News

Martin Harrison was an esteemed Australian poet, teacher, and, as with many, friend and colleague of the Southerly editorial team. In his memory, we would like to post a recent poem published in Southerly. Editor David Brooks says: Martin was a fine poet, a fine critic, a valued colleague, and every bit as much as these a good and empathetic person. Much as I admired him and appreciated his company when I could get it, I never saw enough of him. I will miss him. Australian Literature is the poorer for his loss. Editor Elizabeth McMahon says: Australian Literature gained so

… read more Vale Martin Harrison

This issue considers how to think about the future in a time that doubts it will occur. It addresses the question of how culture retains its capacity to imagine possible futures in the face of multiple forces that threaten its existence: climate change, global war, the extinction of species. In local terms, Forward Thinking looks at how Australian literature imagines the world beyond present constraints and crises or as its impending corollary.The essays range from Bill Ashcroft’s discussion of the utopian possibilities within literature itself to Australian science fiction, recent literary works that envisage post-catastrophic worlds and the role of

… read more Forward Thinking: Utopia and Apocalypse

It’s almost here! The new issue of Southerly, 74.1 Forward Thinking: Utopia and Apocalypse is at the printers and will be in our office in a fortnight’s time. This issue considers how we think about the future in a time that doubts it will occur. It addresses the question of how culture retains its capacity to imagine possible futures in the face of multiple forces that threaten its existence: climate change, global war, the extinction of species. In local terms, Forward Thinking looks at how Australian literature imagines the world beyond present constraints and crises. The issues includes fabulous essays and non-fiction, as well

… read more Please come to the launch of issue 74.1!

 

Below is an open letter to Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Treasurer Joe Hockey and Minister for Arts George Brandis, in protest against the cuts to arts funding in the most recent budget. This has been published in the Guardian, Meanjin and Overland, among others. If you would like to sign the letter, please comment on the Meanijn site, so your name can be added to a letter sent to parliament. The Southerly editorial team. Dear Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Treasurer Joe Hockey and Minister for Arts George Brandis, We view with dismay the many proposed changes to health, education and

… read more An Open Letter on the Future of Arts Funding

A huge thanks to Stephen Sewell for his personal, insightful posts. This month, our blogger is Aashish Kaul. His bio is below. Aashish Kaul is completing a Doctor of Arts from the University of Sydney. His book of short stories A Dream of Horses is publishing next month in the UK. He has previously written for Southerly.

From the newest to the most established it would be an unusual writer who did not feel exposed – naked – at several stages in the creation and presentation of a work: when they sit down to the demands (so often their own demands of themselves) of the blank page or screen, when they first show the work to another, and when the work becomes subject to the comments and analyses of reviewers, critics, scholars.

Many thanks to Anthony Lawrence for his excellent, thought-provoking posts. This month, Southerly’s blogger is Stephen Sewell. His bio is below. Well-known for his film and theatre work, including his AFI Award winning script of The Boys (1998) as well as plays such as The Blind Giant is Dancing, It Just Stopped and  the highly awarded Myth Propaganda and Disaster in Nazi Germany and Contemporary America – A Drama in 30 Scenes , Sewell is one of the most celebrated and experienced writers in Australia. He was awarded the prestigious ANPC Award for Significant Contribution to Australian Theatre in 2004,

… read more Next monthly blogger – Stephen Sewell!