About

Who we are
Literature and its Readers focuses on the analysis of literary forms, publishing histories, and reception studies. It emerges out of past Deakin formations such as the Centre for Memory, Imagination and Invention, the Text cluster, and the current Writing, Literature & Culture group.

We have fifteen staff from within the Writing, Literature & Culture cluster as well as collaborators from other areas of Deakin, 2 Emeritus Professors, and 2 Honorary Associate Professors. We are looking to strategically expand our honoraries.

We have a large and active HDR cohort of just over 25 students. We have a number of alumni who continue to be involved in research collaborations.

What makes us unique?
• Deakin has one of the largest literary studies formations in Australia. It is unique in Australia in offering multiple specialisations both at the undergraduate and postgraduate level, particularly in offering a more traditional literary studies major and a second focusing on children’s literature.
• We were one of only two universities to receive a score of ‘high’ in the FOR 20 code in the ARC’s Engagement and Impact Assessment 2018-2019 National Report.
• Deakin partly gains its success in research innovation and impact in having numerous staff who work across both critical and creative modes of research. We were also one of only 5 universities to score a ‘high’ in the FOR19 code in the ARC Engagement & Impact Assessment Report. Due to this cross-over, a number of our members are also members of the Creative Writing and Community cluster and there are overlapping research constellations. We also share a Writing and Literature blog (https://blogs.deakin.edu.au/writing-and-literature/) and Twitter.
• While having disciplinary expertise, we also recognise the importance of analysing literature through interdisciplinary frameworks. We have staff whose work involves collaboration with education, history, philosophy, religious studies and cultural studies. Our scholars have been instrumental in establishing and working on peak interdisciplinary networks and journals, such as the co-founding of the Australasian Modernist Studies Network (Ann Vickery) and the co-editing the Scimago Q1 ranked Journal of Australian Studies (Emily Potter).
• Our research has been consolidated through strategic partnerships with industry and working with communities, particularly with a regional and youth focus.
• We have an active role in the Australian University Heads of English with Ann Vickery being the Victorian representative, ongoing member of its Research Committee and chair of the AUHE Prize in Literary Scholarship over the past few years.