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Publications
Congratulations to CHRG member Rebecca Cairns and Michiko Weinmann (Deakin School of Education) whose book The Asia Literacy Dilemma: A Curriculum Perspective is published by Routledge. The book examines contemporary and historical curricular imaginations of Asia, ‘Asia literacy’ and Asia learning in the Australian context, with a focus on Languages and History education. By contextualising the problematics of Asia-related curriculum policy within broader national and international curriculum challenges, the book takes account of conflicting discourses of nation-building, ethnocentrism, transnationalism, geo-economics and the purposes of twenty-first-century education. It presents a comprehensive discussion of the impossibilities and possibilities of Asia curriculum, providing an innovative longitudinal and integrated understanding of the status quo of Asia curriculum that will be of interest to education policy experts and academics in the fields of curriculum studies, history education, languages and studies of Asia. It is now available as an eBook in the Deakin library.
APH
On the APH website this week, Yves Rees interviews Jeff Sparrow about his recent book Crimes Against Nature.
Events
Pacific History Association Webinar: Rethinking Culture, History and Gender Relations in Solomon Islands
10 November, 10am AEDT
Join Anna Kwai (PhD Candidate, ANU) for this webinar: The language on ‘gender’ in Solomon Islands renders women submissive to a social process that appears invariable. It suggests culture as an impediment to women’s advancement while simplifying the multiplicities of indigenous traditions, their intersections and historical progression. Such perception discounts the intelligence and ability of women to negotiate their positions within transforming social environments. The processes of missionisation and colonisation are among the factors that influenced the lens through which we view traditional cultures. My research focuses on the transformation of gender relations and questions the framing methods of western institutions in shaping our perceptions of the past. Please note the webinar will not be recorded. You can join the webinar here.
‘Historians and the Book: An AHA Roundtable’
25 November 2022, 12.30-3.45pm AEDT,
Linkway, John Medley Building, University of Melbourne and via Zoom
This roundtable discussion will take place as part of the Congress of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. The roundtable is designed for historians and those in allied fields – and especially students and Early Career Researchers – which will bring the pivotal question of where to publish out into the open. A selection of publishers and historians will engage in a frank discussion of the questions, considerations, and career goals emerging historians should think about when considering possible publishers, with opportunities for postgraduates, ECRs, and other historians in the audience to contribute their own experiences and raise questions (either on the day or in advance).
Speakers for Session 1, on ‘How can historians respond to a changing publishing landscape?’, will be Ben Ball (Simon and Schuster), Kate Fullagar (ACU) and Nathan Hollier (Melbourne University Press), with Chair Ebony Nilsson (ACU).
Speakers for Session 2, on ‘How and why do books matter for historians?’, will be Ebony Nilsson (ACU), Katie Holmes (La Trobe) and Frank Bongiorno (ANU), with Chair Rohan Howitt (ANU). This event is free and available to all, but registration is necessary. In person attendance includes afternoon tea. Registration and more information here.
Call for Papers Reminders
AHA Conference 2023 ‘Milestones’ CFP
3-6 July 2023, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne
The AHA has chosen the theme of ‘Milestones’ to mark the 50th anniversary of the Australian Historical Association, and to encourage reflection: on the historical profession in Australia, how far the nation has come, and the many things it still has to deliver. Hosted by Australian Catholic University on Wurundjeri land in Melbourne, this conference will be an opportunity to take stock of what has been, interrogate the place of historical knowledge and teaching in contemporary society, and ponder potential futures. The convenors welcome proposals for papers and panels on any geographical area, time-period, or field of history, especially those relating to the theme of ‘milestones’. AHA and affiliated streams include migration history, women’s history, environmental history, First Nations history, GLAM, history of capitalism, children and youth, oral history, religious history, and sports history. Abstracts are due 31 January 2023. You can find more information here.
Indonesia 25 Years On’: Indonesia Council Open Conference 2023
The theme for ICOC 2023 is Indonesia 25 Years On. In 2023, we mark a quarter-century of Indonesia’s abrupt rejection of authoritarianism following the resignation of Suharto in May 1998 after millions took to the streets in protest against the economic and social chaos that accompanied the Asian financial crisis of the previous year. But what does Indonesia look like now? We invite abstract submissions from any disciplines for individual papers, panels and roundtable discussions that reflect on one or more of the myriad facets of life in today’s Indonesia, how Indonesia got there, and where it might go next.
Abstracts are due 15 February 2023, and you can find more information here.
Call for submissions to Special Issue of TEXT:
Poetry and Extremity
Poetry is often associated with a sense of unease or anxiety, linked to its subversive potential and its powers of persuasion, as well as its ability to capture the ineffable or the unimaginable and make it real. It is part of the reason why Plato banished poets from the ideal society, and why poetry continues to be associated with formal and informal censorship and lists of banned texts. Certainly, poetry seems to thrive in the most difficult spaces of human experience: love, loss, despair, trauma, and tragedy, as it seeks to find recognisable shapes for the unspeakable. Poetry is also a radically galvanising force, as evidenced in its use, for example, by terrorist organisations.
Please submit a 200-word Expression of Interest for scholarly essays by email to Alyson Miller with ‘Poetry and Extremity EOI’ as the subject line. In your EOI please outline how your paper or poems explore(s) the theme of ‘Poetry and Extremity’. Also, make sure you include the following information: your full name, institutional affiliation (if any), email address, title of paper/poem, brief biography (50–100 words), and 3 to 5 keywords (at least two of which should clearly relate to the issue’s title). The deadline is 30 November 2022. Contributors will be informed of acceptance by December 15th, with final submissions due on 1 March 2023. You can find more detailed information about the requirements here here, and you can email Alyson Miller for more information.
Event Reminders
30th Anniversary of Professional Historians Assn (Vic & Tas)
13 November 2022
Join PHA (Vic & Tas) members at Graduate House to celebrate three decades of this Association. The celebrations present a social networking opportunity with a special panel featuring foundational, intermediate and new members reflecting on their experiences over 30 years of the PHA (Vic & Tas). The event will be held at Graduate House, 220 Leicester Street, Carlton, 3053 from 2pm – 5pm. The event costs $60, RSVP here by 6 November.
Mothering in Crisis: Family, Disaster and Climate Change
Friday 2 December 2022, 12-2 pm.
Online and in-person at Latham Theatre (Room 102), Redmond Barry Building, the University of Melbourne, Parkville Campus.
This free seminar will present the findings from the first stage of “Mothering in Crisis”, a project led by Dr Carla Pascoe Leahy and Dr Julia Hurst. Funded by Melbourne Climate Futures CRX (Climate Research Accelerator) at the University of Melbourne, the project fills a critical research gap into mothers’ experiences of natural disasters, both historically and now in a period of rapid environmental change. Presentation of project findings and discussion time will be followed by lunch. Both in-person and online participation is available. You can register here.
History Council of Victoria Events
Opportunity Reminders
Visiting Research Fellowship, Powerhouse Museum
The Powerhouse Museum has a Visiting Research Fellowship program. The program provides a supportive environment for researchers to undertake research related to the museum’s collection, education, conservation and museum practice. The fellowships enable researchers to access the museum’s resources to support their research for a short period of time. The visit will initiate and develop collaborative research and facilitate interaction with, and training of, Powerhouse staff. Visiting fellows are expected to make a tangible contribution to the museum during the period of their stay. Applications for the current round close on 25 November 2022. You can find more information here.
AHA General History Thesis Prize
The AHA Executive Committee is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the inaugural AHA General History Thesis Prize. The $2500 Prize is awarded to the best postgraduate thesis in History (excluding Australian history). General History is understood to be any field of history with a focus that is not primarily Australian History. The General History Thesis Prize is expected to be offered annually. It is funded by donations to the AHA’s Public Fund, which supports the creation, publication, dissemination and discussion of historical literature in Australia. The first prize will be awarded in 2023, for a thesis passed in the period 1 January – 31 December 2022. Expressions of interest are due 11 November 2022. Applications are due 31 January 2023. You can find more information here.