School of Culture and Communication
Faculty of Arts
It is my pleasure to welcome you to the School of Culture and Communication on behalf of all staff in the School.
Acting Head of School;
Redmond Barry Distinguished Professor, Professor of English
Our School is a thriving research centre for critical thinking in the humanities. This agenda is led by world-leading scholars whose fields of research include literary and cultural studies, art history, cinema and performance, media and communication and Australian Indigenous studies. The School is also host to a range of funded research concentrations, such as the ARC Centre of Excellence for the History of Emotions, the Australian Centre, the Centre for Advancing Journalism and the Research Unit in Public Cultures. More broadly, our academics publish, speak and blog on topics as diverse as romanticism, poetry, Asian popular culture, digital media, climate change, network societies, gender and sexuality, racism, cosmopolitanism, and contemporary arts.
One of the largest Schools in the Faculty of Arts, we contribute exciting majors and subjects to the Bachelor of Arts, as well as offering unique Masters level courses that lead towards professional vocations in publishing, writing, museums and galleries, other arts and media institutions. Our extensive doctoral program includes coursework, as well as many opportunities to participate in reading groups, seminars, conferences and other events that augment the intellectual values of the School.
Our School considers the public life of the humanities an enduring tradition that enriches contemporary society, and we have many community and industry partnerships through which we engage with a wider audience. Explore the School website to discover more about our courses, research programs, graduate seminars, and cultural events.
Visit the School of Culture and Communication on Twitter and Facebook
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Art History and Art Curatorship
In an increasingly image-based culture, including a rapidly expanding museum and gallery industry, techniques in visual literacy are essential for a variety of professions as well as for daily life.
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Arts and Cultural Management
Our program explores the tension between culture as an economic activity and culture as symbolic expression through four key themes – organisations, governance, identity and labour.
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Creative Writing
Creative Writing is a medium used to communicate, resist, provoke and seek or find understanding. Our research investigates the artistic, historical, cultural and societal impacts of the written word.
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English and Theatre Studies
English and Theatre Studies focuses on the form, meanings and effects of imaginative writing and dramatic performance, and explains how these practices engage with the everyday world.
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Gender Studies (Interdisciplinary program)
The Gender Studies program at the University of Melbourne offers students the potential to learn about issues such as sexual difference, gender equity, queer politics, and sexuality, from a variety of thought-provoking and provocative perspectives.
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Indigenous Studies
An exciting interdisciplinary program that offers students an opportunity to learn about the history and cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
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Media and Communications
Our program explores Media and Communications across the broad range of the discipline – from professional communication and marketing, to social media, governance, digital life and culture.
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Publishing and Communication
We equip students with globally-recognised skills to enable them to pursue a career in book, magazine, digital and web-based publishing, and professional communications.
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Screen and Cultural Studies
Our program examines the history and practice of contemporary culture and screen media. Our research looks at the production, aesthetics, circulation, consumption and uses of contemporary and historical screen media and cultures.
Our School carries out creative, fundamental and applied research projects into the past, present and future of the humanities and social sciences. Through our unique breadth and transdisciplinary focus, our research makes real and lasting impacts that enrich contemporary society through the enduring tradition of the humanities on public life.
Research projects
Our world class researchers are renowned for their interpretation, analysis and debate on historical and contemporary culture and communication. Explore our broad range of current and completed research projects.
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New tastemakers and Australia's post-digital literary culture
This project examines how engagements with digital media and platforms have changed the ways in which Australian literature is produced, distributed and consumed.
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The Future Cemetery
The research investigates the potential of new and innovative technologies to be incorporated into Australian cemeteries and memorial spaces.
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Disability and the Performing Arts in Australia: The Last Avant Garde
The Last Avant Garde is an ARC Linkage project exploring artistic innovation and the work of disability artists in Australia.
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Eco-Colonial Australian Literature: Environment, Species, Climate
Exploring the ways in which colonial Australian literature gave expression to species classification and the management of habitat, extinction, climate change, and the impact of environmental disasters.
Research collaborations
Our research collaborations bring together experts who are internationally recognised leaders in their fields.
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Asian Cultural Research Network
A collaboration researching the cultural effects of youth travel, migration and media between Asia and Australia.
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Communicative Cities
A platform for strategic research projects and tactical interventions into the issues transforming public culture.
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Critique, Creativity, Innovation
A collaboration exploring the diverse histories and possible futures of creativity and critique.
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Critical Fashion Studies
A collective uniting scholars, practitioners and industry to advance research on fashion sustainability and ethics.
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Human Rights and Animal Ethics Research Network
An interdisciplinary network researching into transformations in response to Human-Animal Studies (HAS).
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Postnational Art Histories
A network of scholars developing major projects that rethink the paradigms of national art history.
Research units and centres
Through critical thinking in the humanities, our research units and centres undertake research that has a tangible impact in the world.
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Australian Centre
A centre developing innovative research projects across disciplines in the Australian arts and humanities.
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ARC Centre for Excellence for the History of Emotions
A multidisciplinary centre researching the history of emotional behaviours from medieval Europe to the present.
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Centre of Visual Art
A centre facilitating innovative, cross-disciplinary research that focuses on the significant cultural issues of today.
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Enlightenment Romanticism Contemporary Culture
A unit re-envisioning the transition from Enlightenment to Romanticism and its legacies in the present.
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Research Unit in Public Cultures
A unit researching transformations in public culture produced by new intersections of knowledge, media, space and mobility.
Partner with us
Our researchers welcome collaboration.
Please contact us to learn more about partnering with SCC.
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Undergraduate
Information for current undergraduate students. Including essay writing guides and citation styles, attendance and extensions
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Honours
Information for current honours students. Including essay writing guides and citation styles, minor thesis due dates, and attendance.
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Graduate coursework
Information for current graduate coursework students, including essay writing guides and citation styles, cover sheets, minor thesis due dates, attendance and internships
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Graduate research
Information for prospective students regarding the Doctor of Philosophy (Arts) or Masters by Research program.
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Graduate researcher career profiles
Our graduate researchers pursue academic careers and also use their skills to shape careers in other fields.
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Scholarships and prizes
The School of Culture and Communication offers a range of awards to provide scholars with opportunities for development and research.
In light of the emerging COVID-19 situation and continuing policy statements from the State and Federal Government, the University is adopting a series of changes to reduce rates of infection in the community. The health and wellbeing of our community is of paramount importance. Therefore, all University events have been postponed or cancelled from midnight, Tuesday 17 March. Thank you for your understanding as we endeavour to keep our community members safe during this uncertain time. More information.
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Dean’s Forum: Associate Professor Sana Nakata
In this conversation, Sana sits down with Dean of Arts Professor Russell Goulbourne to discuss how we can transform our Faculty to be a more inclusive, supportive space for all students
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Melbourne Theatre Company's Abe Watson on working in the arts – and why it matters
Abe shares his views on the value of the arts and arts education and talks about his work with the Melbourne Theatre Company
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How journalism students are helping Guardian Australia tell the stories of our time
Quality journalism has never been more important in this time of COVID-19 pandemic
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Modern Slavery, Fashion and Consumer Awareness research and online survey
Professor Natalya Lusty and Dr Harriette Richards are undertaking research into consumer awareness around modern slavery in Australian fashion.
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Funded PhD Position in Media and Communications commencing 2021
Expressions of Interest are invited for a PhD scholarship associated with the ARC grant ‘Digital photography: mediation, memory and visual communication’
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Professor Peter Otto appointed Redmond Barry Distinguished Professor
It gives us great pleasure to announce the recent appointment of this distinguished academic staff member as Redmond Barry Distinguished Professor.
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Videos
Videos by staff and guests of the School of Culture and Communication.
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Visual Cultures Resource Centre
The Visual Cultures Resource Centre (VCRC) image collection now comprises over 250,000 slides and photographs, 85,000 digitised records and a film collection of over 1,000 titles.
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Recordings
Audio and visual recordings of events in the School of Culture and Communication