Latest news with #Montaigne

ABC News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- ABC News
David Byrne guest programs rage (2002)
This weekend we're dipping into the Vault to bring you a guest programmer episode curated by American new wave legend David Byrne!The opportunity to program David's 2002 rage classic alongside close personal friend Montaigne's red couch debut this Saturday was too good to pass up. Join us this Friday on ABC Entertains as we take a tour through some of David's top music videos, many of them from artists he might also consider to be close personal friends. With a little bit of everything from The Avalanches to Aphex Twin, Balanescu Quartet and Missy Elliott, it's an episode loaded with bangers that's worth sharing with as many buddies as can fit around your TV set. Catch David Byrne guest programming rage this Friday from 11:05pm on ABC Entertains (or stream live on ABC iview!).

Epoch Times
12-07-2025
- Epoch Times
Montaigne on the Road
'The greatest thing in the world is for a man to know that he is his own,' Michel de Montaigne. Ridden with illness, the French nobleman decided to embark on a journey through Europe. What began as an attempt to find relief from bodily pain became a profound meditation on life that shows readers how travel can broaden one's mind. An Eclectic Education Michel de Mo ntaigne (1533–1592) was born in a castle mansion in Guyenne, France. He came from a wealthy family that had been ennobled two generations before his birth. His father devised an unusual pedagogic plan, on which Montaigne often reflected in his writings. As an infant, he was sent to a cottage to live with a family of farmers for three years, where he could become more sympathetic to the conditions of the lower classes he later served as a government official. When he returned home, his father wanted him to adopt Latin as his first language. He hired servants who knew Latin well and made sure Montaigne used the classical language to read, speak, and write. He eventually returned to a more traditional path, and his formal studies ended with a specialization in law.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kate Middleton Embraces French Couture in Pink Dior to Welcome Brigitte Macron in Windsor
Kate Middleton turned to Dior for her monochrome pink attire at the arrival of French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron in Windsor, England, on Tuesday. Her ensemble featured the French house's 30 Montaigne Bar Jacket in Rose Des Vents along with a Tulle Pleated Midi Skirt in Rose Des Vent. The Princess of Wales' jacket featured sinuous lapels with sharp, defined angles as well as three buttons running down the front placket of the piece. Her skirt featured a flowing, whimsical aesthetic, adding a touch of femininity to the overall sartorial statement. More from WWD Isaac Mizrahi Readies for His 'Democracy' Show Kate Middleton, Brigitte Macron and Queen Camilla Coordinate in Neutral Beige Heels for French State Visit to the U.K. Queen Camilla Opts for Emerald Green in Anna Valentine Dress, Brigitte Macron Goes Crisp White for French State Visit to the U.K. Middleton further accentuated the look with a pair of praline suede pumps courtesy of Gianvito Rossi. Middleton accessorized the look with a bespoke Jess Collett Milliner and Cefinn boater hat in a shade of rose. As for jewelry pieces, Middleton wore a three-strand pearl necklace with her ensemble and honored her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, by wearing the royal's Collingwood Diamond and Pearl Drop earrings — a pair she has worn on several high-profile occasions as of late. The statement behind Middleton's attire for the French president and first lady's arrival in England was twofold. The Princess of Wales paid homage to France's history and culture with her choice of designer for her attire. Honoring Princess Diana during high-profile occasions has also become a touchstone of Middleton's approach to fashion as a senior member of the British royal family. Middleton previously wore the Collingwood Diamond and Pearl Drop earrings at the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey on March 10 and also wore them for her official 40th birthday portrait during her time as the Duchess of Cambridge in January 2022, photographed by Paolo Roversi. View Gallery Launch Gallery: Brigitte Macron Leads the Style Parade During French State Visit to the U.K. with Kate Middleton, Queen Camilla and More Best of WWD A Look Back at Fourth of July Celebrations at the White House Princess Diana's Birthday Looks Through the Years: Her Sleek Black Jacques Azagury Dress, Vibrant Colors and More Lauren Sánchez's Fashion Evolution Through the Years: From Her Days as TV News Anchor to Today


Fast Company
16-05-2025
- General
- Fast Company
Six science-backed strategies for winning over your toughest critics
Like most humans, I generally prefer to surround myself with people who like, value, and respect me. You know, it's quite a nice and simple way to boost my self-esteem. And yet, after studying human behavior for many years, I am fully aware that the tendency to indulge in this self-enhancing habit is intellectually debilitating: while it feels nice to hang out with people who appreciate you, it is also a way to develop blind spots and ignore opportunities to get better, improve, and develop new skills and ideas. Montaigne warned of this in his Essays, cautioning against surrounding oneself with flattering mirrors that reflect only our vanity, not our flaws. Shakespeare dramatizes this danger repeatedly—think of King Lear, who banishes the only daughter who speaks honestly, choosing instead the empty praise of those who tell him what he wants to hear. In The Iliad, Achilles withdraws from battle in part because his ego isn't sufficiently stroked, with devastating consequences. And Orwell, in 1984, shows us a world where intellectual isolation—being surrounded by only one narrative—becomes the ultimate mechanism of control. Growing Divided Beyond the personal level, this habit fuels tribalism and polarization: when we curate our social and intellectual circles to exclude dissent or difference, we don't just grow more complacent—we grow more divided. What begins as a harmless preference for affirmation becomes a breeding ground for intellectual stagnation and collective delusion. Conversely, increasing the time you spend with people who don't like or value you, particularly when they think different from you, may sound like a masochistic activity, but it can reveal important gaps between the person you are and who you would like to be. Indeed, even when people underestimate you, they can be an important source of negative or critical feedback that alerts you to the possibility that you may actually not be as good as you think—and especially not as good as your inner circle thinks. This is an essential ingredient of self-awareness: coming to terms with your limitations, knowing what you don't know, and accepting the fact that other people may not see you as positively as you see yourself, or as your close friends and fans do. But first, let's understand the likely reasons other people may underestimate you: 1) It is a way to protect their own self-esteem Bringing other people down is the most common way to feel good about yourself (pathetic, I know—but very human). This phenomenon is often referred to as the Crab Barrel Syndrome, the psychological process where individuals attempt to hinder the progress of others perceived as competitors. When people feel threatened, envious, or insecure, they often cope by diminishing the value of others. It's less effortful than self-improvement and more immediately gratifying. So, when someone underestimates you, it may say more about their fragile ego than your actual potential. In other words, their low opinion of your talents might just be a defense mechanism they're using to avoid facing their own inadequacies—a mix of jealousy, insecure narcissism, and self-pity that is expressed as a derogatory view of you. In Joseph Mankiewicz's All About Eve, the aging stage actress Margo Channing becomes increasingly threatened by the seemingly innocent and adoring Eve Harrington, a young fan who slowly infiltrates her life and career. Margo's initial condescension gives way to paranoia and defensiveness, while Eve's ascent is lubricated by subtle manipulation and strategic modesty. Here, the envy runs in both directions—Eve envies Margo's fame and legacy; Margo resents Eve's youth and promise. Each woman underestimates the other as a means of preserving her own sense of value, which makes the film a masterclass in how admiration curdles into rivalry when identity feels fragile. 2) You may actually be a high performer—but surrounded by other high performers If you're consistently underestimated despite strong output, consider the context. Being in an environment full of exceptional people—like elite academic programs, competitive companies, or high-performing teams—can distort perceptions. Just watch Damien Chazelle's Whiplash, where gifted jazz drummer Andrew Neiman is pushed to his limits at a prestigious music conservatory. In that hypercompetitive setting, even brilliance isn't enough—every success is met with silence or scorn, because greatness is simply expected. When excellence becomes the baseline, even impressive contributions may be overlooked. Meanwhile, others who are objectively less capable may shine simply because they operate in low-stakes environments where mediocrity passes for brilliance, and enjoy being a big fish in a small pond. So being underestimated may be a function of your high-performing context, not your low ability. 3) You may not be as good as you think Self-enhancement bias is real. Research shows that most people overestimate their abilities, especially in ambiguous domains. Even if you're talented, that doesn't guarantee you're making your value visible. Are you communicating clearly, aligning your work with others' goals, or just expecting people to 'get it'? Being underestimated might be your cue to refine how you showcase your strengths—clarify your contributions, seek feedback, and build a brand that matches your actual impact. (And yes, that means leaving the Dunning-Kruger zone.) So, what are the best strategies for winning your critics over? 1) Focus on them, not you Dale Carnegie 101: take a genuine interest in others. The irony is that people who underestimate you often care more about being seen than about seeing you. So, just play the game: ask them about their work, their opinions, their ideas— convincingly faking appreciation for them. Make them feel important. To be sure, flattery works best when it's believable, which means you need to pay attention, listen, and reflect their values back to them. Call it effective impression management, strategic empathy, or just good politics: contrary to popular belief, it's one of the key ingredients of career success. 2) Quantify your achievements People are less likely to ignore results when they're staring at hard numbers. Share outcomes, metrics, and results that demonstrate your impact. Be specific: revenue increased, error rates decreased, engagement improved. You don't have to brag—just document. Some people may still dismiss the data because they favor charisma over competence, but those aren't the people you should be trying to impress anyway. Let the results speak, and if they don't listen, speak louder with your results. 3) Change your behavior Maybe they're right. Or at least not entirely wrong. Being underestimated can be a gift disguised as insult: a wake-up call that motivates you to adapt, grow, and become harder to ignore. If you've been coasting, this is your cue to sprint. If you've been misaligned, recalibrate. The good news is that people revise their judgments when they see genuine effort and improvement. There's nothing more satisfying than disproving someone's low expectations—especially when you do it without gloating (at least not outwardly). A final consideration: at times, the most effective way to win over the people who underestimate you may require you to care less about whether you actually win them over—especially if your goal is merely to inflate your ego. Focus instead on learning from them. Just as failure is a better teacher than success, critics and adversaries often teach us more than friends and fans. Nietzsche, for instance, argued that we owe our greatest growth to resistance and struggle, not comfort: 'What does not kill me makes me stronger' is not just a gym slogan, but a blueprint for character development. Similarly, in The Republic, Plato has Socrates sharpen his thinking through constant dialectical combat with hostile interlocutors—because truth, like steel, is forged through friction. Even in literature, consider Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice: it is precisely through misunderstanding, misjudgment, and critical feedback that Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy evolve into better versions of themselves. In the end, you cannot expect everybody to appreciate your talents—but those who don't may be more valuable than your supporters. Their underestimation can sting, yes, but it also serves as a psychological spur to refine, improve, and prove—not just to them, but to yourself—what you're truly capable of becoming.

Sydney Morning Herald
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
The best new Australian music to listen to this month
Teether & Kuya Neil, Yearn IV Naarm's (Melbourne's) underground music scene can feel like a deranged pot-luck dinner – club rats, art punks and rap surrealists seasoning their demented bone broth with unknown spices pinched from ziplock bags. Teether and Kuya Neil come bubbling out of that soup's peak-boil with their debut album, Yearn IV. Neil, one of the country's most visionary producers, sets the vibe on album opener Scratch the Flea Point with a murky Enter Sandman -esque guitar line and added breakbeats; Teether pokes fun at his hometown on Cosplay ('Half of the club cosplay low class/ How you got all that designer on?'); and on Dial Up (featuring Stoneset) he conjures his trademark feverish imagery ('Who filled the city with rats? Breathing the hottest of breath/ Pig on my bag, down my neck, screaming'). Yearn IV locates its energy in Naarm's community, cultures and creativity, pokes fun at its class contradictions and hedonism, and isn't afraid to embody the present moment's existential dread in Neil's swampy but nonetheless electric production. Teether's tongue is on fire, but ultimately Yearn IV' s a bisque to burn the brain. Nick Buckley Montaigne, it's all about the money If you had to guess which local pop artist would manage to work the lyric 'I am renouncing the monetary system' into a gleefully pinballing art-pop track, your mind may have drifted to Montaigne. It's all about the money is the fourth single from Montaigne's upcoming fourth album, and it's a return to their best: piercing and funny, with a delicious sticky melody that will bounce in your head for days. The production, by Montaigne with assistance from talented dance producer Wave Racer, bursts with bright guitars and jaunty electronic effects. The Sydney artist's new album, it's hard to be a fish, will land on June 19, and it marks their first as a fully independent artist after splitting with major label Sony a few years back. They recently joked on April Fool's Day that they had re-signed, which is perhaps an indication of how little love is lost between the two parties.