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Behind the Lines – Audio Description Online

Listen to audio descriptions of political cartoons from Behind the Lines 2024 at home.

Black and white audio description symbol

This tour features audio descriptions of a selection of cartoons from the Behind the Lines 2024 exhibition. It has been designed for people who are blind or have low vision but can be enjoyed by all visitors.   

There are 12 stops on the tour. Stop 1 introduces listeners to the exhibition space. Each of the remaining stops includes a detailed audio description of a cartoon and the exhibition label text. Transcripts are available for each audio description. 

Follow the tour in order by selecting 'Stop 1' or select a cartoon from the stops listed below. Navigate between stops using the 'Next' and 'Previous' buttons or come back to this list of stops at any time by clicking 'Tour menu'. 

Audio descriptions developed with Access2Arts.

Two children play foosball in front of an orange wall with large graphic details that read No Gut, No Glory.

Stop 1: Introduction

In a vintage-style illustration, singer-songwriter Taylor Swift holds up a wine glass and has a cat on her shoulder. Text reads, 'Childless cat lady.'

Stop 2: Childless Cat Lady - Nordacious

A man on a ladder which reads 'Cost of Living' looks up at an unreachable, unlit ceiling light. A man hands him a globe and says, 'Here's your one-off government issued light globe to help you during this financial crisis.'

Stop 3: Highs and Lows - Chris Downes

Text reads, 'Australians in Winter'. One person is wearing long pants, a jumper and sunglasses, labelled, 'Dressing for the outdoors.' Another person is rugged up in extra clothing, including a beanie, scarf and gloved, and labelled, 'Dressing for inside the house.'

Stop 4: Baby, It's Cold Inside - Jess Harwood

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and a naval officer re-enact the moment from Titanic where Jack stands behind Rose, on a large warship labelled '$11 billion warship upgrade'. Albanese says, 'Open your eyes,' and the naval officer says, 'I'm flying!'

Stop 5: The King of the World - Mark Knight

A person performs a 3-cup monte trick in a booth. The booth's sign reads: 'Spot a Visa. Now you see it, now you don't.'

Stop 6: Apply Here - Lindsay Foyle

Text reads, 'Le Election de France… Gridlock.' French politicians Marine Le Pen, Emmanuel Macron and a cyclist labelled NFP are in a huge bicycle crash. They argue about whether to go left or right.

Stop 7: L'Election de France - Greg Smith

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton says, 'This is my policy, and it's up to the CSIRO to provide the evidence for why it's not viable.' He points to a picture of a winged unicorn.

Stop 8: Dutton's Policy - Cathy Wilcox

Two people joke about raking in profits while the world burns. Someone comes over to top up their champagne and says, 'Pity about the planet… haha, joking!'

Stop 9: Pity About the Planet - Judy Horacek

A family play a Monopoly-like boardgame called 'Duopoly'. Text reads, 'Not fun for the whole family' and 'Go directly to Woolies or Coles. Do not pass any other supermarkets. Do not collect ungouged goods.'

Stop 10: Let the Buyer Beware - Fiona Katauskas

An adult and child in spacesuits leave a hatch that reads 'leaving violence, emergency payment' and reach towards a distant floating house.

Stop 11: Escape Hatch - David Pope

A woman climbs up a hill to a monk. She says, 'Oh wise one, should I give my last dollars to the tax-benefitted landlord who raises my rent without fixing my draughty windows, or the government-subsidised fossil-fuel company that offers expensive warmth today in exchange for climate chaos tomorrow?' The monk says, 'Sorry lady, I do moral contemplation. You need decent legislation.'

Stop 12: Legislative Failings - Megan Herbert

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