At the Writing, Literature and Culture group, our researchers engage in a wide range of fields, including literary studies, children’s literature, creative writing, and gender and sexuality studies. Our work critically examines textual representations of gender, race, sexuality, and the post-human, highlighting the significant role of writing, literature, and culture in shaping society and fostering global understanding.
Our research is driven by a commitment to exploring the intersections between creative practice, critical theory and cultural inquiry. We critically examine how literature and culture shape and are shaped by social, political and environmental contexts. Key areas of focus include:
We analyse the forms, production and reception of literature, exploring how texts are created, consumed and understood across different contexts.
Our research examines the intersection of creative writing practices and the concept of community, exploring how writing shapes and is shaped by social bonds.
We investigate the relationship between gender, sexuality and belonging, focusing on how gender and sexual differences are archived, remembered and represented.
Whether you're looking to refine your creative writing, master literary criticism, explore narrative and culture or embark on a major research project, Deakin’s Writing, Literature and Culture program offers a wide range of study options.
Our researchers include prize-wining writers and scholars across a wide range of fields, including poetry, non-fiction, performance, philosophy, eco-criticism, place-making, digital media and cross-disciplinary art forms.
Professor Cassandra Atherton is a Deakin distinguished professor and associate head of school in the Faculty of Arts and Education. She’s an award-winning scholar, poet and critic and her areas of research include prose poetry, ekphrasis and atomic bomb literature, specifically hibakusha poetry.
Dr Geoff Boucher is an associate professor in writing and literature. His expertise is in Frankfurt School Critical Theory, Marxism and post-Marxism and Lacanian psychoanalysis. His current research focuses on authoritarian politics, fantasy literature, Shakespeare after Zizek and retrieving Althusser.
Our research explores and champions the vital role of writing, literature, and culture in society, employing both traditional and non-traditional research methods to engage with contemporary issues and foster deeper understanding of our changing world.
This joint ARC-funded project explores how diasporic youth engage with digital spaces and the concept of global digital citizenship. By exploring the digital media habits of Australian youth, our researchers aim to uncover valuable insights to inform educational policies and develop resources.
Our research examines the contemporary connection between right-wing authoritarian politics and the culture of the alt-right and far right. It includes analysis of QAnon and other fringe conspiracy theories, particularly as they relate to literary anticipations and computer games.
Have questions or want to learn more about our research and opportunities? Reach out to our team and discover how you can contribute to advancing knowledge in reading, writing and culture.
