Cosmopolitan Melbourne: Cultural Diversity and Social Cohesion
Friday 28 March 2008
Monash University Law Chambers
472 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Cost: $60 (full) $30 (concession)
Co-conveners: Elizabeth Burns Coleman, Andrew Hassam
To register, email Elizabeth.Coleman@arts.monash.edu.au
The city has become central to the ways in which contemporary society is imagined, not only in the industrialised West but in the industrialising economies of Asia. Public bodies utilise cultural activities to promote ‘civic’ identities, and the creative representation of the city to its inhabitants through public and quasi-public events provides a sense of pride in place, tradition, and belonging. Yet as Bridge and Watson have noted: ‘As cities have become more complex, more global, and more diasporic it is harder to construct cultural markers which make for a simple image of the city with which to identify’ (Bridge and Watson, 2000).
This interdisciplinary one-day conference invites papers on Melbourne and civic identity. The convenors are particularly keen to include papers in the following areas:
- the role of narratives and images of Melbourne in the promotion of civic identity
- public policy and cultural diversity in Melbourne
- social inclusion/exclusion in stories and images of Melbourne
- public events, memorials and traditions in Melbourne
- street culture, creativity and the built environment of the city
- Melbourne as a global and cosmopolitan city
Please email an abstract of 200-250 words by 29 January 2008 to:
Dr Elizabeth Burns Coleman
School of English, Communications and Performance Studies
Monash University
Elizabeth.Coleman@arts.monash.edu.au
Phone: w. 03 9905 4224 (or m. 0405 494 446)
Visit the conference website for updates!
