Reading Writing Futures
Cultivating critical thinking through literary analysis and creative practice
New social imaginaries
Reading Writing Futures examines the role of writing in the 21st century. Our research combines creative and critical methods to explore how culture shapes political and social agendas and affects our interactions with individuals and the world.
Our research areas
Our multidisciplinary research draws on arts, education, and humanities disciplines. We include award-winning writers and critics who work across two key research streams:
Reading and writing critically
We explore the connections of writing and literature to political and social agendas in relation to storytelling. Whose stories are told? Who writes them? Who reads them? These questions inform wide-ranging discussions on topics including settler colonialism, representations of place, extremism, children’s literature, and the importance of regional and global networks.
Cultural understanding through form and genre
We examine the literary and cultural world through the lens of form and genre. What kinds of stories are being written and shared? How do form and genre shape reception of stories in the world? In a world rocked by the emergence of AI, our research considers the importance of innovation and understanding across a range of forms including life writing, creative non-fiction, poetry and genre fiction.
Conduct impactful research
Join our esteemed researchers in exploring how we use writing and reading to imagine possible futures. Connect with our researchers, learn more about our projects or discuss partnership opportunities.
Our researchers
The Reading Writing Futures group delivers innovative projects through our extensive professorial team.
Associate Professor Geoff Boucher researches how cultures of resentment feed rising authoritarian politics, and how to protect democracy by interrupting conspiracy theories and hate narratives.
Associate Professor Kristine Moruzi researches in the areas of children’s literature and culture in the nineteenth century and the present day to consider how young people are positioned as readers, writers and activists.
Professor Cassandra Atherton, Deakin Distinguished Professor and Associate Head of School, Research
Dr Robin Bellingham, Senior Lecturer, Education (Pedagogy and Curriculum)
Lauren Bevilacqua, Associate Lecturer, Communication
Associate Professor Geoff Boucher, Associate Professor of Writing and Literature
Professor Clare Bradford, Emeritus Professor
Dr Gilbert Caluya, Senior Lecturer
Associate Professor Marion Campbell, Honorary Associate Professor
Dr Rosey Chang, Lecturer
Associate Professor Sue Chen, Associate Professor, Writing and Literature
Dr Rebecca Croser, Lecturer
Dr Andrew Dean, Lecturer in Writing and Literature
Dr Jonathan Dunk, Lecturer
Dr Rachel Fetherston, Lecturer
Associate Professor Jessamy Gleeson, Associate Professor, Writing and Literature
Dr Karen Le Rossignol, Honorary Fellow
Dr Elizabeth Little, Lecturer in Education (Language and Literacy)
Dr Janine Little, Senior Lecturer in Communication
Dr Ramon Lopez Castellano, Lecturer in Spanish
Dr Stefanie Markidis, Lecturer
Dr Jodi McAlister, Senior Lecturer, Writing and Literature
Dr Emily McAvan, Teaching Fellow
Professor David McCooey, Personal Chair
Professor Lyn Mc Credden, Emeritus Professor
Dr Alyson Miller, Senior Lecturer
Associate Professor Kristine Moruzi, Associate Professor, Writing and Literature
Associate Professor Antonia Pont, Associate Professor, Writing and Literature
Professor Emily Potter, Professor, Writing and Literature
Dr Lenise Prater, Teaching Scholar, Creative Writing and Literature
Associate Professor Leonie Rutherford, Associate Professor of Writing and Literature
Dr Adriano Tedde, Lecturer, Strategic and American Studies
Associate Professor Paul Venzo, Associate Professor
Professor Ann Vickery, Professor, Writing and Literature
Associate Professor Patrick West, Associate Professor, Writing and Literature
Dr Helen Young, Senior Research Fellow (Future Fellowship)
Dr Tyson Yunkaporta, Senior Lecturer, Indigenous Knowledges
Featured projects
Our collaborations with government, community and industry enable impactful research and innovative solutions.
Understanding the present through medieval narratives
This Future Fellowship project, led by Dr. Helen Young, seeks to explore how narratives of the medieval past shape identities and propagate ideologies today, transcending political, temporal and national boundaries.
Science and children’s literature in modern China
Led by Associate Professor Sue Chen, this project explores the communication and translation of science to young readers through literature in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It examines how children’s literature fostered scientific literacy and cultivated early interest in science.
Our partnerships
Our ties with external partners ensure that our research connects with industry and community. Our partners include:
- Overland
- Warrnambool Art Gallery
- Express Media
- Geelong Regional Libraries
- Mountain Writers Festival.
Contact us
Our team is here to help you learn more about the Reading Writing Futures Group. Email our group convenors below or visit the Writing, Literature and Culture blog to keep up to date with the latest news.
