I won't bury the lede, the second year of my PhD has ended with me being awarded a scholarship for my final 12 months. I'm chuffed. Funding and scholarships in the humanities is sparse in Australia. Funding for research into television is also sparse, not to mention funding to research queer representations in television. But …
Assignment exemplars are ruining your university experience, here’s how you should use them
In a unit I taught for many years, the course convenor had included an assignment exemplar for students to see what a High Distinction looks like. This exemplar was mostly excellent, however it included a glaring issue that proved to be quite frustrating. The example assignment recommended a six-month retainer for a public relations client, …
The Conversation: Bros, queer romcoms and mainstream audiences
Queer romcom Bros struggled at the box-office. Are mainstream audiences still not ready? Universal Pictures Damien O'Meara, Swinburne University of Technology When Bros creator, Billy Eichner made an impassioned plea for people to see his queer-centred romantic comedy, he shared concerns on Twitter that straight people “just didn’t show up.” The subsequent “flop” discourse surrounding Bros …
Continue reading "The Conversation: Bros, queer romcoms and mainstream audiences"
The Conversation: Queer representation in Aussie kids’ TV
Peppa Pig has introduced a pair of lesbian polar bears, but Aussie kids’ TV has been leading the way in queer representation Channel 5 Damien O'Meara, Swinburne University of Technology and Liam Burke, Swinburne University of Technology Peppa Pig’s first same-sex couple, a pair of lesbian polar bears, were recently introduced after a petition to …
Continue reading "The Conversation: Queer representation in Aussie kids’ TV"
The Conversation: Drag Race Down Under
Would Carlotta, Australia’s most celebrated drag queen, have made it on RuPaul’s Drag Race? Joanna McIntyre, Swinburne University of Technology and Damien O'Meara, Swinburne University of Technology After the first season last year wobbled on its heels, the second season of RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under began last weekend. In becoming the global beacon of drag, …
The Conversation: career pathways in Aussie TV
The loss of Neighbours is a loss of career pathways for Australia’s emerging screen professionals Neighbours Damien O'Meara, Swinburne University of Technology; Jessica Balanzategui, Swinburne University of Technology, and Joanna McIntyre, Swinburne University of Technology Australia’s longest-running television drama, Neighbours, is the latest casualty in the global flux of television cultures. The death of this …
Continue reading "The Conversation: career pathways in Aussie TV"
What I learnt in the first year of my PhD
Exciting news! It's one year since I commenced my PhD research: Queering Australian Screens, exploring how LGBTIQ+ characters end up in Australian scripted television programs. There have been ups-and-downs; great moments of realisation, and moments of self-pitying despair. But, I made it to my one year anniversary and have achieved a lot! Here's just a …
Continue reading "What I learnt in the first year of my PhD"
Coronavirus Murderous Attack
Listen to Lowbrow Lowdown's latest episode reviewing Michael Koglin's Coronavirus Murderous Attack. Natasha and Damien dive into the crime(?)/thriller(?) and honestly become a bit delirious. Michael Koglin's Coronavirus Murderous Attack moves so fast you can barely follow, punctuated with painfully detailed Wikipedia entries on the history and architecture of Barcelona and Hamburg. I know I …
Reading: White masculinity in contemporary Australia
Andrea Waling's recent book White masculinity in contemporary Australia: the good ol' Aussie bloke explores the historic development and contemporary understanding of hegemonic ideals of Australian masculinity. There is an experience in my own PhD (so far) of finding a book or a journal article right when you need it - and Waling's book came …
Continue reading "Reading: White masculinity in contemporary Australia"
The COVID Killer
Well, a content warning for our review of a super racist and somewhat sexist book. You know that sense that you are being punished, but you don't know exactly why, that's what it feels like reading The COVID Killer. We feel bad, but the author who uses the Twitter handle @SuspenseWriter7 (at the time of …
Damien J O'Meara 