Research on how and why social, cultural and political change happen
History, Media and Change considers the core notion of 'change' through the lenses of history and media, exploring internationalism, Indigenous protest and reform movements, migration and refugee studies, the circulation of radical ideas within populist movements in the post-enlightenment, and how minority critics of settler colonialism sought to mobilise social justice politics during the first half of the twentieth century.
Our projects
Our projects consider three intersecting themes:
- new journalistic and historical paradigms for understanding environmental crisis in the context of environmental thought from the 18th century;
- emerging models for improved engagement with ethnic minority communities in light of histories of inclusion and exclusion; the media, public trust and First Nations' Australians and the relationship to global Indigenous political histories; and
- modern political campaigning and the rise of global and local internationalisms in the twentieth century; and the implications of alternative and citizens' media for modern democracy.
An overarching concern for ‘social change’ unites these themes as we ask how and why social, cultural and political change happens; how media historically and currently connects to social movements; and what impact changing technologies and the 'digital revolution' might have in relation to the emergence of new publics. We surmise such impacts and emergences need to be contextualised through historical reflection.
In 2016 the Harry Gentle Resource Centre was created as part of the research group, with the aim of studying the people and places that contributed to the social and cultural landscape of early-colonial Queensland. It offers a portal of interactive resources, research publications, commentaries and research aids, with a focus on the years up to 1859.
Theme leaders:
Harry Gentle Resource Centre
Dedicated to the study of the peoples and lands of Australia, the Harry Gentle Resource Centre researches the people and places that contributed to the social and cultural landscape of early-colonial Queensland.
ARC projects
- Davis M, Moore A, McCormack J, Marriott K, Maxwell-Stewart H, Quinlan M, Carter N, Brooks J, Thomas S. 'Conviction Politics. The Convict Routes of Australian Democracy'. ARC - LP18010148 (2020-2024) Total funding amount $757,205.
- McLeod J, Paisley F, Nakata S, Ballantyne T. 'Progressive education and race: A transnational Australian History 1920-50s'. ARC-DP200100728 (2020-2023) Total funding amount $369,000
- Haggis J, Allen M, Paisley F, Midgley C. 'Beyond Empire transnational religious networks & liberal cosmopolitanisms'. ARC-DP170104310 (2017-2020) Total funding amount $333,500
- Paisley F. 'Australia and Anti-Slavery: Humanitarianism and Popular Culture from 1890 to the present'. ARC-DP140101793 (2014-2017) Total funding amount $289,367
- Buchan, B., Ellison, D., Denney, P., Guest, H. and Barrell, J. ‘Policing Noise: The Sounds of Civility in British Discourse, c. 1700- 1850. ARC-DP130102788 (2013-2016). Total amount funding $224,000.
- Forde, S., Foxwell-Norton, K. and Burrows, E. (ECR). ‘Our People, Our Pictures, Our Voices: Community representations of the Queensland land rights movement’, ARC-LP110200894 (2011-2014). Total funding amount $107,587 + $50,000 Industry cash funds.
- Ganter, R. ‘German-speakers in the Australian Indigenous Encounter: Ethnographers, Collectors, Missionaries. ARC-FF100100364 (2010-2014). Total funding amount $683,406.
- Paisley, F. ‘Worldly encounters: Australian internationalists and the future of world civilisation in the twentieth century Pan-Pacific’. ARC-DP130102757 (2013-2016). Total funding amount $90,257.
- Paisley, F., Lydon, J., Burn., J., Levin, P. and Grant, K. ‘Australia and Anti-Slavery: Humanitarianism and Popular Culture from 1890 to the present'. ARC-DP140101793 (2014-2016). Total funding amount $257,149.
- Pini, B. 'Disability in rural Australia', ARC-DP110102719, (2011-2014). Total funding amount $180,884.
- Haggis, J., Allen, M., Paisley, F, Midgley, C. “Beyond Empire: Transnational religious networks and liberal cosmopolitanisms’, ARC DP170104310 (2017-2019). Total funding amount $333,500.
Meadows M, Forde S, Ewart J. 'Regional, Remote and Radical: Australia's Community broadcasting audiences talk back'. ARC-LP0455526 (2004-2006) Total funding amount $568,939
Other external grants and funding
- Lawton J, Forde S. 'Indigenous Media and community listening: Harnessing the power of the spoken word for urban and regional Indigenous communities'. Brisbane Indigenous Media Association_Lowitja Institute. (2021-2022) (Value $200,000)
- Forde S, Istvandity L. 'Music for therapeutic reminiscing: Promoting healthy ageing in Australia through preventative and restorative therapy'. St Vincent's Health Australia. (2016-2017) (Value $49,656)
- Ahrens P, Paisley F. 'Broken Images: A Symposium on Early Americal Photography in the Asia Pacific, 1850 - 1950'. Terra Foundation for American Art. (2013-2014) (Total funding amount $29,000
- Denney, P. Associate investigator in ARC Centre for the History of Emotions, based at UWA, Sydney, Melbourne and UQ (2012–2015).(Total funding amount $15,000).
- Pearson, M (Project leader with Jacqui Ewart, GCI). “Develop and trial resources to improve mainstream reporting of Islam”, Commonwealth Government Attorney-General’s Dept. (Total funding amount $410,000).
- Yeo, R. Associate investigator in ARC Centre for the History of Emotions, based at UWA, Sydney, Melbourne and UQ (2012–2015). (Total funding amount $15,000).
- Forde S, Meadows M. 'Community broadcasting and the public sphere: an investigation of the role of community broadcasting in Australia'. Department of Employment, Education & Training. (1999-2001) (Total funding amount $94,411)