Frank Hurley: The Making of a Modern Cultural Icon. I propose to write a book about Frank Hurley (1885-1962) dealing comprehensively for the first time with his photography, cinematography and writing from the perspective of the new humanities disciplines, and to make an original argument about the significance of his career for modern Australian culture in its international contexts. The book will exemplify a new theory and practice of interdisciplinary research. A second objective is to publis ....Frank Hurley: The Making of a Modern Cultural Icon. I propose to write a book about Frank Hurley (1885-1962) dealing comprehensively for the first time with his photography, cinematography and writing from the perspective of the new humanities disciplines, and to make an original argument about the significance of his career for modern Australian culture in its international contexts. The book will exemplify a new theory and practice of interdisciplinary research. A second objective is to publish an edition of Hurley's diaries. Melbourne University Press have formally expressed interest in both books. The text of the diaries will also be made available on the internet by the Mitchell Library and National Library of Australia. Read moreRead less
Mujaku Dochu (1653-1744) and the hidden foundations of modern Zen scholarship. Mujaku Dochu (1653-1744), a polymath Japanese monk of the Rinzai Zen Buddhist school was the major, but unacknowledged, founder of modern Zen scholarship. He established many critical editions, compiled dictionaries of colloquial Chinese terminology used in Zen, and wrote numerous commentaries or glosses to key Zen texts. He wrote the monastic regulations still used in Rinzai monasteries, and advised Hakuin (1685-17 ....Mujaku Dochu (1653-1744) and the hidden foundations of modern Zen scholarship. Mujaku Dochu (1653-1744), a polymath Japanese monk of the Rinzai Zen Buddhist school was the major, but unacknowledged, founder of modern Zen scholarship. He established many critical editions, compiled dictionaries of colloquial Chinese terminology used in Zen, and wrote numerous commentaries or glosses to key Zen texts. He wrote the monastic regulations still used in Rinzai monasteries, and advised Hakuin (1685-1768), the restorer of all modern Rinzai. This study will investigate Dochu's methodologies, his scholarly predecessors, and his influences on contemporaries and on modern Zen scholarship by examining his analyses of Chinese vocabulary, his lexicography and text criticism.Read moreRead less
America Publishes Australia: Australian Books and American Publishers, 1890-2005. Research into the commercial and cultural links between American publishers and Australian writers will reveal a new dimension of the nation's relationship to its most important cultural trading partner. By focusing on a neglected area of Australian publishing history, the project will also contribute significantly to our understanding of the changing circumstances within which Australian writers and publishers hav ....America Publishes Australia: Australian Books and American Publishers, 1890-2005. Research into the commercial and cultural links between American publishers and Australian writers will reveal a new dimension of the nation's relationship to its most important cultural trading partner. By focusing on a neglected area of Australian publishing history, the project will also contribute significantly to our understanding of the changing circumstances within which Australian writers and publishers have worked. Publishing remains under-researched compared to other cultural industries in Australia, despite its significance both culturally and economically.Read moreRead less