Based within the Faculty of Arts at the University of Melbourne, The Australian Centre's cross-disciplinary teaching, research and cultural programs are committed to investigating Australian identity and issues of cultural and environmental diversity. Under this overarching framework, The Centre focuses on exploring the interactions between indigenous and non-indigenous cultures engaging critically with contemporary arts practices and examining Australia within international and comparative contexts.
Out of a community of 37 postgraduates, this issue of Crossings represents the work of seven MA and PhD candidates at different stages in their research and writing. These articles are work in progress snapshots that reveal the diverse range of ideas, thinking and research that is currently undertaken at The Centre.
The first three articles emerge from a context of social research and reflect upon issues of identity, race/ethnicity and migration. Simeon Moran investigates white subjectivities in a middle-class Melbourne suburb. Moya McFadzean examines the significances of the glory box in the context of migrant experience. Mytoan Nguyen explores the experiences of Melbourne's Chilean community since their exile following the 'Other September 11'.
|
 |
The second group of articles offer historical and political readings of specific spaces. Kiera Lindsey presents two 'snapshots' of the Hume Highway and suggests that as a narrative of nation, it can be thought of in terms of the tropes of 'Intrusion' and a 'Tug of war'. Noe Harsel's paper considers how history is used to define 'place', using Batman's Hill, Melbourne, as a specific case study as to how public space has changed in our cities.
The final group of articles engage with aspects of Australian cultural production. Jane Button's article explores the impact of new technologies on photographic practice and considers the changing place of the image in the contemporary cultural milieu. Elaine Lewis' article initiates the documentation of a history of the distribution and reception of Australian books in Europe.
This selection of articles not only represents the diversity of interests at The Centre, but also the shared engagement with Australian contexts. Given that these are all works in progress, we welcome feedback. Interested readers are invited to respond to the articles by emailing the authors directly. We hope that you enjoy reading our work as much as we have enjoyed publishing it. Big thanks to InASA for this opportunity.
Referee Board
Dr Fay Anderson, Associate Professor Kate Darian-Smith, Associate Professor Nikos Papastergiadis , Associate Professor Glenda Sluga and Dr Sara Wills
Editorial Board
Jane Button, Noè Harsel, Elaine Lewis, Kiera Lindsey and Simeon Moran.
|