Queer Literature: Then and Now

They grow up so fast! This year marks significant birthdays for three celebrated works of Australian queer literature. Holding the Man, the memoir by Timothy Conigrave turns 20. Loaded, the first novel by Christos Tsiolkas turns 20, too. The Monkey’s Mask, the verse novel by Dorothy Porter, turns 21.
To mark these milestones, we’ll explore the cultural impact of these three works and discuss the evolution of queer literature in Australia in the years since. What’s changed? What hasn’t changed? And what’s coming next?
Find out with this conversation between Tommy Murphy, Christos Tsiolkas and Andrea Goldsmith. Hosted by Dr Quinn Eades.
Featuring

Andrea Goldsmith originally trained as a speech pathologist and was a pioneer in the development of communication aids for people unable to speak. Her first novel, Gracious Living, was published in 1989. This was followed by Modern Interiors, Facing the Music, Under the Knife, and The Prosperou... Read more

Christos Tsiolkas is the author of six novels, including Loaded, which was made into the feature film Head-On, The Jesus Man and Dead Europe, which won the 2006 Age Fiction Prize and the 2006 Melbourne Best Writing Award, as well as being made into a feature film. His fourth novel, the internat... Read more

Tommy Murphy is the screenwriter and associate producer for the feature film of Holding the Man. His stage adaptation of Timothy Conigrave’s much-loved tragic romance memoir, has had productions every year since its premiere, including Melbourne (MTC), Sydney (Griffin, Belvoir, Sydney Opera House)... Read more

Quinn Eades is a researcher, writer, and poet whose work lies at the nexus of feminist and queer theories of the body, autobiography, and philosophy. Eades is published nationally and internationally, and is the author of all the beginnings: a queer autobiography of the body, and Rallying. Eades is ... Read more
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