I certainly do not want to cast a shadow over the good work of PreFix. It was good to hear about the current state of affairs. I think most people would agree with that.

Yet, we are being inserted into a process that has been happening for a long while. Certainly there was last year’s round of ARC grants. When will it be enough?

The Negri Affair is another good recent example of the state of Cultural Studies. This time played out in the mass-media. I was quite shocked at the time at the lack of voice from senior Cultural Studies academics. To read even about the problem of public voice and articulating a coherent counter-argument in these times, let alone speaking in public while articulating a counter-argument, would’ve have been good enough to spark discussion.

I wonder if Profs want postgrads to agitate? If they think it is appropriate?

Yes, I certainly agree that ‘Prefix’ was a mixed bag. Incredibly informative, a terrific session from Cary and Paula - and always gr8 to chinwag with postgrads from around Aus.

However, the whole Nelson/ARC debacle had flared up shortly b4 the conference. And Nelson’s vampire-like shadow loomed over the conference, giving a definite air that cultural studies folk in Aus - postgrads and ‘early career researchers’ - are having, and will continue to have a Tough Time. A very Tough Time.

Hence, Lumby’s typically provocative - and typically populist - speech about academics engaging with the media. And Mark’s cynicism (I appreciated his speech, though, and his commitment to his research). And the increasing number of hoops we’ll all have to jump over to get a foot in the academic door.

Sydney Uni academic and feminist Bronwyn Winter once described the Howard regime (sic) as ‘the most right wing government this country has ever had’. That’s true - indeed, it’s an understatement. And, in terms of the university, it’s humanities researchers who are bearing the brunt of this.

Lack of discussion about teaching was evident throughout the rest of the conference too. The same complaint is made each year, and nothing seems to happen…

Glen — “some of us are actually sickened at the prospect of living that sort of life, no matter how bloody good we are at doing it.”

Yes, although it’s the ones who aren’t any good at doing it that I worry about.

I was alarmed that no-one really talked about actual teaching, lecturing, supervising students, and so on.

i had the feeling that Mark’s talk was post-ironic in a sickening this-is-your-future sort of way. any ironic resonance was probably just a mid-canter self-reflection about who he was talking to. some of us are actually sickened at the prospect of living that sort of life, no matter how bloody good we are at doing it.

the lack of discussion about non-academic careers for post-phd or post-postgrad was more disturbing for me than any discussion about linkage grants with mining companies.

And I feel for you regarding your conference experience.

Though I should say I went to the CSAA conference in Tasmania a couple of years ago and quite enjoyed it. (Mostly, though, for the experience gambling with my advisor in the casino.)