Matthew Clayfield
@mclayfield.bsky.social
Lapsed journalist. Occasional critic and screenwriter. Author of much unpublished fiction.
Here's my angry, hopeful, self-loathing little postcard from last week's Ubud Writers & Readers Festival. open.substack.com/pub/matthewc...
November 7, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Here's my angry, hopeful, self-loathing little postcard from last week's Ubud Writers & Readers Festival. open.substack.com/pub/matthewc...
Following pieces on M*A*S*H and CHEERS, I'm capping off my unofficial trilogy about classic sitcoms with one on FRASIER.
As an aside, I probably wouldn’t advise watching thirty-three seasons of television in quick succession. It's bad for you.
open.substack.com/pub/matthewc...
As an aside, I probably wouldn’t advise watching thirty-three seasons of television in quick succession. It's bad for you.
open.substack.com/pub/matthewc...
October 12, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Following pieces on M*A*S*H and CHEERS, I'm capping off my unofficial trilogy about classic sitcoms with one on FRASIER.
As an aside, I probably wouldn’t advise watching thirty-three seasons of television in quick succession. It's bad for you.
open.substack.com/pub/matthewc...
As an aside, I probably wouldn’t advise watching thirty-three seasons of television in quick succession. It's bad for you.
open.substack.com/pub/matthewc...
In a vague attempt to try something new, I spoke to my friends Zach Campbell and Adrian Martin (both of whom you should follow on Substack) about film criticism, academic film studies, the old days of film blogging, and which critics they're reading these days. open.substack.com/pub/matthewc...
August 16, 2025 at 3:23 PM
In a vague attempt to try something new, I spoke to my friends Zach Campbell and Adrian Martin (both of whom you should follow on Substack) about film criticism, academic film studies, the old days of film blogging, and which critics they're reading these days. open.substack.com/pub/matthewc...
So, uh, got some book mail.
July 10, 2025 at 1:55 PM
So, uh, got some book mail.
The new issue of @meanjin.bsky.social is out and includes my first-ever piece of published fiction. It's a short story titled 'Zheravna' and I am obviously very excited. meanjin.com.au/edition/84-2...
June 18, 2025 at 10:20 AM
The new issue of @meanjin.bsky.social is out and includes my first-ever piece of published fiction. It's a short story titled 'Zheravna' and I am obviously very excited. meanjin.com.au/edition/84-2...
He naturally wore sunglasses inside like a fucking champ.
June 7, 2025 at 7:41 AM
He naturally wore sunglasses inside like a fucking champ.
I've been reposting my 2012 series on Israel and Palestine. Following pieces on Tel Aviv, the Golan Heights, and Kfar Haruv, I'm up to Jerusalem. The Negev and the West Bank to follow. open.substack.com/pub/matthewc...
June 2, 2025 at 4:25 AM
I've been reposting my 2012 series on Israel and Palestine. Following pieces on Tel Aviv, the Golan Heights, and Kfar Haruv, I'm up to Jerusalem. The Negev and the West Bank to follow. open.substack.com/pub/matthewc...
I wrote a not-very-nice review of Anna Funder's not-very-good book. open.substack.com/pub/matthewc...
May 28, 2025 at 11:00 PM
I wrote a not-very-nice review of Anna Funder's not-very-good book. open.substack.com/pub/matthewc...
"'Children have hit balls with bats as long as there have been children,' says BASEBALL at one point, delivered in the inimitable tones of Burns' go-to narrator Peter Coyote. This is obviously as dumb as shit, but when you hear it you think: That’s true.“ open.substack.com/pub/matthewc...
May 22, 2025 at 5:53 AM
"'Children have hit balls with bats as long as there have been children,' says BASEBALL at one point, delivered in the inimitable tones of Burns' go-to narrator Peter Coyote. This is obviously as dumb as shit, but when you hear it you think: That’s true.“ open.substack.com/pub/matthewc...
New piece on 'Weariness Makes a Good Mattress' about the Jaipur Literature Festival and, after the paywall, about the Newcastle Writers' Festival. open.substack.com/pub/matthewc...
May 16, 2025 at 4:05 PM
New piece on 'Weariness Makes a Good Mattress' about the Jaipur Literature Festival and, after the paywall, about the Newcastle Writers' Festival. open.substack.com/pub/matthewc...
New piece on 'Weariness Makes a Good Mattress', based on my experience tweeting an image of Australian art every day for two years. open.substack.com/pub/matthewc...
May 13, 2025 at 3:43 PM
New piece on 'Weariness Makes a Good Mattress', based on my experience tweeting an image of Australian art every day for two years. open.substack.com/pub/matthewc...
The opening of Orwell's 'As I Please' column for 8 December 1944. Plus ça change...
March 20, 2025 at 11:48 PM
The opening of Orwell's 'As I Please' column for 8 December 1944. Plus ça change...
One day in Delhi.
February 8, 2025 at 5:56 PM
One day in Delhi.
Finally arrived.
January 23, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Finally arrived.
In this think piece I will
January 11, 2025 at 5:23 AM
In this think piece I will
First book of the year, mostly for research purposes. He was attempting an around-the-world walk, with two groups of rich Frenchmen betting on his chances. He'd walked across the Middle East and India by this point and still had all his shit stolen the moment he left Albany.
January 2, 2025 at 5:56 AM
First book of the year, mostly for research purposes. He was attempting an around-the-world walk, with two groups of rich Frenchmen betting on his chances. He'd walked across the Middle East and India by this point and still had all his shit stolen the moment he left Albany.
Mount Gambier's Cave Garden, a sinkhole immediately behind the town hall. Note the hubcap, which I'm sure you'll agree adds a bit of charm.
December 27, 2024 at 7:03 AM
Mount Gambier's Cave Garden, a sinkhole immediately behind the town hall. Note the hubcap, which I'm sure you'll agree adds a bit of charm.
Standard format in Australia, too. Our festivals abound with "sub-literary personalities". marcoroth.substack.com/p/writers-on...
December 17, 2024 at 4:07 AM
Standard format in Australia, too. Our festivals abound with "sub-literary personalities". marcoroth.substack.com/p/writers-on...