The global impact of Chinese martial arts films and their potential to use Australian technology. A study of martial arts film is of national benefit in several ways. First, it makes a scholarly contribution to film studies in our Asia Pacific region. Second, it enhances our understanding of issues arising from Chinese popular culture, such as soft power, cultural nationalism, regional rivalries, combat, and justice. Finally, Australian companies have been involved in the high-technology end of ....The global impact of Chinese martial arts films and their potential to use Australian technology. A study of martial arts film is of national benefit in several ways. First, it makes a scholarly contribution to film studies in our Asia Pacific region. Second, it enhances our understanding of issues arising from Chinese popular culture, such as soft power, cultural nationalism, regional rivalries, combat, and justice. Finally, Australian companies have been involved in the high-technology end of landmark Chinese martial arts films, which provides Australians with opportunities for developing business relationships, producing new creative content, and expanding innovative technologies with an important market in the global environment.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
The Spatial Impact of Digital Technology on Contemporary Art and New Art Institutions. Our aim is to explore the impact of digital technology on the production and display of contemporary art. Our focus is the spatial formation of the art institution at a time of historic transition, as object based collections are joined by new forms of technological imagery. We propose a distinct interdisciplinary methodology using spatial analysis derived from theories of contemporary art, new media theory an ....The Spatial Impact of Digital Technology on Contemporary Art and New Art Institutions. Our aim is to explore the impact of digital technology on the production and display of contemporary art. Our focus is the spatial formation of the art institution at a time of historic transition, as object based collections are joined by new forms of technological imagery. We propose a distinct interdisciplinary methodology using spatial analysis derived from theories of contemporary art, new media theory and critical social theory. The project's significance lies in developing insights into the new parameters of cultural production and cultural exchange. This will have strategic relevance for analysing the cultural impact of the emergent information society.Read moreRead less
Public screens and their transformation of social interactions in public spaces. This project will provide the first Australian analysis of public interaction with large electronic screens. The installation of large screens in public spaces is rapidly expanding in cities around the world. Our project will explore the potential for these screens to support new cultural practices and generate new social interactions. The research involves a cross-cultural comparison of screens in Europe, Asia ....Public screens and their transformation of social interactions in public spaces. This project will provide the first Australian analysis of public interaction with large electronic screens. The installation of large screens in public spaces is rapidly expanding in cities around the world. Our project will explore the potential for these screens to support new cultural practices and generate new social interactions. The research involves a cross-cultural comparison of screens in Europe, Asia and North America, along with the 'Big Screen' in Federation Square, Melbourne. The strategic value of the project is its capacity to inform public policy, and to improve understanding of the dynamics of public culture in mediated societies.Read moreRead less
The influence of Contemporary Japanese architecture: its meanings and its miss-readings. Contemporary architecture and urbanism in Australia has generally been concerned with addressing 'modernity' while little concerned with specific culture or place, and with little discernable ideology. Consequently, the City of Sydney is much used by international film-makers as an undifferentiated generic metropolis backdrop. In contrast, Japan's contemporary architects have developed a politically-charged ....The influence of Contemporary Japanese architecture: its meanings and its miss-readings. Contemporary architecture and urbanism in Australia has generally been concerned with addressing 'modernity' while little concerned with specific culture or place, and with little discernable ideology. Consequently, the City of Sydney is much used by international film-makers as an undifferentiated generic metropolis backdrop. In contrast, Japan's contemporary architects have developed a politically-charged architecture which registers the complexity of their national identity while turning its back on nationalism. This project will contrast the ideologies of leading contemporary architects in Japan and Australia and will serve as a benchmark against which contemporary Australian architecture can be assessed.Read moreRead less
Representations of the Backs of Paintings: Analysis and History. Australia's regional status within the Western tradition of painting makes it a highly significant test case within the geographical criteria of the study. The paradoxical effects of closeness and distance in representations of the backs of paintings made its use here surprisingly frequent and strikingly ambivalent. Some painters obsessively repeat the motif as if to overcome remoteness from the tradition of Velásquez. Others emplo ....Representations of the Backs of Paintings: Analysis and History. Australia's regional status within the Western tradition of painting makes it a highly significant test case within the geographical criteria of the study. The paradoxical effects of closeness and distance in representations of the backs of paintings made its use here surprisingly frequent and strikingly ambivalent. Some painters obsessively repeat the motif as if to overcome remoteness from the tradition of Velásquez. Others employ it in fundamental questioning the institution of Western painting. Study of this dichotomy will improve understanding of Australian concepts of remoteness in space and time relative to other cultures. Interpretations will also enhance visual and verbal communication between art communities here and overseas. Read moreRead less
Investigation into digital games and Australian female digital game culture. The project investigates new paradigms for digital games specifically oriented to young female users, aged from 16 to 25 years. This study explores female digital game culture, particularly in Australia, to create solutions that support gender equity, and will involve research into innovative design of multi-user online games. It aims to produce, test and refine online prototypes involving different gameplay scenarios, ....Investigation into digital games and Australian female digital game culture. The project investigates new paradigms for digital games specifically oriented to young female users, aged from 16 to 25 years. This study explores female digital game culture, particularly in Australia, to create solutions that support gender equity, and will involve research into innovative design of multi-user online games. It aims to produce, test and refine online prototypes involving different gameplay scenarios, as well as produce theoretical reports to be published in journals, mailing lists and conference proceedings.Read moreRead less
Destination: developing hologram recording and replay technologies to enable the world's largest mass audience viewing of deep volume water images. The exhibition of 'Destination', the world's largest hologram installation at Federation Square in Melbourne, will impact both local and international audiences through engagement with the globally important subject - WATER. Wide public access to the new perceptions of water available though the holograms will be accessible in progress via web interf ....Destination: developing hologram recording and replay technologies to enable the world's largest mass audience viewing of deep volume water images. The exhibition of 'Destination', the world's largest hologram installation at Federation Square in Melbourne, will impact both local and international audiences through engagement with the globally important subject - WATER. Wide public access to the new perceptions of water available though the holograms will be accessible in progress via web interface, broadcast live video and an international conference hosted at Federation Square. The technological advances forged by the international and national multi-disciplinary expert team (media art, urban design, holography and laser technology) will establish a strong knowledge base and expertise in Australia thus providing opportunities for PhD students.Read moreRead less
Developing a creative ecology as a community of practice: The pathway from training to profession in the digital content industries. The findings of this study, will provide valuable insight and an anticipatory framework to help sustain the Australian government's declaration that Australia is strongly committed to knowledge creation, innovation and economic growth and that we need to build a culture within Australia that applauds innovation and ensure that research, education, business and gove ....Developing a creative ecology as a community of practice: The pathway from training to profession in the digital content industries. The findings of this study, will provide valuable insight and an anticipatory framework to help sustain the Australian government's declaration that Australia is strongly committed to knowledge creation, innovation and economic growth and that we need to build a culture within Australia that applauds innovation and ensure that research, education, business and government work together to harness the potential innovation offers. The project will also assist both industry and community to better understand the social and cultural implications of media and digital technologies and lead to an awareness of socially responsible and innovative applications within education and training contexts.Read moreRead less
A cross-disciplinary investigation of creative arts as intervention activity for young people at risk in urban and rural Victoria. The research project will investigate whether the involvement of "at risk" teenagers in creative arts activities can act as effective diversions from harmful risk taking behaviour. The project will set up, document and analyse creative arts projects in three urban and rural Victorian localities where there is a high proportion of marginalised youth. This research wil ....A cross-disciplinary investigation of creative arts as intervention activity for young people at risk in urban and rural Victoria. The research project will investigate whether the involvement of "at risk" teenagers in creative arts activities can act as effective diversions from harmful risk taking behaviour. The project will set up, document and analyse creative arts projects in three urban and rural Victorian localities where there is a high proportion of marginalised youth. This research will explore how involvement in creative expression results in increased self-esteem, an improved sense of goal setting and achievement together with community commitment. It will provide justice and social agencies with a model for effective youth program planning which will facilitate re-education and work opportunitiesRead moreRead less