[Anthropgrad] Work-in-Progress Seminar - 13 March - Melinda Hinkson

[Sharon Komidar]

The Research School of Humanities presents,
 Work-in-Progress Seminar Series 

1- 2.30 pm, Friday 13th March, Theatrette, Old Canberra House

THE BILL HENSON SCANDAL: NOTES ON THE NEW CULTURAL ATTITUDE TO IMAGES 

Dr Melinda Hinkson, 

School of Archaeology and Anthropology and Research School of
Humanities, ANU

 

In May 2008 police removed a series of artworks by internationally
renowned photomedia artist Bill Henson from the walls of a Sydney
gallery just hours before his exhibition was due to open. They did so in
response to an allegation that the invitation to the opening carried an
image of child pornography. In this seminar Dr Hinkson will suggest that
rather than simply replicating an age-old debate over censorship, the
recent furore in Australia reveals dimensions of a new cultural attitude
to images. 

 

Dr Melinda Hinkson's research is in the areas of mediated interaction,
visual expression, and intercultural identity in Aboriginal Australia;
the history of anthropology (particularly through the intellectual life
of Australian anthropologist WEH Stanner); and, processes of identity
making in the present.  She teaches undergraduate and postgraduate
courses on media and modernity, visual culture research, and the history
of anthropological theory. Recent publications include An Appreciation
of Difference: WEH Stanner and Aboriginal Australia, Hinkson, M. &
Beckett, J. (eds) 2008, Aboriginal Studies Press, Canberra.

 

Convenors: Ken Taylor and Stephen Foster
For general enquiries please contact: 
Phone: 6125 2434
Email: administration.rsh at anu.edu.au 
Web: http://rsh.anu.edu.au/
All Welcome