Meanland: Reading in a time of change

The way we read is changing more profoundly now than at any time since the invention of movable type. E-books, electronic ink, digital readers; the book is reinventing itself at a dizzying rate.
But what does the future hold for readers, for publishers and for writers?
Across 2010 Meanjin and Overland – two of Australia’s finest literary journals – come together for a series of events and articles investigating the impact of new technology, economic change and shifting notions of intellectual property on reading and writing in Australia.
Under the guiding hand and watchful eye of Meanjin editor Sophie Cunningham, the opening event in the series explores what reading might be like in fifteen years time. Discussing these weighty topics are Sherman Young, academic and author of The Book is Dead; Margaret Simons, media commentator and author of The Content Makers; literary critic Peter Craven; and broadcaster and M-book author Marieke Hardy.
Featuring

Marieke Hardy was born on or around the set of The Sullivans and has remained in the media ever since. From inauspicious beginnings as a lisping child actor in The Henderson Kids II, the granddaughter of Frank Hardy has both appeared in and written for many Australian dramas, from Something in the A... Read more

Margaret Simons is Associate Professor in the School of Media, Film and Journalism, Monash University. In 2015, she won the Walkley Award for Social Equity Journalism. Her recent books include Six Square Metres, Self-Made Man: The Kerry Stokes Story, What’s Next in Journalism?, Journalism at ... Read more

Sophie Cunningham is a non-fiction writer and novelist with a passion for trees, walking and broader environmental issues. Sophie’s most recent books are This Devastating Fever (Ultimo Press) and Flipper and Finnegan –The True Story of How Tiny Jumpers Saved Little Penguins (Albert Street Books)... Read more

Peter Craven is one of Australia’s best-known literary critics. He edited Scripsi with Michael Heyward and was the founding editor of the Black Inc. Best Of annuals (Essays, Stories, Poems) and of Quarterly Essay. His work appears regularly in the Age, Australian, Sydney Morning Herald and Austral... Read more

Associate Professor Sherman Young is Associate Dean of Learning and Teaching in the Faculty of Arts at Macquarie University. He is also the Deputy Head of the Department of Media, Music and Cultural Studies, where he teaches new media theory and production. His research focuses on the cultural impac... Read more
Watch, Listen, Read

Listen
Kevin Jared Hosein: Hungry Ghosts [Podcast Exclusive]
23 Sep 2023

Read
Spring Fling 2023: Programmers Picks
22 Sep 2023

Watch
Jeff Goodell: Heat
20 Sep 2023

Watch
Polly Barton: Porn
18 Sep 2023

Read
Watch, Listen, Read: Above and Beyond the Spring Fling 2023 Program
18 Sep 2023

Listen
Chloé Hayden's Lightbulb Moment
9 Sep 2023