History of Rhizomes at SLCCS
The School of Languages and Comparative Cultural Studies (The University of Queensland) created its first annual postgraduate conference in 2005. Deleuze's and Guattari's concept of "rhizomes" was adopted as the conference's overarching theme to emphasize the principles of non-hierarchical connectivity across the broad spectrum of disciplines within the humanities. The aim of these conferences is to bring together current research being carried out broadly within the humanities and to provide a forum for interdisciplinary discussion in a friendly and relaxed but stimulating environment. The success of former conferences, the rigor of its humanistic scope and the ever inviting ground for critical analysis and discussion make Rhizomes a consolidated academic landmark in our School.
Themes, keynote speakers and publications of past conferences:
Rhizomes I (2005): Connecting Languages, Literatures and Cultures.
Keynote Speakers: Dr. Kayoko Hashimoto and Dr.Greg Hainge.
Rhizomes II (2006): Re-visioning Boundaries.
Keynote Speakers: Prof. Peter Cryle and Prof. Roland Sussex.
Rhizomes III (2007): Different Becomings.
Keynote Speakers: Prof. Michael Clyne and Dr.Juliana De Nooy.
Rhizomes IV (2008): Power Language Violence.
Keynote Speaker: Prof. Graeme Turner. Papers published in Crossroads (2008).
Rhizomes V (2010): Diaspora: Language and Place.
Keynote Speakers: Prof. Ian Lilley and Dr Yuriko Nagata. Papers published in Kaleidoscope.
Rhizomes V Highlights
The 5th annual Rhizomes post-graduate conference held 4-5 February was again a great success. This year’s theme of ‘Diaspora Language and Place’ explored the subject of diaspora through the lens of language, place, memory, literature and identity. The conference attracted 45 speakers, and a total of 78 participants from Australian and international universities. Papers included Celtic language proficiency in post-migrant Australia; the experiences of older Japanese people in South-east Queensland; political violence and diaspora; indigenous identities; and culture, migrants and the media. The Keynote speakers, archaeologist Professor Ian Lilley and Senior Lecturer in Japanese, Dr Yuriko Nagata, spoke on the topics of settler communities.
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