Bowers of Bliss: Literary and Cultural Representations of Luxury in Early Modern England, 1580-1630. Luxury consumption is now commonplace in western societies including our own. It is also the subject of intense moral and ethical debate and part of an international discussion about human well-being. Our desire to consume has a long and complex history which is elucidated by early modern representations of luxury and by their recourse to enduring myths, symbols and rituals, still associated with ....Bowers of Bliss: Literary and Cultural Representations of Luxury in Early Modern England, 1580-1630. Luxury consumption is now commonplace in western societies including our own. It is also the subject of intense moral and ethical debate and part of an international discussion about human well-being. Our desire to consume has a long and complex history which is elucidated by early modern representations of luxury and by their recourse to enduring myths, symbols and rituals, still associated with luxury today. As a credit-based society addicted to luxury consumption, Australia is part of an ongoing global discussion about consumption, morality and society: this project will expand our contribution to that debate, while also furthering our own understanding of a concept whcih continues to evoke both fear and fascination.Read moreRead less
Culture and Commerce in the Indian Ocean. The project examines trade cultures in a region which was the hub of the major world economic system in the pre-colonial period, and is now restrengthening. It thus links the earliest global system with current globalisation studies, giving those analyses historical depth. The first cultural studies project in Indian Ocean studies, it matches new theory to the empirical diversity of the region, analysing the way cultural forces add value to commodities, ....Culture and Commerce in the Indian Ocean. The project examines trade cultures in a region which was the hub of the major world economic system in the pre-colonial period, and is now restrengthening. It thus links the earliest global system with current globalisation studies, giving those analyses historical depth. The first cultural studies project in Indian Ocean studies, it matches new theory to the empirical diversity of the region, analysing the way cultural forces add value to commodities, while creating diverse forms of transnational culture and identity. The project makes major contributions to cultural/historical and postcolonial thought, with the potential to create a new field of study.Read moreRead less
A Critical Genealogy of Normality. The rather divergent ideas about normality that emerged in nineteenth-century medical thought continue to have a widespread cultural influence today. Cultural assumptions about what constitutes a normal body inform a wide range of medical practices and underpin the use of standardised testing to determine health or disability. They are also in play when doctors decide when to undertake preventative health measures and when to intervene surgically. A detailed un ....A Critical Genealogy of Normality. The rather divergent ideas about normality that emerged in nineteenth-century medical thought continue to have a widespread cultural influence today. Cultural assumptions about what constitutes a normal body inform a wide range of medical practices and underpin the use of standardised testing to determine health or disability. They are also in play when doctors decide when to undertake preventative health measures and when to intervene surgically. A detailed understanding of how bodily norms come to be established has an important role to play in both shaping medical ethics and in helping people make more informed choices about elective surgical procedures.Read moreRead less
Cultures of Trade in the Indian Ocean. A decline in cultural understandings in the IO is threatening trade opportunities. 'Value', accordingly, must be understood both in economic and cultural terms. Another outcome of this collaboration will be an analysis of the ways in which current regional security issues are being posed, and it is essential to have an international network of scholars to provide an appropriate comparative perspective. By giving us a clearer understanding of the impact of c ....Cultures of Trade in the Indian Ocean. A decline in cultural understandings in the IO is threatening trade opportunities. 'Value', accordingly, must be understood both in economic and cultural terms. Another outcome of this collaboration will be an analysis of the ways in which current regional security issues are being posed, and it is essential to have an international network of scholars to provide an appropriate comparative perspective. By giving us a clearer understanding of the impact of culture on commercial relations and of Australia's place in the Indian Ocean Region, the project will help Australia to build strong, peaceful and mutually beneficial relations with its neighbours.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
Culture and Commerce in the Indian Ocean. The project examines trade cultures in a region which was the hub of the major world economic system in the pre-colonial period, and is now restrengthening. It thus links the earliest global system with current globalisation studies, giving those analyses historical depth. The first cultural studies project in Indian Ocean studies, it matches new theory to the empirical diversity of the region, analysing the way cultural forces add value to commodities, ....Culture and Commerce in the Indian Ocean. The project examines trade cultures in a region which was the hub of the major world economic system in the pre-colonial period, and is now restrengthening. It thus links the earliest global system with current globalisation studies, giving those analyses historical depth. The first cultural studies project in Indian Ocean studies, it matches new theory to the empirical diversity of the region, analysing the way cultural forces add value to commodities, while creating diverse forms of transnational culture and identity. The project makes major contributions to cultural/historical and postcolonial thought, with the potential to create a new field of study.Read moreRead less
Communications and National Identity in Early Modern France. This project addresses a fundamental question in current debates over nationhood - on what ideological and discursive bases nations are formed - by studying the roots of modern national consciousness in early modern France. It will examine the survival, indeed the reinforcement of particularist ideas about the French people and France within the universalist context of Enlightenment thought. Drawing on data bases constituted in the i ....Communications and National Identity in Early Modern France. This project addresses a fundamental question in current debates over nationhood - on what ideological and discursive bases nations are formed - by studying the roots of modern national consciousness in early modern France. It will examine the survival, indeed the reinforcement of particularist ideas about the French people and France within the universalist context of Enlightenment thought. Drawing on data bases constituted in the investigators' earlier research, it will study representations of the nation and national character in literary, philosophical, educational and political writings, and the role of the rapidly expanding communications system in the dissemination of these ideas.Read moreRead less
Testimonial narratives in the post-colonial era. This project aims to benefit the Australian public by analysing some of the ways testimony has been used as a means of coming to terms with the past in Australia. It aims to amplify the significance of Australian collections, such as the Bringing Them Home Oral History archive at the National Library, both within Australia and internationally, and thereby bring Australian materials and experiences into transnational discussions of testimony and co ....Testimonial narratives in the post-colonial era. This project aims to benefit the Australian public by analysing some of the ways testimony has been used as a means of coming to terms with the past in Australia. It aims to amplify the significance of Australian collections, such as the Bringing Them Home Oral History archive at the National Library, both within Australia and internationally, and thereby bring Australian materials and experiences into transnational discussions of testimony and contested histories. It aims to benefit the research communities in Canada and Australia by providing an interpretative framework for researching and teaching testimonial materials, and by strengthening links between the two countries.Read moreRead less
Memory and Identity in England 1500-1700. This project will test the hypothesis that struggles to control memory were central to the redefinition of beliefs, collective identities and social structures in England, 1500 to 1700. It will focus analysis on three ways of remembering, expressed in written, visual and material media: genealogy, local history, and commemoration of the dead. The project's hypothesis and interdisciplinary method represent significant new departures in understanding the ....Memory and Identity in England 1500-1700. This project will test the hypothesis that struggles to control memory were central to the redefinition of beliefs, collective identities and social structures in England, 1500 to 1700. It will focus analysis on three ways of remembering, expressed in written, visual and material media: genealogy, local history, and commemoration of the dead. The project's hypothesis and interdisciplinary method represent significant new departures in understanding the construction of identity and the pursuit of power. By studying a premodern society, this project will add depth to recent studies of memory, and open up new ways of imagining of early modern England.Read moreRead less