Representation of gender and sexual diversity in Australian film and television. This project aims to investigate the cultural, health and identity impact of gender/sexually-diverse characters, themes and narratives in Australian film and television from 1990 to present. The project expects to generate new knowledge by providing the first comprehensive account of Australian media production’s contribution to sexual minority representation, in the context of its importance for fostering healthy i ....Representation of gender and sexual diversity in Australian film and television. This project aims to investigate the cultural, health and identity impact of gender/sexually-diverse characters, themes and narratives in Australian film and television from 1990 to present. The project expects to generate new knowledge by providing the first comprehensive account of Australian media production’s contribution to sexual minority representation, in the context of its importance for fostering healthy identities, and acceptance of minorities to mainstream audiences in a digital media era. This knowledge will provide significant benefit to the mental health, wellbeing and social harmony for both minority and mainstream Australians and help showcase an important aspect of Australian media inclusivity and diversity in international scholarship.Read moreRead less
Understanding pornography in Australia: public discourses and pornographic texts. This project will offer a detailed, large-scale analysis of the place of pornography in Australian culture. It will interview 300 producers and distributors of pornographic texts, and almost one thousand consumers of these texts. Using insights from this research into the ways in which pornography is understood by those involved with it in Australia, one hundred popular pornographic videos will be analysed to under ....Understanding pornography in Australia: public discourses and pornographic texts. This project will offer a detailed, large-scale analysis of the place of pornography in Australian culture. It will interview 300 producers and distributors of pornographic texts, and almost one thousand consumers of these texts. Using insights from this research into the ways in which pornography is understood by those involved with it in Australia, one hundred popular pornographic videos will be analysed to understand what is in them, and how they are used.
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Effects of pornography on audiences. This project aims to improve understanding of pornography’s effects on its audiences. Academic knowledge on this topic is silo-ed and often contradictory across humanities and social science disciplines. This project will synthesise these discrete traditions to produce a shared paradigm, vocabulary and evidence base so these disciplines can share their findings. The project will also provide a replicable case study of translation between humanities and social ....Effects of pornography on audiences. This project aims to improve understanding of pornography’s effects on its audiences. Academic knowledge on this topic is silo-ed and often contradictory across humanities and social science disciplines. This project will synthesise these discrete traditions to produce a shared paradigm, vocabulary and evidence base so these disciplines can share their findings. The project will also provide a replicable case study of translation between humanities and social sciences data archives. Making this knowledge comprehensible to policymakers, educators and parents is expected to improve public debate and policy outcomes about pornography, and aims to improve the healthy sexual development of young Australians.Read moreRead less
Consuming Celebrity: Female stardom and gay subcultural reception. This project explores the function of celebrity in modern culture through a detailed case study of gay subcultural receptions of female stardom. The female star or ?diva? has been an influential figure in gay subcultures since the nineteenth century where it has inspired significant and enduring productions of gay selfhood. The project explores the histories of gay ?diva worship? to analyse the role and uses of stardom in formati ....Consuming Celebrity: Female stardom and gay subcultural reception. This project explores the function of celebrity in modern culture through a detailed case study of gay subcultural receptions of female stardom. The female star or ?diva? has been an influential figure in gay subcultures since the nineteenth century where it has inspired significant and enduring productions of gay selfhood. The project explores the histories of gay ?diva worship? to analyse the role and uses of stardom in formations of cultural identity. Through scholarly publications, the study will make major contributions to our understanding of not only gay culture and history, but the significance of celebrity in modern cultural life.Read moreRead less
Lifted from the Ironing Board: The ABC Women's Session, 1935-1973. The Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) broadcast radio programs for women from 1936 to 1971. This project provides the first history of these programs. It will document the establishment and decline of the 'Women's Session' during this period via internal ABC correspondence and audience research, scripts and listeners' letters. It will therefore provide a case study of the dynamic relationships between media production, cir ....Lifted from the Ironing Board: The ABC Women's Session, 1935-1973. The Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) broadcast radio programs for women from 1936 to 1971. This project provides the first history of these programs. It will document the establishment and decline of the 'Women's Session' during this period via internal ABC correspondence and audience research, scripts and listeners' letters. It will therefore provide a case study of the dynamic relationships between media production, circulation and reception that will contribute to understandings of gender formation through popular culture. It will also forge new ways of understanding how women have contributed to the cultural life of the nation during the twentieth century.Read moreRead less
China's Rural Migrant Workers: Social Transition and Cultural Practice. This project will help Australians understand some of the growing social tensions and conflicts in contemporary China, thereby enhancing Australia's already strong reputation as a leading research community on China. It will generate grass-roots knowledge of individuals' experiences and perspectives - particularly those of the rural migrant. This knowledge is crucial if Australia is to forge links with China, and develop a n ....China's Rural Migrant Workers: Social Transition and Cultural Practice. This project will help Australians understand some of the growing social tensions and conflicts in contemporary China, thereby enhancing Australia's already strong reputation as a leading research community on China. It will generate grass-roots knowledge of individuals' experiences and perspectives - particularly those of the rural migrant. This knowledge is crucial if Australia is to forge links with China, and develop a nuanced and penetrating grasp of the socio-economic realities of the region. In addition, the study will generate cross-cultural perspectives on media, work and family - all increasingly pressing issues in the formation of social policy in Australia.Read moreRead less
Peepshows: Love Letters and the Death Penalty in a Sensation Trial and its Cultural Legacies. Criminal trials are primarily studied by cultural historians and legal scholars without reference to eachother. My aim is to produce a feminist cultural history of a sensation trial and its legacies that addresses the legal, historical and cultural dimensions of the case. The monograph will explore how a woman was hanged on the flimsy ?evidence? of her love letters, and how later critics and cultural pr ....Peepshows: Love Letters and the Death Penalty in a Sensation Trial and its Cultural Legacies. Criminal trials are primarily studied by cultural historians and legal scholars without reference to eachother. My aim is to produce a feminist cultural history of a sensation trial and its legacies that addresses the legal, historical and cultural dimensions of the case. The monograph will explore how a woman was hanged on the flimsy ?evidence? of her love letters, and how later critics and cultural producers used popular forms to speak back to law. The project significance stems from its multi-disciplinary approach, and the innovative synchronic and diachronic framewor, which will provide a model for later cultural studies of trials.Read moreRead less
How effective are disclaimer labels on fashion magazine images? Commentators and researchers from a number of Western countries, including Australia, have suggested that idealised media images in fashion magazines should carry some sort of disclaimer informing readers when these images have been digitally enhanced. The overall aim of this project is to investigate the impact of disclaimer labels on women's mood and body dissatisfaction. Expected outcomes include recommendations to policy makers ....How effective are disclaimer labels on fashion magazine images? Commentators and researchers from a number of Western countries, including Australia, have suggested that idealised media images in fashion magazines should carry some sort of disclaimer informing readers when these images have been digitally enhanced. The overall aim of this project is to investigate the impact of disclaimer labels on women's mood and body dissatisfaction. Expected outcomes include recommendations to policy makers as to the most effective form of intervention, as well as increased theoretical understanding of the operation of disclaimer labels.Read moreRead less