Putting humanities to work in a chaotic world: dynamic interdisciplinarity and community engagement. This project will rethink theories and methods in humanities and social sciences so that they can make a more direct contribution to the community. It will build stronger interdisciplinarity across these various fields. It will incorporate ideas from science, from chaos theory, to make it more powerful and science-friendly. It will develop the new theory out of a series of strategic collaboration ....Putting humanities to work in a chaotic world: dynamic interdisciplinarity and community engagement. This project will rethink theories and methods in humanities and social sciences so that they can make a more direct contribution to the community. It will build stronger interdisciplinarity across these various fields. It will incorporate ideas from science, from chaos theory, to make it more powerful and science-friendly. It will develop the new theory out of a series of strategic collaborations with local government, industry and community players, around critical incidents. This will be new theory, but with strong links with existing disciplines, offering good humanities and social science academics methods and models for a more engaged research.Read moreRead less
Cross-cultural 'larrikins' in a Neo-liberal world: ideology and myth in postmodern Australia, Mexico and Brazil. This project will help to re-frame the Ozzie 'larrikin' as a cross-cultural mediator, a complex, inclusive figure able to draw together the many strands of multicultural Australia. At the same time it will help Australian business in Latin America by pointing out misleading assumptions about culture in management training, proposing in their stead a more flexible, better-informed and ....Cross-cultural 'larrikins' in a Neo-liberal world: ideology and myth in postmodern Australia, Mexico and Brazil. This project will help to re-frame the Ozzie 'larrikin' as a cross-cultural mediator, a complex, inclusive figure able to draw together the many strands of multicultural Australia. At the same time it will help Australian business in Latin America by pointing out misleading assumptions about culture in management training, proposing in their stead a more flexible, better-informed and thoroughly contemporary approach, through which Australian business people can be more sensitive and effective, economically successful, and ambassadors for their country. Read moreRead less
Migrant Masculinities: The Impact of Migration on Gender Identity Among Immigrant Men from Non-English-speaking backgrounds in Australia. This research project proposes a comparative inquiry into the subjectivities of men who have migrated to Australia from six culturally diverse regions of the world. It intends to investigate the effects of migration on the (re)construction of male gender identity and men's attitudes in relation to women. In understanding the ways in which men from other cultur ....Migrant Masculinities: The Impact of Migration on Gender Identity Among Immigrant Men from Non-English-speaking backgrounds in Australia. This research project proposes a comparative inquiry into the subjectivities of men who have migrated to Australia from six culturally diverse regions of the world. It intends to investigate the effects of migration on the (re)construction of male gender identity and men's attitudes in relation to women. In understanding the ways in which men from other cultures negotiate what it means to be a man in Australia, it will fill a major and increasingly important gap in our knowledge about contemporary masculinity and it will make a significant contribution to an understanding of the gendered dimensions of the migration experience. Read moreRead less
Anglos Abroad: Memoirs of Immersion in a Foreign Language and Culture. A study of Anglophone narratives of language immersion offers a significant intellectual resource for thinking about ways in which Australian non-immigrant selves are shaped by culture and language: an issue with important implications for just practises within a wide range of national institutions and agencies, including education, immigration and social work. It thus contributes to the priority goal of strengthening Austral ....Anglos Abroad: Memoirs of Immersion in a Foreign Language and Culture. A study of Anglophone narratives of language immersion offers a significant intellectual resource for thinking about ways in which Australian non-immigrant selves are shaped by culture and language: an issue with important implications for just practises within a wide range of national institutions and agencies, including education, immigration and social work. It thus contributes to the priority goal of strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric (Research Priority 2). It also contributes to enhancing our capacity to interpret and engage with our region and the world through a greater understanding of other languages and cultures (Research Priority 4).Read moreRead less
The Special Broadcasting Service and Australian Cultural Democracy: Evolution, Uses and Innovation. This project seeks to assess the role and impacts of the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) as a force for democratic change. Four key themes will be investigated: evolution, uses, innovation and cultural democracy, with the aim of documenting and critically assessing how SBS has used cultural difference as a resource for enhancing democratic inclusion and representation. The approach used will be ....The Special Broadcasting Service and Australian Cultural Democracy: Evolution, Uses and Innovation. This project seeks to assess the role and impacts of the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) as a force for democratic change. Four key themes will be investigated: evolution, uses, innovation and cultural democracy, with the aim of documenting and critically assessing how SBS has used cultural difference as a resource for enhancing democratic inclusion and representation. The approach used will be primarily derived from new political theory which focuses on how democratic processes and practices can be deepened in increasingly complex multicultural societies. Such a comprehensive analysis of SBS's unique role has never been undertaken. The research will produce knowledge of SBS's past and present practices that can be used strategically to inform future policy developments and enhance the way the broadcaster approaches its Charter obligations.Read moreRead less
China's Tibetan Buddhist Margins: Identity, Culture and Development. China's social and political stability is of critical concern to Australia. Tibet and ethnic politics generally are an ongoing source of tension within the multi-ethnic Chinese state and its relations with the international community. As China accelerates development in its ethnic minority western regions, it is to Australia's benefit to have comprehensive and detailed knowledge of Tibetan issues in order to ensure that we are ....China's Tibetan Buddhist Margins: Identity, Culture and Development. China's social and political stability is of critical concern to Australia. Tibet and ethnic politics generally are an ongoing source of tension within the multi-ethnic Chinese state and its relations with the international community. As China accelerates development in its ethnic minority western regions, it is to Australia's benefit to have comprehensive and detailed knowledge of Tibetan issues in order to ensure that we are able to position ourselves effectively in relation to crises that may occur.Read moreRead less
Education for a Tolerant and Multicultural Indonesia. The recent shift towards fundamentalist Islam and upsurge in religious and ethnic conflict in Indonesia are matters of great concern for Australia. This project will investigate how education can facilitate peaceful multiculturalism in Indonesia and explore the potential for the co-existence of Islamic and secular educational systems. This research will improve Australia's capacity to understand our region's 'languages, societies, politics an ....Education for a Tolerant and Multicultural Indonesia. The recent shift towards fundamentalist Islam and upsurge in religious and ethnic conflict in Indonesia are matters of great concern for Australia. This project will investigate how education can facilitate peaceful multiculturalism in Indonesia and explore the potential for the co-existence of Islamic and secular educational systems. This research will improve Australia's capacity to understand our region's 'languages, societies, politics and cultures' (National Research Priority 4). Australia has been a world leader in expertise on Indonesia; we need projects like this to train junior scholars and thus sustain Australia's international reputation for excellence in Indonesian Studies into the future. Read moreRead less
Information and Cultural Exchange: a study of best practices in community building, participation and cultural citizenship through creative practices. This study relates to the NRP 2: 'Strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric'. This project offers new approaches to questions of cultural diversity beyond multiculturalism by bringing together the notions of culture and citizenship, thereby reframing the international debate over cultural citizenship within the Australian context. The p ....Information and Cultural Exchange: a study of best practices in community building, participation and cultural citizenship through creative practices. This study relates to the NRP 2: 'Strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric'. This project offers new approaches to questions of cultural diversity beyond multiculturalism by bringing together the notions of culture and citizenship, thereby reframing the international debate over cultural citizenship within the Australian context. The project places Australia at the leading edge of research on new media, creative practices and citizenship by developing models of 'evaluating evaluation' and benchmarking participation, belonging and cultural citizenship. The research will contribute to improved funding, evaluation and policy priorities for key Arts agencies such as The Australia Council and Arts NSW.Read moreRead less
Cultural maintenance, cultural change: a comparative history of Yiddish Melbourne. Given the aging of the Australian population, immigration remains a vital national concern - indeed, its significance is likely to increase over the coming decades. This context makes clear the national and community benefit of research into the effectiveness of immigration policy and the experience of immigrants. This study will be of particular importance for its innovative approach to evaluation of the success ....Cultural maintenance, cultural change: a comparative history of Yiddish Melbourne. Given the aging of the Australian population, immigration remains a vital national concern - indeed, its significance is likely to increase over the coming decades. This context makes clear the national and community benefit of research into the effectiveness of immigration policy and the experience of immigrants. This study will be of particular importance for its innovative approach to evaluation of the successes and failures of policy, of the factors which facilitate immigrant success, and the adaptation to Australian life of members the second and third generation.
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Diaspora, Hybridity and the Nation: Asian-Australian Perspectives in Literature and Theatre. Australia's engagement with Asia remains central to our national security and economic development. Better understanding about Asians in Australia will enhance Australia's capacity to interpret itself to the Asian region. This research also addresses major concerns that are of significance to the wellbeing and cohesiveness of the nation: race relations, reconciliation, nationhood, and globalisation. By f ....Diaspora, Hybridity and the Nation: Asian-Australian Perspectives in Literature and Theatre. Australia's engagement with Asia remains central to our national security and economic development. Better understanding about Asians in Australia will enhance Australia's capacity to interpret itself to the Asian region. This research also addresses major concerns that are of significance to the wellbeing and cohesiveness of the nation: race relations, reconciliation, nationhood, and globalisation. By foregrounding the contribution of Asian-Australians in the cultural life of the nation, the research serves to enrich public life and foster stronger community relations.Read moreRead less