[csaa-forum] News + Issues in CS

[Mark Gibson]

Hi Melissa,

Just a suggestion for something to raise on the Crossroads panel. It seems to me Australian cultural studies has taken quite a distinctive turn over the last decade in developing a 'practical' (problem solving) focus and in working closely with non-academic institutions and agencies (the emphasis being on institutions and agencies, not just constituencies).

There are different models of this -- eg. the ICR at UWS (eg. 'Driving Cultures', the work with Sydney Water), the work of Elspeth Probyn, Catharine Lumby, Kath Albury and others at USyd (the work with the Aust Rugby League, with health agencies etc.), the Creative Industries initiative at QUT. But they do share something. I'd be quite interested in seeing this floated in an international context.

Just how distinctive are these new emphases in Aust CS? Or is something similar happening in other places too? From talking recently to Lawrence Grossberg, I think there may be a particular divergence from CS in the States -- an issue raised a while ago in the robust exchange between Simon During and contributors to this list. The pressures to find 'linkage partners' are not nearly as strong there. Not sure that we need more flaming on the subject :), but other kinds of reflection may be worthwhile. There are probably also implications for younger academics -- eg. the increasing number who get their start through 'linkage' style post-docs or PhDs.

-- Mark

> ----------
> From: 	csaa-forum-bounces at lists.cdu.edu.au on behalf of Melissa Gregg
> Sent: 	Thursday, April 27, 2006 10:30 AM
> To: 	csaa-forum at lists.cdu.edu.au
> Subject: 	[csaa-forum] News + Issues in CS
> Message Flag: 	Follow up
> Flag Status: 	Flagged
> 
> Hi list,
> 
> The Association for Cultural Studies newsletter is due to publish its next
> online edition shortly. The newsletter is much like the CSAA one but global,
> featuring news, events, book reviews, conference reports or ads, short
> debates and provocations about the state of the field in different regional
> locations. The newsletter is a widely read resource and obviously with the
> Crossroads conference coming up in July there will be plenty of new ACS
> members reading too. It's a good publicity opportunity, basically. So if you
> would like to send short pieces to me to pass on as Australia and New
> Zealand rep, please do - I'll accept them until the end of next week (May 5)
> and then bundle them up for the editor.
> 
> On another matter, I am also participating in a panel discussion as part of
> the Crossroads conference on current trends in cultural studies'
> institutional practice. I'll be speaking with two hats on: as regional rep
> but also as a younger academic. As it's been a bit quiet here lately, I'd
> like to hear the views of people on this list on what you'd like me to say,
> as it is important in such a public setting that I represent the situation
> here with as much information and accuracy as I can. Things I envisage being
> of interest to an international audience include:
> 
> -emerging strengths in Australian cultural studies research, eg. new centres
> for funded research & new projects
> -the effect of government funding and/or rhetoric on cultural studies
> research 
> -changing employment trends post- 'work choices' and pre-RQF
> -what the RQF will actually involve 
> -what all of these things mean for younger academics - from their
> perspective, right now, and from those who are good at reading tea leaves 
> 
> Hopefully if people are interested in talking about this issues more we
> could also take them up in Canberra at the end of the year. At recent CSAA
> conferences I have noticed a regular lament that there aren't enough
> opportunities to discuss industrial issues amongst our colleagues nationally
> and regionally. 
> 
> Happy to receive thoughts on this on or off list.
> 
> Cheers
> Melissa> 
> 
> Dr. Melissa Gregg
> Postdoctoral Research Fellow
> Centre for Critical and Cultural Studies
> and
> Lecturer in Media and Cultural Studies 
> School of English, Media Studies and Art History
> The University of Queensland QLD 4072
> CRICOS provider number: 00025B
>  
> phone    61 7 3346 9762
> mobile   61 4 1116 5706
> fax    61 7 3365 7184
> 
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