Assoc Prof Mark Davis
Lecturer, Publishing and Communications
Director Graduate Studies, Faculty of Arts (from January 2010)
Qualifications
Ba Hons (UoM), PhD (UoM)
Biography
Educated at Shepparton and Ashwood high schools and the University of Melbourne, Mark Davis has worked for 15 years in the Australian magazine and book publishing industries as a graphic designer, twice winning major awards for book design. He is also a writer of popular non-fiction and has written for many major newspapers and magazines. His book Gangland: Cultural Elites and the New Generationalism was short-listed in the 1998 NSW Premiers Literary Awards and received an honourable mention in the Centre for Australian Cultural Studies National Awards for 'an outstanding contribution to Australian culture'.
Since 2004 he has taught in the Publishing and Communications Program in the School of Culture and Communication at the University of Melbourne.
Current research
Australian literary publishing and its economies, 1965-1995
ARC Discovery Project, with Ivor Indyk (UWS), John Arnold (Monash), David Carter (UQ) and Louise Poland (UWS)
Australian literature is an essential aspect of Australian culture but its viability is currently under threat, both in the marketplace, and in tertiary and secondary education, where its coherence and relevance as a discipline has diminished over the past decade. Because it explores the different inputs that make for a vital literary culture, some of them intangible or discrete in their operation, the project will contribute to a better understanding of how this culture works, and to a renewed confidence in its ability to sustain itself by commercial and non-commercial means.
The Bloom Book Industry Report: an annual survey of the Australian book publishing industry
ARC Linkage Project, with Jenny Lee (UoM), Rose Michael (UoM), and Andrew Wilkins (industry partner, Thorpe-Bowker)
This project represents a university–industry partnership to document the state of play in Australian book publishing, an industry of central importance in Australian intellectual and cultural life. The data gathered will help to identify opportunities and risks for the industry at a time when it is undergoing rapid technological change and reorienting itself towards global markets. The project will be designed to facilitate comparison with studies in other countries, identify the local impact of global trends and foster forward-looking industry responses. The information gathered will be invaluable for researchers, industry personnel and policy-making bodies, and will establish the groundwork for targeted research into key industry issues.
Knowledge transfer
- Member of board of management, Meanjin [link: http://www.meanjin.unimelb.edu.au/]
- Member of editorial advisory board, Cultural Studies [link: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/titles/09502386.asp]
- Member of editorial advisory board, Open Humanities Press [link: http://openhumanitiespress.org/]
- Member of advisory board, OzProspect [link: http://www.ozprospect.org/]
- Honorary fellow, Centre for Policy Development [link: http://cpd.org.au/]
Teaching
- 106-474 The Contemporary Publishing Industry
- 106-514 The Publishing Industry and Globalisation
- 106-518 Print Production and Design
- 106-524 Advanced Book Editing and Publishing
Full subject descriptions are available on the University of Melbourne Handbook.
Research student supervisions
- Jay Thompson, 'Male domination (dis)appears: academic feminist debates and generational division in Australian writing during the mid-1990s'
- Amelia Johns, 'Panic at the boundaries: an examination of Australian cultural attitudes toward the integrity of geographical and metaphorical boundaries in the aftermath of the 2002 Bali bombings'
- Callum Scott, 'The Bogue identity: a fictocritical exploration of the life and songs of the bogan/antihero'
Publications
In-press
- [In press] 'The clash of paradigms: Australian literary theory after liberalism', Journal of the Association for the Study of Australian Literature, volume 7 (2007).
Books
- [Forthcoming] The Land of Plenty: Australia in the 2000s (Melbourne: Melbourne University Publishing, 2008).
- Gangland: Cultural Elites and the New Generationalism, 2nd Edition (Sydney: Allen & Unwin, 1999).
- Gangland: Cultural Elites and the New Generationalism (Sydney: Allen & Unwin, 1997).
Book chapters
- 'The Decline of the Literary Paradigm in Australian Publishing' (updated and revised), in David Carter and Anne Galligan (eds), Making Books: Contemporary Australian Publishing (St Lucia: University of Queensland Press, 2007), 116–131.
- 'Australian Democracy Now: Notes Toward a Position', in Phillip Adams and Dale Spender (eds), The Ideas Book, Brisbane, University of Queensland Press, 2005, 120–9.
- 'Great White Noise', in David Carter (ed.), The Ideas Market: An Alternative Take on Australia's Intellectual Life, Melbourne, Melbourne University Publishing, 2004, 183–198.
- 'Towards Cultural Renewal', in Nathan Hollier (ed.), Ruling Class, Ruling Culture: The Power, Privilege & Politics of the New Ruling Class, Melbourne, Australian Scholarly Publishing, 2004, 182–206.
- 'Elegies, Boundaries, Disciplines: the Humanities After Liberalism', Humanities: New Horizons, Rockhampton, Central Queensland University, 1998, pp. 29–39.
- 'Cultural Energy Waiting in the Wings', in Liz Byrski (ed.), The Way Ahead: Prominent Australians Talk About the Future of Our Nation, Sydney, New Holland, 1998, pp. 260–71.
- 'Crying in Public Places: Neoconservatism and Victim Panic', Bodyjamming: Sexual Harassment, Feminism and Public Life, Jenna Mead (ed.), Sydney, Random House, 1997, pp. 223–242.
- 'That Reliable Signifier: Shakespeare, Difference and (Post)colonial Memory', Shakespeare's Books: Contemporary Cultural Politics and the Persistence of Empire, Marion Campbell and Philip Mead (eds.), Melbourne, Department of English, The University of Melbourne, 1993, pp. 152–61.
Journal articles
- 'Myths of the Generations: Baby-boomers, X and Y', Overland 187, 2007: 4–14.
- 'The Decline of the Literary Paradigm in Australian Publishing', Heat, August 2006.
- 'Towards Cultural Renewal', Overland, no. 163, 2001: 4–14.
- 'Elegies, Boundaries, Disciplines: The Humanities After Liberalism', The UTS Review, vol. 5, no. 1, May 1999: 142–156.
- 'Assaying the Essay', Overland, no. 156, 1999: 3–10.
- 'Sick, Wicked Culture: The Global Politics of Regional Youth', Australian Quarterly, Vol. 70, No. 5 (September–October 1998): 16–23.
- 'Little Johnny's Foaming Lip: The Culture Wars, Cultural Studies and the Ten-Point Plan', Australian Studies (U.K.), vol. 13, no. 2, Winter 1998: 11–22.
- 'Theorizing the Blurb: The Strange Case at the End of the Book', Meanjin, Vol. 53, No. 2, 1994: 245-57.
- 'Chaos: Making a New Science?', Meanjin, Volume 50, Nos. 2–3, 1991: 381–85.
Conference papers
- 'Globalisation and the new racism: a brief history', New Right, New Racisms, 3–5 November 2006, University of Sydney.
- 'The Decline of the Literary Paradigm in Australian Publishing', Lecture, Departmental seminar series, Department of English with Cultural Studies, University Of Melbourne, 28.8.05.
- 'Public Knowledge, Private Knowledge: Higher Education, Globalisation and Democracy'. Keynote Address, Australian Postgraduate Association Annual Conference, University of Queensland, 30.11.01.
- 'Pulp Theory and the New Right'. 'Double-edged; New Writing on the New Right', Macquarie University and University of Technology, Sydney, 9.12.00.
- 'Little Johnny's Foaming Lip: The Culture Wars, Cultural Studies and the Ten-Point Plan'. Keynote address, 'Cultural Gatekeepers: Sensibilities, Secrets and Australian Identity at the End of the Century' conference, British Australian Studies Association and Sir Robert Menzies Centre for Australian Studies, Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London, 28.11.98.
- 'Elegies, Boundaries, Disciplines: the Humanities After Liberalism'. Lecture, Departmental seminar series, Department of English with Cultural Studies, University Of Melbourne, 28.10.98.
- 'A New Organicism'. Public lecture in the Faculty of Arts Postgraduate and Honours lecture series, University of Tasmania, 24.7.98.
- 'Sick, Wicked Culture: The Global Politics of Regional Youth'. Keynote address, 'Issues of Regional Youth' conference, Central Queensland University (Mackay), 9.7.98.
- 'Elegies, Boundaries, Disciplines: the Humanities After Liberalism'. Keynote address, 'The Humanities: New Horizons' conference, Central Queensland University (Rockhampton) 20.2.98.
- 'Little Johnny's Foaming Lip: The 'Culture Wars', Cultural Studies and the Ten-Point Plan'. The CSAA conference, University of Melbourne, 3.12.97.
- 'That Reliable Signifier: Shakespeare, Difference and (Post)colonial Memory'. 'Shakespeare's Books' conference, Department of English, The University of Melbourne, 7.92.
Media articles
- 'Turf Wars', The Age, A2 cover story, May 19, 2007.
- 'No Going Back'. Feature article. AustralianBookseller and Publisher, May/June 2006: 22–3.
- 'Australia's Perilous Conservative Path'. Opinion. International Herald Tribune, 28.8.04.
- 'Youth Left Black and White as Time Stays on Parent's Side'. Opinion. Sydney Morning Herald, 19.2.03.
- 'Talking Back to Talkback Tactics'. Opinion. Sydney Morning Herald, 12.12.02.
- 'Great White Noise'. Lead feature article, Sydney Morning Herald, Spectrum, 12–13.1.02, p. 1, 4–5.
- 'Popular Culture: the Easy Target'. Opinion, Age, 7.5.99.
- 'Two Cheers for New Thinking'. Feature article, Age, Extra, 25.7.98, p. 7.
- 'After the Culture Wars—Ringing in the Changes'. Feature essay, Australian Book Review, No. 199, April 1998, pp. 15–16.
- 'What I Believe'. Feature article, Australian Style, Issue 27, 1998, p. 94.
Reviews
- 'Please F**k Off, it's Our Turn Now'. Review of Ryan Heath, 'Please F**k Off, it's Our Turn Now', Australian Bookseller and Publisher, April 2006.
- 'A Right Recasting'. Review of Imre Saluszinsky and Greg Melluish, Blaming Ourselves: September 11 and the Agony of the Left, Age, Extra, 18.5.02.
- 'Silence is Global'. Review of Noreena Hertz, The Silent Takeover, The Bulletin, 13.12.01, p. 89.
- 'Oz Lit in Aspic'. Review of Granta 70, Australia: The New New World, Sydney Morning Herald, Spectrum, 5.8.00, p. 3.
- 'Bonza Everyday Lives'. Review of Tony Bennett, Michael Emmison, John Frow, Accounting for Tastes: Australian Everyday Cultures, The Times Literary Supplement, 9.6.00, p. 34.
Public events, festivals and discussion panels
- Panellist. 'Is the Book Dead?', State Library of Victoria, with Louise Adler (chair), Jason Steger, Michael Webster and Melanie Ostell, June 6, 2007.
- The Overland Lecture: 'Myths of the Generations: Baby Boomers, X & Y', Emerging Writers' Festival, May 26, 2007.
- Panellist. 'The Death of Australian Publishing', Williamstown Writers' Festival, with Louise Adler and Rosemary Neill, 14.5.2006.
- Participating Chair. 'What Next for Oz Media?' University of Melbourne, Farrago Media Circus, with Christian, Martin Hughes, Misha Ketchell, Margaret Simons, 5.9.2005.
- Panellist. Brisbane Festival of Ideas, with Henry Reynolds and Phillip Adams, 15.8.03.
- Public lecture. Brisbane Festival of Ideas, 15.8.03.
- Launcher. Subaud magazine No. 2, 2002, Altitude Bar, 4.9.02.
- Panellist. Mildura Writer's Festival, with Chris Wallace-Crabbe, 3.8.02.
- Participating Chair. 'Does Liberalism have a Future?', with Greg Barnes, Thinkfresh/OzProspect discussion series, 26.6.02.
- Public lecture. 'Democracy Does Difference', La Trobe University (Mildura campus) Dean's lecture series, 26.5.02.
- Panellist. 'Interface: A Festival of Ideas on Australia's Media, Education and Democracy', Nexus, University of New South Wales, 20-21.4.02.
- Public lecture. 'Towards Cultural Renewal', Second Overland Lecture, 4.7.01.
- Chair. 'Ray Parkin, Life and Work', with Ray Parkin, City of Hawthorn Library, 28.6.01
- Public lecture. 'White Noise', Macquarie University Postgraduate Lecture Series, 11.9.00.
- Participating chair. 'Art Criticism and Media Politics', with Marcia Langton and Nikos Papastergiadis, Span Galleries, 31.8.00.
- Panellist. 'Why Universities Matter', with Raimond Gaita and Robert Manne, Australian Catholic University, 29.7.00.
- Panellist. 'On the Essay', Victorian Association of English teachers Annual Conference, with Morag Fraser and Peter Craven, 15.7.00.
- Panellist. 'Non-Fiction Now', with Mary Zournazi, Non-Fiction Writing Festival, State Library of New South Wales, 8.7.00.
- Keynote panellist. 'Virtual Celebrity in the Gangland', with McKenzie Wark and Dean Kiley, 'Freelance 2000: Third Annual Australian Freelance Convention for Journalists, Artists and Photographers', 5.5.00.
- Chair. 'Ray Parkin, Life and Work', with Ray Parkin, University Of Melbourne, 15.3.00.
- Public lecture. 'After Gangland', Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, 28.9.98.
- Chair. 'Media Uses and Abuses', with Helen Darville, Shane Paxton, Melita Rogowski and Matthew Thompson, National Young Writer's Festival, Newcastle, NSW, 27.9.98.
- Launcher. Voiceworks magazine #34, 1998, National Young Writer's Festival, Newcastle, NSW, 26.9.98.
- Panellist. 'Shoot the Canon', with John Birmingham, Dean Kiley and Catherine Lumby, National Young Writer's Festival, Newcastle, NSW, 25.9.98.
- Public lecture. 'A New Organicism', 'Barbie World Lectures 98' series, Centre for Contemporary Photography, Melbourne, Victoria, 12.8.98.
- Panellist. forum on Bell Shakespeare Company's King Lear, with Barrie Kosky, John Bell, Louise Adler and Peter Craven, Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne, Victoria, 10.9.98.
- Participating Chair. 'Words That Define a Generation', Brisbane Writer's Festival, Brisbane, Qld., 6.9.98.
- Panellist. 'Derailing the Thought Train', Brisbane Writer's Festival, Brisbane, Qld., 5.9.98.
- Chair. 'Press Gang', Brisbane Writer's Festival, Brisbane, Qld., 3.9.98.
- Panellist. Public Office art & architecture discussion series, Next Wave Festival, 23.5.98.
- Panellist. 'Writer's Speak', with George Papaellinas, Box Hill Library, 14.5.98.
- Launcher. Adam Carey, Simmone Howell, Sharon Shelley, Jon Southurst, Patrick Witton, The Hard Word (Melbourne: Vandal Press, 1998) 26.4.98.
- Panellist. 'Whose Gangland? Reception and Textual Legislation', 'The Great Gangland Debate' (with Morag Fraser, Elisa Berg, Helen Daniel, Dean Kiley and Peter Craven: Moira Rayner chair), The Comedy Club, 13.11.97.
- Panellist. 'Sexual Harassment, Naming and the Politics of Freedom', 'Bodyjamming Forum' (with Foong Ling Kong, Matthew Ricketson and Jenna Mead: Helen Elliot chair), The Comedy Club, 28.10.97.
- Panellist. 'Pluralism and Criticism: Gangland, Gatekeepers, and Other Tales From the Top Paddock', 'Gangs and Gatekeepers' panel (with Frank Moorhouse, Kathy Bail and Peter Craven: Sophie Cunningham chair), Melbourne Writer's Week, The Malthouse, 19.10.97.
- Panellist. 'After the Culture Wars', with McKenzie Wark and Catherine Lumby, Artspace, Wooloomooloo, 11.10.97.
Interviews
- With Hanna Mills, 'Struggle to be Heard', MX News, May 28, 2007: 8.
- With Rosemary Neill, commentary for 'Who is Killing the Great Books of Australia?', The Australian, Review, March 15, 2006: 1.
- 'Mark Davis Goes Boom. Interview with Ben Gook.' Voiceworks. 61 (Winter 2005): 54-55.
- With Thornton McAmish, The Age, Nov 10, 2005.
- With Nigel Bowen, commentary for 'Who, What, Y', The Bulletin, November 23, 2005.
- With Geert Lovink, May 2000. Syndicated interview published simultaneously in English and Dutch, on web-sites in Amsterdam, Sydney and Chicago.
- With Kerry Watson, Next Wave Festival Catalogue (Fitzroy: Next Wave Festival Inc., 1998), p. 10–11.
- With Paul Best, 'Ganging Up', Australian Quarterly, Vol. 70, No. 1 (January–February 1998): 8–13.
- With Finn Bradshaw, '(Gang)lands of Missed Opportunity', Catalyst, Edition 6, 1998, p. 10–11.
- With Michelle Griffin, 'Loud on TV', Age, Green Guide, 1.1.98.
- With Fiona Carruthers, 'Life No Bed of Roses for the Chosen Generation', Australian, 27.11.97.
- With Jenna Price, 'A Changing of the Literary Guard', Canberra Times, 8.11.97.
- With Phip Murray, 'Gangland', Farrago, Volume 76, Edition 9, 1997, pp. 28-30.
- With Vicky Riley, Real Time Magazine, 30.10.97.
- With Gavin Sawford, Rave Magazine, 29.10.97.
- With Simon Castles, 'Ganging Up', The Big Issue, Oct, 97, pp 26-27.
- With Dianne Dempsey, 'A New Leaf', Sunday Age, 19.10.97.
- With Michael Brody, 'Writer's Reign', Beat Magazine, Issue 574, 15.10.97, p. 15.
- With David Low, 'Taking on the Gang', Honit Soit, 7.10.97, p. 30.
- With Sylvia Lorimer and Gretchen Miller, Northern Herald, 1.10.97.
- With Andrew Stafford, 'Attack of the Boring Old Farts', Not Only Black and White, No. 27, Oct 1997, pp. 26-8.
- With Ramona Koval, 'The Getting of Wisdom', Weekend Australian, Sept 27-8, 1997.
- With Michael Smith, Drum Media, 26.9.97.
- With Nerida Shackleton, Age, Citysearch web-site, 23.9.97.
- With Paul Ransom, Liquid Space, 18.9.97.
- With Fran Cusworth, AAP, 'Baby Boomers: They Didn't Die Young, and They Won't Fade Away', Warwick Daily News, 16.9.97.
- With Jamie Walker, 'Not My Generation', Weekend Australian, Review, Sept 6-7, 1997.
Radio, television and digital media
- Panel discussion, 'Exhibit A', Radio National, 'Myths of the generations', with Susan Donisthorpe (host), Sally Warhaft, and Richard Neville, July 22, 2007.
- Panel discussion, 'The Book Show', Radio National, 'Does Ozlit have a future?', with Ramona Koval (host), David Carter and Elizabeth Webby, June 15, 2007.
- Interview with Lisa Greenaway, RRR FM, May 24, 2007.
- Interview with Red Symons, ABC Radio 774, Melbourne, May 18, 2007.
- Interview with Simon Winkley, 'Alchemy', SBS Radio, May 16, 2007.
- With Rod Quinn, ABC Radio 606, Canberra, 30.7.02.
- With Vicki Rohan, JJJ FM, 23.7.02.
- With Tony Jones, 'Lateline', ABC television, 20.4.01.
- With Geraldine Doogue, 'Life Matters', ABC Radio National, 11.9.00.
- With Nicola Walker, ABC Radio Northern Territory and Regionals, 7.4.00.
- With Vincent O'Donnell, 'Arts Alive' (syndicated public radio show), 24.9.99.
- With Frances Leach, 'Creatures', JJJ FM, 15.11.98.
- ABC Radio, Mackay, Queensland, 9.7.98.
- 'Arts Alive' (syndicated public radio show), 26.4.98.
- With Barbara Kerr, 'The Book Show', SRA Radio RMIT, 22.6.98.
- With Tebal Fischer, 'Books Abroad', BBC Radio 3, 11.6.98.
- With Jen Oldershaw, JJJ FM, 'Slash Kids', 9.4.98.
- With Michael Bodey, RRR FM, 8.4.98.
- With Robert Bolton, 'Media Report', ABC Radio National, 7.4.98.
- ABC Radio Northern Territory and Regionals, 24.2.98.
- With Ty Pendlebury, PBS FM, 29.1.98.
- ABC Radio, 'PM', 28.1.98.
- With Margaret El Chani, 'LOUD Festival', ABC Radio 3LO, 13.1.98.
- With Kerry Watson, 'Cover to Cover', Radio RRR FM, 16.12.97.
- With David McCormack, 'Recovery', ABC TV, 29.11.97.
- With Terry Laidler, Radio 3LO, 24.11.97.
- With Dianne Dempsey, ABC Regionals, 12.11.97.
- With Trisha Evans, Radio 2CN, 30.10.97.
- With Linda Skates, 'Sunday Edition', Radio New Zealand, 26.10.97.
- With Michelle Sabto, 'The Books and Writing Show', Southern FM, 22.10.97.
- With Paul Carr, Radio 2ST, 14.10.97.
- With Elisia Yeo, Radio 2SER, 11.10.97.
- With Bruce Anderson, ABC Radio 6GN, 24.9.97.
- With Pieta O'Shaugnessy, 'Pieta O'Shaugnessy Programme', Radio 6NR, 23.9.97.
- With Louise Adler, panel discussion with Meaghan Morris, Guy Rundle, Robert Manne and Elisa Berg, 'Arts Today', ABC Radio National, 23.9.97.
- 'After Gangland', 'Arts Today', ABC Radio National, 23.9.97 (9 minutes spoken word radio broadcast).
- With Peter Holland and Sarah Knight, 'Afternoons with Peter Holland and Sarah Knight', ABC Radio 6WF, 22.9.97.
- With Robert Bolten, panel discussion with David Armstrong and George Negus, 'The Media Report', ABC Radio National, 22.9.97.
- With Lindy Burns, 'Lindy Burns Program', ABC Radio 2NC, 19.9.97.
- With Chris Stewart, 'In Review Programme', Radio 5RPH, 19.9.97.
- With Matthew Carden, 'World View', Radio SBS, 19.9.97.
- With Bill Hartley, 'Par Avignon Programme', Radio 3CR, 19.9.97.
- With Cath Keneally, 'Arts Programme', Radio 5UV, 18.9.97.
- With Phillip Adams, ABC Radio National, 'Late Night Live', 17.9.97.
- With Jen Oldershaw, 'Mornings with Jen Oldershaw', ABC Radio JJJ, 16.9.97.
- With James Valentine, 'Mornings with James Valentine', ABC Radio 2CN, 16.9.97.
- With Angela Catterns, ABC Radio 2BL/3LO, 16.9.97.