CROSSINGS : Volume 10.1 / 2005
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Menzies Centre for Australian Studies: 18 January 2005 Dr Jenny Macleod ( Edinburgh ) delivered the 2005 Reese Lecture, '“ Battle of the Nations”: Remembering Gallipoli' at Australia House on 18 January 2005 . The lecture positioned Australia 's memory of Gallipoli in the context of the memories of other participant nations. Dr Macleod began by flagging the importance of Gallipoli in the Australian imaginary. She then demonstrated that Australia 's response to Anzac can be seen as all the more remarkable when placed in an international context. This international context includes soldiers from Russia , India , North America and Ireland . The number of French casualties at Gallipoli was high: estimates suggest about 14 000 French deaths compared to the deaths of 10 000 Anzacs. Yet the French have virtually forgotten Gallipoli: there is only one French memorial to the Dardanelles . 'In the matter of remembering and forgetting, what it comes down to then is, is this episode important and useful to national history? For France , in regard to Gallipoli, the answer on both counts has to be no. She is patently not wanting in episodes of importance to define herself. In memorialising Gallipoli , Britain (to some extent) and Australia (more obviously), share most with Turkey . In this case winners and losers hold in common the significance that they have placed on the battles of Gallipoli, demonstrating that, as Dr Macleod explained, 'national identity can be forged in victory or defeat – history is a pliable servant for broader national purposes.' 19 March 2005 Around 30 people attended a free one-day conference at the Centre on Australian and New Zealand film. The day began with an overview of recent New Zealand film by Dr Ian Conrich (Roehampton). Tony Moore ( Sydney ) spoke on the Barry McKenzie films then Professor Liz Schafer elucidated interchanges of personnel, shows, and techniques between the Australian stage and screen. Before lunch Dr Nicole Moore (Macquarie), Dr Cath Ellis (Wollongong), and Dr Conrich kicked off a spirited debate about teaching Antipodean film in Britain; discussion was most animated about approaches to teaching the ethical issues raised in films about Indigenous/non-Indigenous conflict in Australia. After lunch a paper by Dr Stuart Murray (Leeds) on the NZ documentary The Feathers of Peace was read, followed by an entertaining and insightful paper on Looking for Alibrandi by Dr Luisa Pèrcopo (Cagliari and Menzies Centre). In a session on Indigenous cinema, contrasting responses to Rabbit Proof Fence were presented by Dr Anne Galligan ( Queensland ) and Dr Ellis, while Dr Ian Henderson (Menzies Centre) spoke on Beneath Clouds. The day ended with an engaging roundtable discussion of Somersault, led by beautiful papers on Cate Shortland's film by Dr Catherine Kevin (Menzies Centre) and Dr Amanda Claremont (Queen Mary). This convivial discussion was continued over drinks and dinner. The Southern Cross Resource Finder Jubilee Menzies Foundation Fellow Jacki Keys has completed the Southern Cross Resource Finder bibliographical data-base project, which had its London launch in March, and which will be launched in Canberra in April. The data-base tracks the location of Australian subject holdings in UK libraries. The Digger and the Larrikin Live On: Organised by the Imperial War Museum with the Menzies Centre for Australian Studies, the New Zealand Studies Association and Morley College . Programme details: http://london.iwm.org.uk/server/show/conEvent.577 UPCOMING EVENTS The Reading Problem: Jointly sponsored by: The Centre for Writing, Publishing & Printing History, University of Reading; The Institute of English Studies, University of London; and The Menzies Centre. This conference focuses on the problems faced by historians and theorists of an everyday act: reading. Its historical context is the explosion of mass publishing and literacy between 1850 and 1950. Readers of the period left considerable material evidence of the social aspects of reading, but how to marry content analysis of individual works, or generalised theories of reception, to evidence from the archives? Does this constitute a unique reading 'problem'? Proposals are still invited on: reading cultures (1850-1950); methodologies in the history of reading (1850-1950); methodologies in reception theory; history of reading and national cultures (case-study Australia ); and confronting the future in reading history. Conference website http://www.kcl.ac.uk/depsta/menzies/events/index.html#reading Keynotes: Contact: Menzies Centre seminar series The Menzies Centre would be delighted to welcome you to its regular seminar series. Unless otherwise advised, seminars take place at 5.15pm in the Menzies Room, first floor, 28 Russell Square , London . For more information email menzies.centre@kcl.ac.uk or telephone Kirsten McIntyre on 020 7862 8854 5.15pm , Wednesday 27 April 5pm , Thursday 28 April, Menzies/Monash seminar 5.15pm , Wednesday 4 May 5 May Thursday Monash/Menzies seminar 12noon, Wednesday 11 May, Menzies/Monash seminar 5.15pm , Wednesday 11 May 5.15pm Thursday 12 May DOWNER ROOM, AUSTRALIA HOUSE 5.15pm , Wednesday 18 May ROOM 21 5.15pm , Wednesday 25 May 5.15pm , Tuesday 31 May 5.15pm Wednesday 1 June, ROOM 21 5.15pm , Wednesday 8 June 5.15pm , Wednesday 15 June 6.00pm , Thursday 16 June—BOOK LAUNCH Australia House Host: Professor Carl Bridge of the Menzies Centre; speakers: Emeritus Professor H.R. Kedward, University of Sussex; Mr David Watt, Department of Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs, Australian High Commission. Event and light refreshments sponsored by P & O. Please rsvp for security reasons to menzies.centre@kcl.ac.uk or telephone Kirsten McIntyre on 020 7862 9954 < < < main > > > |