song is 'Zaftik' and was composed and performed by Nelson Rufatt. /episode/index/show/30b5bcd1-6b9e-464a-8a3e-14cd4c6b1136/id/24275451

7. The Abolition of Intimacy 07/27/2022

7. The Abolition of Intimacy Intimacy is being abolished. Or so says Counterturn's host Nelson Rufatt, with his tongue in and around his cheek. /episode/index/show/30b5bcd1-6b9e-464a-8a3e-14cd4c6b1136/id/23863743

6. The Isaac of This Art | Peter Cole 06/30/2022

6. The Isaac of This Art | Peter Cole Nelson and Peter continue their discussion of poetry, and Jewishness. How do Jewish poetry and mysticism balance ironic scepticism with religious feeling? And what the hell's wrong with rhyme anyway? This conversation took place between Nelson Rufatt, and poet, teacher, and translator of Hebrew and Arabic, Peter Cole. Cole's riveting books of poetry include 'Rift', 'Things On Which I've Stumbled', 'Hymns and Qualms', and 'The Invention of Influence'. He has written celebrated translations of medieval and Kabbalistic Hebrew poetry, as well as of works by Hebrew and Arabic-speaking poets such as Aharon Shabtai, Yoel Hoffman, and Taha Muhammad Ali. Among his many prizes are a MacArthur Fellowship, the PEN Award for Poetry in Translation, and an award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He teaches Comparative Religion at Yale University, and lives sometimes in Jerusalem, sometimes in New Haven, Connecticut. His books can be purchased at The theme song is 'Zaftik' was composed and performed by Nelson Rufatt. /episode/index/show/30b5bcd1-6b9e-464a-8a3e-14cd4c6b1136/id/23577458

5. The Hundreth Bloom's Day 06/16/2022

5. The Hundreth Bloom's Day On the 16th of June 1904, James Joyce was taken in hand by the straight-talking chambermaid who was to become his utterly devoted wife. This episode is not about that chambermaid. It was written at an angle to the little universe brought to life each year on Bloom's Day, the day of Joyce's meeting, and the day on which his hundred year old novel Ulysses is set. My little centenary essay is not a full literary tribute, but a snippet of thought concerning a fraction of what the novel might teach us about nationalism and cosmopolitanism. The exchange between Bloom and The Citizen, happens in Episode 12: The theme song is 'Zaftik' and was composed and performed by Nelson Rufatt. /episode/index/show/30b5bcd1-6b9e-464a-8a3e-14cd4c6b1136/id/23448608

4. An Endless Translation | Peter Cole 06/15/2022

4. An Endless Translation | Peter Cole This episode is about poetry, and about Jewishness. How does Judaism manage so successfully to combine piety, love of the absurd, humour, secular rationalism, irony, disinterested inquiry, and mysticism? What is the secret of its unique paradoxes? And how about that poetry! This conversation took place between Nelson Rufatt, and poet, teacher, and translator of Hebrew and Arabic, Peter Cole. Cole's riveting books of poetry include 'Rift', 'Things On Which I've Stumbled', 'Hymns and Qualms', and his latest masterpiece 'The Invention of Influence'. He has written celebrated translations of medieval and Kabalistic Hebrew poetry, as well as of works by Hebrew and Arabic-speaking poets such as Aharon Shabtai, Yoel Hoffman, and Taha Muhammad Ali. Among his many prizes are a MacArthur Fellowship, the PEN Award for Poetry in Translation, and an award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He teaches Comparative Religion at Yale University, and lives sometimes in Jerusalem, sometimes in New Haven, Connecticut. The theme song is 'Zaftik' and was composed and performed by Nelson Rufatt. /episode/index/show/30b5bcd1-6b9e-464a-8a3e-14cd4c6b1136/id/23424980

3. The Space Between the Beats Part II | Alexander Inman-Hislop 06/01/2022

3. The Space Between the Beats Part II | Alexander Inman-Hislop Alexander Inman-Hislop is an extraordinary drummer who is discovering new things about music and the way we hear the world. In this episode we continue our discussion about culture and context. Alex talks about his discoveries on the drums, and speculates about the ideal music scene. The theme song is 'Zaftik' and was composed and performed by Nelson Rufatt. /episode/index/show/30b5bcd1-6b9e-464a-8a3e-14cd4c6b1136/id/23279690

2. The Space Between the Beats | Alexander Inman-Hislop 05/17/2022

2. The Space Between the Beats | Alexander Inman-Hislop Alexander Inman-Hislop is an extraordinary drummer who is discovering new things about music and the way we hear the world. We discuss the ways in which music maps on to nature, and whether sound can be appreciated without its cultural extras. The theme song is 'Zaftik' and was composed and performed by Nelson Rufatt. /episode/index/show/30b5bcd1-6b9e-464a-8a3e-14cd4c6b1136/id/23135561

1. Humanism, and the Value of Science Fiction | Jonathan Craig 03/19/2022

1. Humanism, and the Value of Science Fiction | Jonathan Craig In this episode, Nelson talks to Jonathan Craig about Science Fiction, and whether it has literary value. Jonathan is a writer, policy advisor, accessibility consultant, and the former editor of Blind Citizen's News. He was an artistic advisor for Convergence: a speculative game about climate emergency. The theme song is 'Zaftik' and was composed and performed by Nelson Rufatt. Books and Other Pieces that were Mentioned 1) “Ian McEwan: ‘Who’s going to write the algorithm for the little white lie?’” By Tim Adams The Guardian, April 2019 2) Machines Like Me By Ian McEwan Jonathan Cape, 2019 3) Orthodoxy By G. K. Chesterton First published by John Lane, The Bodley Head in 1908 4) “The Bookmaking Habits of Select Species” By Ken Liu Printed in Lightspeed, August 2012 5) Mr. Bennett and Mrs. Brown By Virginia Woolf The Hogarth Press, 1924 6) Frankenstein, Or The Modern Prometheus By Mary Shelley First printed without being attributed to Shelley by Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor, and Jones on 1 January, 1818 7) The Machine Dynasty Trilogy By Madeline Ashby published between 2012 and 2020 by Angry Robot 8) The Lifecycle of Software Objects By Ted Chiang Subterranean Press, 2010 9) “Hobbits in Space?” By J. G. Ballard Appeared in Timeout, 1977 10) The War of the Worlds By H. G. Wells First published in hardcover by William Heinemann in 1898 11) Nineteen Eighty-Four By George Orwell Originally published by Secker and Warburg on 8 June, 1949 12) “Science Fiction and Mrs Brown” By Ursula K. Le Guin First printed in The Language of the Night Putnam, 1979 13) Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? By Philip K. Dick Doubleday, 1968 14) The Cement Garden By Ian McEwan Jonathan Cape, 1978 /episode/index/show/30b5bcd1-6b9e-464a-8a3e-14cd4c6b1136/id/22498883

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