The Centre for the Book

The Centre for the Book (CftB) is comprised of research-active scholars whose expertise is widely recognised both within Australia and internationally.

It is a Research Unit (RU) based within the School of English, Communications and Performance Studies in the Faculty of Arts at Monash University, Melbourne.

The Centre for the Book is outward-looking, interdisciplinary and theoretically hybridising. It explores book history and print culture in all forms:

• in all historical periods
• high-culture, pop-culture and everything in between
• the multiple materialities of manuscript and print communication
• print culture’s relationship to politics, including contemporary cultural policy
• the book industries, both in Australia and internationally
• Social formations of reading and book audiences
• The book’s increasingly intertwined relationship with other media platforms
• Book futures, including digital-codex hybrids
• Web 2.0 book phenomena, and the 21st-century digital literary sphere

Members

• Dr Simone Murray
• Dr Patrick Spedding
• Prof. Andrew Milner
• Dr Rebecca Do Rozario

Areas of Research Strength

• contemporary print cultures
• cross-media relationships
• the online literary sphere
• digital books
• text-bases and archives
• book history
• physical bibliography
• clandestine publishing, obscenity and censorship
• children’s literature and publishing
• fantasy and science fiction publishing
• sociologies of literature
• cultural materialism

Graduate Research with The Centre for the Book

Higher Degree Research (HDR) candidates connected with The Centre for the Book are eligible to be Associate Members and will be incorporated into all activities. The Centre for the Book offers a variety of supervisory and research activity options to connected students, supported by seminars, national and international conference activities, symposia and public seminars.

Research support/facilities

The CftB has a strong focus on high quality postgraduate training and supervision. It provides both a supportive and stimulating environment and excellent professional development opportunities. Candidates receive one-on-one supervision and guidance in using Monash’s outstanding digital and physical resources for print cultures research. Candidates are encouraged to take full advantage of the research community by becoming involved in reading groups, email networks, research seminars, as well as by accessing support aimed at establishing your reputation as a scholar in your field (e.g. conference and publishing support). Candidates can access HDR-designated facilities and research-related funding support.

The Centre for the Book Enquiries

Director: Dr Simone Murray
Email: Simone.Murray@arts.monash.edu.au

Information for future students

School of English, Communications and Performance Studies
Telephone: + 61 3 9905 2277
Email: ECPS.Enquiries@arts.monash.edu.au
http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/ecps/future/