In this spirited discussion, three critics—Max Easton, Eda Gunaydin, and Lucy Van—join Sydney Review of Books editor, James Jiang, to explore the evolving role of the critic. Together, they delve into how they each came to criticism, the influences that shaped their voices, the ethics and implications of writing negative reviews, and whether we are truly living in a post-literate culture.

This episode was recorded live as part of the Parramatta Lit Festival, held within the Sydney Fringe Festival on 6 September 2025 at Western Sydney University – Parramatta City Campus.

Host: James Jiang — Editor, Sydney Review of Books

Panelists: Max Easton, Eda Gunaydin, Lucy Van

Recording Engineer: Sevan Dermelkonian

Poetry month has been and gone, but we have plenty more to say about poetry and poetry criticism!

So we're bringing you a 2024 episode of 'Poetry Says,' wherein host Alice Allan reflects on Ben Etherington's 2015 essay 'The Poet Tasters' - a forensic and statistical critique of Australian poetry that brought Alice's career as a poetry reviewer to an abrupt stop.

What kind of critical culture do you get when most critics are also poets? And how can the reviewer not break out into a cold sweat when appraising the work of friends and colleagues?

Featuring

Alice Allan is a Melbourne writer and editor who brought her show, 'Poetry Says' to a close earlier this year, with its 300th episode.

Further reading and listening

Read 'The Poet Tasters', Ben Etherington's 2015 essay in the Sydney Review of Books,

Then read 'The Poet Eaters' - Alice Allan and James Jiang on poetry reviewing ten years after ‘The Poet Tasters.’

'Poetry Says' was published from 2016 to early 2025.

Credits

Regina Botros - producer

Sarah Gilbert and James Jiang - executive producers

Fully Lit is brought to you by UTS Impact Studios and the Sydney Review of Books.

Hear what poet and critic Sarah Holland-Batt has to say about Australia's as-yet-uncrowned Poet Laureate. She takes a close look at the tradition and explores poetry's relationship to power, highlighting the potential pitfalls and possible benefits of such a figure.

Can a poet laureate bring poetry back in Australia, where it's long been an afterthought for cultural policymakers? How might such a person engage our politics? And can we (shall we?) build the infrastructure to support poetic careers—not just poetic moments?

And, most urgently, how long will it take before someone dubs the be-laureled bard Australia's Poet Lorikeet?

Further reading

For the written version of this address, see The Poet in the Public Arena by Sarah Holland-Batt, published in Sydney Review of Books.

To learn more about her work, visit Sarah Holland-Batt.

CREDITS

Fully Lit is brought to you by UTS Impact Studios, the Sydney Review of Books and the UTS Writing and Publishing Program.

Executive producers, Sarah Gilbert and James Jiang.

Producer Regina Botros.