Australian Film Theory and Criticism. Australian film theory and criticism has burgeoned over the past thirty years, but there is no dedicated book-length study of the field. This research project will fill the gap, not only tracing the specificity of Australian film theory and criticism but also reasserting its place on the international scholarly agenda. In tracing the critical positions, personalities and institutions that have shaped film theory and criticism in this country, this project wi ....Australian Film Theory and Criticism. Australian film theory and criticism has burgeoned over the past thirty years, but there is no dedicated book-length study of the field. This research project will fill the gap, not only tracing the specificity of Australian film theory and criticism but also reasserting its place on the international scholarly agenda. In tracing the critical positions, personalities and institutions that have shaped film theory and criticism in this country, this project will at once disseminate and preserve (for scholars and the general public alike) the legacy of those critical intellectuals who have striven to understand the nation's most popular art and entertainment form, the cinema. Read moreRead less
Digital dissent in the People's Republic: the language of protest and criticism in Sino-cyberspace. As Australia's relations with China continue to deepen, it is vital for Australia to acquire in-depth knowledge of how rapidly China is changing as a consequence of digital information flows. The project provides that knowledge through its analysis of digital dissent. The project explores how non-state players in the People's Republic respond and react to urgent problems in their midst. It will ....Digital dissent in the People's Republic: the language of protest and criticism in Sino-cyberspace. As Australia's relations with China continue to deepen, it is vital for Australia to acquire in-depth knowledge of how rapidly China is changing as a consequence of digital information flows. The project provides that knowledge through its analysis of digital dissent. The project explores how non-state players in the People's Republic respond and react to urgent problems in their midst. It will also shed light on present-day tensions in China between state and civil society. More specifically, the project will deepen Australia's critical engagement with China by focussing on such issues of consequence as censorship, corruption, environmental pollution, governance reform and calls for democracy and human rights.Read moreRead less
Spectopolis: Theme Park Worlds, their History and Significance for Contemporary Culture. This project will outline the historical development of the theme park, evaluating the significance of the growing interest in theme park cultures in recent years. Parallels that exist between C17th and late C20th/C21st entertainment spectacles will be explored, including the formal connections that exist between theme parks and C17th aristocratic gardens, villas, and theatrical spectacles. In comparing both ....Spectopolis: Theme Park Worlds, their History and Significance for Contemporary Culture. This project will outline the historical development of the theme park, evaluating the significance of the growing interest in theme park cultures in recent years. Parallels that exist between C17th and late C20th/C21st entertainment spectacles will be explored, including the formal connections that exist between theme parks and C17th aristocratic gardens, villas, and theatrical spectacles. In comparing both eras, the project will theoretically evaluate the cultural significance of our current fascination with spectacle environments. In comparing the C17th and late C20th/C21st attraction with such spectacular spaces, it is proposed that we are witnessing a return to a culture of the baroque.Read moreRead less
The History of Theme Parks and their Cultural Significance for Contemporary Society. This project will outline the historical development of the theme park, evaluating the significance of the growing interest in theme park cultures in recent years. The formal connections between theme parks and earlier C16th and C17th theatrical spectacles, and garden and villa designs will be of primary focus. In returning to these earlier historical sources, it is proposed that we are returning to a culture of ....The History of Theme Parks and their Cultural Significance for Contemporary Society. This project will outline the historical development of the theme park, evaluating the significance of the growing interest in theme park cultures in recent years. The formal connections between theme parks and earlier C16th and C17th theatrical spectacles, and garden and villa designs will be of primary focus. In returning to these earlier historical sources, it is proposed that we are returning to a culture of the baroque (and its delight in spectacular spaces). In turn, the social and cultural implications of such a return will be a central concern.Read moreRead less
Children of Frankenstein: Science Fiction, Automata and the Emergence of Robot Realities. Entertainment technologies are integral to everyday life and they play a crucial role in acclimatizing the public to new technologies. This project provides a unique account of the role played by creative industries in developing cutting-edge technologies that include robots, and film and computer game special effects that rely on artificial intelligence. The computer game industry in Australia is developin ....Children of Frankenstein: Science Fiction, Automata and the Emergence of Robot Realities. Entertainment technologies are integral to everyday life and they play a crucial role in acclimatizing the public to new technologies. This project provides a unique account of the role played by creative industries in developing cutting-edge technologies that include robots, and film and computer game special effects that rely on artificial intelligence. The computer game industry in Australia is developing into a very profitable industry and attracts an audience far greater than that of the cinema. Like film effects designers, game programmers are implementing artificial intelligence into their games. By considering Australian industries within an international context, much can be learned about our role as innovators on a global scale.Read moreRead less
Art precincts and cultural participation in networked public space. This project aims to examine the changing relation between public culture and public space. Cultural activity in the contemporary city is increasingly networked and street-based, manifest in events that use the city as a stage for mass participation in art. This challenges the dominant model of cultural engagement that focuses on activities within cultural institutions located in designated arts precincts. This project will deve ....Art precincts and cultural participation in networked public space. This project aims to examine the changing relation between public culture and public space. Cultural activity in the contemporary city is increasingly networked and street-based, manifest in events that use the city as a stage for mass participation in art. This challenges the dominant model of cultural engagement that focuses on activities within cultural institutions located in designated arts precincts. This project will develop tools for data gathering to map this shift. The analysis is expected to contribute to the evaluation of cultural policy settings and design developments in Australian cities.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100119
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,218.00
Summary
Community Gardening in Australia: A Nationwide Study. By researching community gardeners’ experiences, food gardening media and government policies through digital and sensory ethnography, interviews and textual analysis, this project aims to produce a nationwide qualitative study of community gardening in Australia. The rise of community gardens is of major significance, emerging as it does out of a broader range of concerns over the environment, health and wellbeing, food security, social incl ....Community Gardening in Australia: A Nationwide Study. By researching community gardeners’ experiences, food gardening media and government policies through digital and sensory ethnography, interviews and textual analysis, this project aims to produce a nationwide qualitative study of community gardening in Australia. The rise of community gardens is of major significance, emerging as it does out of a broader range of concerns over the environment, health and wellbeing, food security, social inclusion, and community resilience. The intended outcomes of the project will provide an evidence base to enable the development of effective local, state and national policies on community gardening, and recommendations on how community, government, and media can work together to facilitate the expansion of sustainable lifestyles and wellbeing.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR200200604
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$125,000.00
Summary
Extremism and the Australian National Imaginary. The project will use innovative temporal methods to assess the influence of extreme nationalist discourses on mainstream political discussion in Australia. It will develop computational tools to unpick the relationship between digital media, speed and increasing polarisation in political discourse. Expected outcomes include a dataset describing extreme discourses in Australia, an empirical evaluation of the influence of extremism within mainstream ....Extremism and the Australian National Imaginary. The project will use innovative temporal methods to assess the influence of extreme nationalist discourses on mainstream political discussion in Australia. It will develop computational tools to unpick the relationship between digital media, speed and increasing polarisation in political discourse. Expected outcomes include a dataset describing extreme discourses in Australia, an empirical evaluation of the influence of extremism within mainstream publics, and the development of software, methods and a collaborative framework to support research excellence. Expected outcomes include training governmental and non-governmental advocates and policy makers seeking to address extremism for a socially cohesive Australia. Read moreRead less
Liberal Machines: Information poverty, political culture and the uses of new communications technologies. This project examines two contentious issues in scholarly and policy debate: the nature and consequences of information poverty, and the consequences of new communications technologies for western political culture. Rather than focussing on the emancipatory potential of new technologies, we see these problems through the prism of liberal government, its history and prospects. In particular w ....Liberal Machines: Information poverty, political culture and the uses of new communications technologies. This project examines two contentious issues in scholarly and policy debate: the nature and consequences of information poverty, and the consequences of new communications technologies for western political culture. Rather than focussing on the emancipatory potential of new technologies, we see these problems through the prism of liberal government, its history and prospects. In particular we are concerned with liberalism's longstanding concerns with security, civil peace, freedom, and disadvantage. We explore contemporary developments in electronic government, digital media, online learning, cyber-democracy and wired communities. The result will contribute to our understanding of the political and intellectual uses of information technology.Read moreRead less
Avatars and Identities. The avatar, a virtual representation of its user, is the key element of interface technology for everyday computer use in the twenty-first century. While specialist aspects of the avatar have received intensive attention from the technology industries and scholars, the focus of the work to date has been on the technical efficiency of the interface, rather than understanding the full social implications of its use. Through a historical, ethnographic and critical analysis o ....Avatars and Identities. The avatar, a virtual representation of its user, is the key element of interface technology for everyday computer use in the twenty-first century. While specialist aspects of the avatar have received intensive attention from the technology industries and scholars, the focus of the work to date has been on the technical efficiency of the interface, rather than understanding the full social implications of its use. Through a historical, ethnographic and critical analysis of the role of the avatar, in consultation with industry, this project offers a unique opportunity to develop a wider perspective that will contribute to an understanding of the uses and policies for the digital economy.Read moreRead less