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The Role of the Writer in John Howard's Australia single work   criticism  
Issue Details: First known date: 2003... 2003 The Role of the Writer in John Howard's Australia
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

In the 2003 Colin Simpson Lecture, David Marr argues that 'the role of the writer is always to surprise'. He reflects on his personal observation that 'few Australian novels ... address in worldly, adult ways the country and the time in which we live' and proposes that 'writers start focusing on what is happening in this country [Australia], looking Australia in the face, not flinching, coming to grips with the fact that we have been on a long loop through time that has brought us back almost - but not quite - to where we were [in the 1950s].' Marr cites the approach of Patrick White as an example that others writers could emulate.

Notes

  • First presented as the Colin Simpson Lecture at the Redfern Town Hall, 11.00-12.30, 29 March 2003. Subsequently aired on the ABC radio programme, 'Books and Writing' on 6 April 2003.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

Alternative title: Out of Apathy
First known date: 2003
Link: PANDORA Archive
  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon Australian Author vol. 50 no. 2 2018 15356073 2018 periodical issue

    'In October 1962, the inaugural meeting of the proposed Society of Authors was held, to end the present feudal state of the Australian writer' and address the issues of 'poor and variable anthology fees, the need for standard contracts and the position regarding copyright' (Dal Stivens. foundation president). Broadside, the first journal of the Australian Society of Authors, began in September 1963 as a 'medium of information and opinion', and fulfilled that role until the last edition was published in July 1968 to make way for the launch of The Australian Author in 1969. This magazine was never intended as a literary puma\ and, as a result, did not meet the funding criteria of the time. Rather, its purpose was to 'concentrate attention on the defence of literary property—the writer's business (Stephany Steggall, Status and Sugar, 2013), which is exactly what it did for the next 50 years. ' (Publication summary)
     

         2018     pg. 84-89
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Related Works

The Situation of the Writer in 2003 Sylvia Lawson , 2003 single work criticism
— Appears in: The Australian Financial Review , 6 June 2003; (p. 4) Responding to Marr's 2003 Colin Simpson Lecture, 'The Role of the Writer in John Howard's Australia', Lawson argues that journalists - as well as writers - have a role to play in presenting the citizens of a country with factual evidence of current events. Lawson goes further and suggests that 'Marr's challenge should therefore be not only to writers, but equally to agents, publishers, commissioning editors, critics and reviewers, the whole writing-publishing network'.
VIEW ALL RELATED WORKS (1)

Works about this Work

Debating 'The Role of the Writer in John Howard's Australia': Literature and the Mainstream Julieanne Lamond , 2007 single work criticism
— Appears in: Local Global , no. 3 2007; (p. 82-93) 'There has been considerable public debate in Australia in recent years about the role of writers in addressing the particular nature of the 'time in which we live'. This debate is not a new one, but rather forms part of a larger argument that has taken place periodically in Australia since at least the 1930s regarding whether our writers do, or should, take current life in Australia - its politics and problems - as the subject matter for their novels. This paper examines this debate in relation to ways in which Australian novels can tackle public or everyday life in relation to ideas about a national literature and the mainstream. It asks what this reveals about our culture.' (Local Global abstract)
Raw Material Begs Writers Christopher Pearson , 2003 single work criticism
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 2-3 August 2003; (p. 18) Pearson assesses David Marr's 2003 Colin Simpson Lecture, 'The Role of the Writer in John Howard's Australia' and suggests some social issues that Australian writers may care to tackle in their work.
Nation in Need of Novel Idea 2003 single work column
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 26-27 July 2003; (p. 10-11) Summarises the recent debate over the social responsibility of authors towards society in general.
Nation in Need of Novel Idea 2003 single work column
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 26-27 July 2003; (p. 10-11) Summarises the recent debate over the social responsibility of authors towards society in general.
Raw Material Begs Writers Christopher Pearson , 2003 single work criticism
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 2-3 August 2003; (p. 18) Pearson assesses David Marr's 2003 Colin Simpson Lecture, 'The Role of the Writer in John Howard's Australia' and suggests some social issues that Australian writers may care to tackle in their work.
Debating 'The Role of the Writer in John Howard's Australia': Literature and the Mainstream Julieanne Lamond , 2007 single work criticism
— Appears in: Local Global , no. 3 2007; (p. 82-93) 'There has been considerable public debate in Australia in recent years about the role of writers in addressing the particular nature of the 'time in which we live'. This debate is not a new one, but rather forms part of a larger argument that has taken place periodically in Australia since at least the 1930s regarding whether our writers do, or should, take current life in Australia - its politics and problems - as the subject matter for their novels. This paper examines this debate in relation to ways in which Australian novels can tackle public or everyday life in relation to ideas about a national literature and the mainstream. It asks what this reveals about our culture.' (Local Global abstract)
VIEW ALL WORKS ABOUT (3)
Last amended 13 Dec 2018 06:03:21
84-89 The Role of the Writer in John Howard's Australiasmall AustLit logo Australian Author
Subjects:
  • 1950s
  • 2000s
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