Historical ethnography and the study of elites (Rod Rhodes, Southampton)
Seminar
In principle, it is possible to observe British elites in action, but such access is rare. Therefore, Rhodes’s study of court politics is not ethnographic in the conventional sense as it does not rely on participant observation or deep immersion. However, it still seeks to understand the webs of…
'The Male Complaint: The Manosphere and Misogyny Online'
Book launch
Join us for an interesting conversation with Hannah Leary and author Dr. Simon Copland, to celebrate the launch of his latest book, The Male Complaint, published by Polity Press and distributed in Australia by Wiley Press. (Pre-order here.)About the bookInspired by leaders such…
‘Such sweet things out of such corruptions.’ On writing the history of a twentieth-century expedition.
Seminar
June 2025 will see the publication of Martin Thomas’s Clever Men: How worlds collided on the scientific expedition to Arnhem Land of 1948, a project catalysed by the exquisite sound recordings of Aboriginal music in the ABC archives. They are among the many cultural treasures accumulated by the…
Untamed affections: contested care in settler Australian women’s interactions with native animals, 1880-1950
Seminar
In an incomplete and uneven process between the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, colonial disdain for ‘freakish’ Australian native species gave way to affection, mythologisation, and conservationist concern. This pre-submission seminar examines the neglected roles of settler women in…
Building information resilience through accessible communication practice: The case of migrants and people with disability in Australia
Seminar
During any crisis event, trustworthy communication is crucial for fostering safe and informed societies. During the Covid-19 pandemic, however, considerable disparities in access to reliable information (including vital health advice and resources) were observed; especially for migrants and people…
Out of Harm’s Way: How Australian Music Venues and DIY Events Make Safe Spaces (Emma Crocker, ANU)
Seminar
Australian music venues, bars, and DIY (do-it-yourself) music events post ‘safe space’ policies to walls, Instagram pages, and bathroom doors. These policies invite event attendees to think of themselves as being within a distinct safe space. What differentiates these spaces from other venues is…
Australian Federal Election 2025 Roundtable
Panel discussion
Join us on Thursday 8 May, for a panel discussion examining the results of the 2025 Australian Federal Election. Bringing together some of the country’s leading scholars in political science, this event offers a considered and data-driven exploration of the forces that shaped this year’s outcome.…