Love narratives in contemporary German literature since 1990. This study of love in contemporary German literature will lead to deeper insights into intimacy in one of our major European trading partners, as it undergoes a period of economic uncertainty and social change. It will enhance our understanding of the varied ways in which individuals, as well as national literatures in the western tradition, respond to the challenges of globalization. Through examining the semantics of modern love and ....Love narratives in contemporary German literature since 1990. This study of love in contemporary German literature will lead to deeper insights into intimacy in one of our major European trading partners, as it undergoes a period of economic uncertainty and social change. It will enhance our understanding of the varied ways in which individuals, as well as national literatures in the western tradition, respond to the challenges of globalization. Through examining the semantics of modern love and what love means to different sections of society (friendship, passion, marriage, sex etc.) in a contemporary European culture that bears many similarities to our own, this project will bring benefits to Australians' understanding of how the meaning of love evolves over time. Read moreRead less
A difficult marriage: gender, politics and the romance in literary accounts of German unification. This project focuses on the interrelationships between gender, politics and the romance in literary accounts of German unification. Through an exploration of how the political ?marriage? between East and West Germany, with its conventionalised gender roles, is mapped onto literary marriages, the project examines the challenges and opportunities that unification has afforded men and women. It will y ....A difficult marriage: gender, politics and the romance in literary accounts of German unification. This project focuses on the interrelationships between gender, politics and the romance in literary accounts of German unification. Through an exploration of how the political ?marriage? between East and West Germany, with its conventionalised gender roles, is mapped onto literary marriages, the project examines the challenges and opportunities that unification has afforded men and women. It will yield insights into the ways in which unification has rewritten the scripts for femininity and masculinity and forced a transformation of intimacy. Its findings will enhance knowledge of gender relations in post-communist Europe and the relationships between gender, the nation and modernity.Read moreRead less
Paradise Lost - Utopia Reclaimed: Writing the Wrongs of French Exploration in the Antipodes. When France's attempts to claim regions of Australia failed, the dream of an Antipodean paradise was lost. In its breach rose a new utopian frontier. Paradoxically, this anticipatory perspective revives a form of utopianism previously established in classical French-Australian writings. Whether framing an ideal France australe or criticising a non-utopian British reality, the ongoing role of utopianism i ....Paradise Lost - Utopia Reclaimed: Writing the Wrongs of French Exploration in the Antipodes. When France's attempts to claim regions of Australia failed, the dream of an Antipodean paradise was lost. In its breach rose a new utopian frontier. Paradoxically, this anticipatory perspective revives a form of utopianism previously established in classical French-Australian writings. Whether framing an ideal France australe or criticising a non-utopian British reality, the ongoing role of utopianism in French-Australian (post)colonial discourse may be analysed as a case study for cross-cultural encounters. The findings, publishable in English and French monographs, will open up new methods for understanding Australia's past, present and future relations with one of its major cultural influences.Read moreRead less