Macrina of Annesi and the Emergence of Monasticism in Central Anatolia. This project builds on extensive research into the 'Great Asketikon' of Basil the Great, the primary document of monasticism in Anatolia (modern Turkey). By using on-the-ground search for the location of Annesi (the family home of Macrina, Basil's sister), a new collation of all the sources relating to Macrina and a new collection of the letters of Gregory of Nyssa, Macrina's biographer, it aims to present a revised view of ....Macrina of Annesi and the Emergence of Monasticism in Central Anatolia. This project builds on extensive research into the 'Great Asketikon' of Basil the Great, the primary document of monasticism in Anatolia (modern Turkey). By using on-the-ground search for the location of Annesi (the family home of Macrina, Basil's sister), a new collation of all the sources relating to Macrina and a new collection of the letters of Gregory of Nyssa, Macrina's biographer, it aims to present a revised view of the emergence of this local monasticism. Two books, if not three will result: an historical monograph, 'The Book of Macrina' and 'The Letters of Gregory of Nyssa'.Read moreRead less
Reimagining the cultural archetype of the fall in modernist poetry. This project intervenes in recent popular and scholarly debates about the clash between religious traditions and secular societies by analysing the way twentieth-century poets adapted the myth of the Fall. Through this critique, the project will revitalise theories of modern poetics and shed new light on today's fractured religious climate.
The Grammar of Biblical Hebrew: Functional and Corpus Analyses. The project promotes original, innovative research in Australia into Biblical Hebrew linguistics. Advancement in the knowledge of linguistics increases our understanding of language and its central role in cognition, social interaction, and culture. Biblical Hebrew is the language of the Hebrew Bible, a text sacred to Judaism and Christianity, and of interest to the wider Australian public. The Hebrew Bible is inextricably bound to ....The Grammar of Biblical Hebrew: Functional and Corpus Analyses. The project promotes original, innovative research in Australia into Biblical Hebrew linguistics. Advancement in the knowledge of linguistics increases our understanding of language and its central role in cognition, social interaction, and culture. Biblical Hebrew is the language of the Hebrew Bible, a text sacred to Judaism and Christianity, and of interest to the wider Australian public. The Hebrew Bible is inextricably bound to these two religious traditions that continue to influence substantially Australian society and societies across the world. This project furthers Australia's capacity to contribute to the vital task of interpreting the Hebrew Bible in contemporary, responsible ways and translating it into the world's languages.Read moreRead less
Minds, Bodies, Machines: a cultural and intellectual history of technologies in the 21st century. This project benefits the intellectual and cultural life of the nation by establishing a unique dialogue between the I.T. community and University researchers in the humanities and social sciences. Using an
interdisciplinary methodology to explore technologically-driven social change across a period of more than two hundred years, the project will generate new and fresh ways of thinking about emerg ....Minds, Bodies, Machines: a cultural and intellectual history of technologies in the 21st century. This project benefits the intellectual and cultural life of the nation by establishing a unique dialogue between the I.T. community and University researchers in the humanities and social sciences. Using an
interdisciplinary methodology to explore technologically-driven social change across a period of more than two hundred years, the project will generate new and fresh ways of thinking about emerging areas of intense debate and controversy, such as humanoid robotics and artificial intelligence. The dialogue we propose will foster an environment of enhanced innovation, one in which knowledge translates directly and indirectly into social and economic benefits.Read moreRead less
The International Orwell: Case Studies from Eastasia, Oceania and Eurasia. This project aims to reorient our understanding of George Orwell via case studies of different zones demarcated in Nineteen Eighty-Four: Oceania, Eurasia and Eastasia. Its significance derives from uncovering and assessing for the first time Orwell's diverse, evolving international importance. The project will produce innovative area studies that integrate literary criticism, international political history, and studies i ....The International Orwell: Case Studies from Eastasia, Oceania and Eurasia. This project aims to reorient our understanding of George Orwell via case studies of different zones demarcated in Nineteen Eighty-Four: Oceania, Eurasia and Eastasia. Its significance derives from uncovering and assessing for the first time Orwell's diverse, evolving international importance. The project will produce innovative area studies that integrate literary criticism, international political history, and studies in publishing, translation and adaptation. These studies will fashion the new figure of an International Orwell. The expected outcome will be a radical re-evaluation Orwell's literary, cultural and political impact. The benefit will be a fuller understanding of the most important political writer of the last century. Read moreRead less
The edition, translation, and study of the newly discovered Senior collection of Buddhist manuscripts from ancient Gandhara. This research will produce scholarly editions, translations, and studies of several of the newly discovered Buddhist manuscripts from ancient Gandhara (modern Afghanistan/Pakistan). These manuscripts, which are the earliest Buddhist manuscripts yet discovered (c. 1st century A.D.), represent the first major find of early Buddhist texts from this region, and some of the fi ....The edition, translation, and study of the newly discovered Senior collection of Buddhist manuscripts from ancient Gandhara. This research will produce scholarly editions, translations, and studies of several of the newly discovered Buddhist manuscripts from ancient Gandhara (modern Afghanistan/Pakistan). These manuscripts, which are the earliest Buddhist manuscripts yet discovered (c. 1st century A.D.), represent the first major find of early Buddhist texts from this region, and some of the first examples of the literature of the Dharmaguptaka school of Buddhism. This research will substantially increase our understanding of the history of Buddhism in this region, of the formation of Buddhist literature, of Gandhari, the ancient language of this region, and of this little understood school of Buddhism.Read moreRead less
Sociolinguistic variation in Australian Sign Language (Auslan): Theoretical and applied dimensions. The sign language of the Australian deaf community, Auslan, exhibits significant sociolinguistic variation in its vocabulary and grammar. This project aims to collect linguistic data from a range of deaf signers controlled for gender, age, region, class and social networks, using a recently developed draft sign language assessment instrument. The results will contribute to our theoretical understa ....Sociolinguistic variation in Australian Sign Language (Auslan): Theoretical and applied dimensions. The sign language of the Australian deaf community, Auslan, exhibits significant sociolinguistic variation in its vocabulary and grammar. This project aims to collect linguistic data from a range of deaf signers controlled for gender, age, region, class and social networks, using a recently developed draft sign language assessment instrument. The results will contribute to our theoretical understanding of sociolinguistic variation in the language and will also meet the pressing need for the development of valid and reliable tools for the assessment of grammatical skills in Auslan.Read moreRead less
The Language of Old Norse Poetry, an important intellectual achievement of the Western Middle Ages. Old Norse poetry, produced from the Viking Age until the end of the Middle Ages, is one of the most important achievements in European literature. Thematically, it ranges from praise of Viking kings to Christian devotion; in metre and style it is extremely elaborate. It has applied value to a range of disciplines, including history, archaeology, linguistics and religious studies. This project will ....The Language of Old Norse Poetry, an important intellectual achievement of the Western Middle Ages. Old Norse poetry, produced from the Viking Age until the end of the Middle Ages, is one of the most important achievements in European literature. Thematically, it ranges from praise of Viking kings to Christian devotion; in metre and style it is extremely elaborate. It has applied value to a range of disciplines, including history, archaeology, linguistics and religious studies. This project will make Norse poetic language more accessible to scholars and the general public by providing new resources in the English language for its understanding, superseding previous studies because of the use of fully revised primary data.Read moreRead less
Optical Illusion in Victorian Culture. The aim is to undertake a major interdisciplinary study of optical illusion in Victorian culture, both as a form of popular entertainment and as a discursive field in which new modes of self-representation and knowledge were explored. By focusing on an extensive range of cultural forms including, optical treatise, literary texts, popular entertainments, new visual technologies, newspapers and the periodical press, this project will provide an invaluable his ....Optical Illusion in Victorian Culture. The aim is to undertake a major interdisciplinary study of optical illusion in Victorian culture, both as a form of popular entertainment and as a discursive field in which new modes of self-representation and knowledge were explored. By focusing on an extensive range of cultural forms including, optical treatise, literary texts, popular entertainments, new visual technologies, newspapers and the periodical press, this project will provide an invaluable historical context for contemporary speculations about the impact of new visual technologies on the increasingly blurred boundaries between different cultures, identities and modes of self-representation.Read moreRead less
Globalising Australian literature: Asian-Australian writing, Asian perspectives on Australian literature. Through the arts, and in particular through its literature, a nation defines its identity and aspirations. Literature is also a force for cultural diplomacy, leading to enhanced understanding and cooperation between nations and cultures. This study of literary interactions between Australia and Asia produces detailed knowledge of how cross-cultural influences shape the production, circulatio ....Globalising Australian literature: Asian-Australian writing, Asian perspectives on Australian literature. Through the arts, and in particular through its literature, a nation defines its identity and aspirations. Literature is also a force for cultural diplomacy, leading to enhanced understanding and cooperation between nations and cultures. This study of literary interactions between Australia and Asia produces detailed knowledge of how cross-cultural influences shape the production, circulation and reception of literary texts, and develops strategies for using this knowledge for national benefit: greater understanding of the forces shaping the nation's self-image and perceptions of Australia in the Asian region, models for cultural diplomacy enhancing Australia's reputation as a sophisticated and culturally diverse nation.Read moreRead less