Events

CHAIRPERSON

Dr Michelle Miller, Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore

ABSTRACT

Australia has long had a special position in the study of Indonesia, due especially the significant number of scholars with Indonesia expertise working or living in Australia. Discussions on the direction and nature of Indonesian Studies have, however, been largely centred on the global hegemon, the United States, or on the former colonizer, the Netherlands, represented chiefly by Cornell and Leiden Universities. Like Indonesia and Singapore, Australia is not necessarily regarded as setting agendas for the study of Indonesia. Through a historical exploration of the development of Indonesian Studies in Australia, I will examine the changing politics of Australian studies of Indonesia, and draw attention to the neglect of areas where Australian scholars have made particularly important contributions, the study of literature and the arts. In this paper I will suggest why these areas remain important, despite the emphasis towards Social Science that has become significant within international university systems.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Adrian Vickers holds a personal chair at the University of Sydney, and researches and publishes on the cultural history of Southeast Asia. He received his PhD and BA Hons. in Indonesian and Malayan Studies from University of Sydney. His research utilises expertise in the Indonesian language as well as drawing on sources in Balinese, Kawi (Old and Middle Javanese) and Dutch. He has held a series of Australian Research Council grants, the most recent looking at Indonesian art, the Cold War, and labour and industry in Southeast Asia. As part of a linkage grant on the history of Balinese painting, he is preparing a virtual museum, continuing previous pioneering work in eResearch and teaching. His books include the highly popular Bali: A Paradise Created (new edition 2012), A History of Modern Indonesia (new edition 2013) and Balinese Art: Paintings and Drawings of Bali, 1800-2010 (2012). Prof Vickers has supervised more than twenty PhD theses to completion, and has taught subjects on Southeast Asian history and culture from first year to Honours and Masters levels. Prof Vickers is frequently asked to comment on Indonesia and Australian-Indonesian relations for national and international media.

REGISTRATION

Admission is free. We would greatly appreciate if you RSVP Mr Jonathan Lee via email: jonathan.lee@nus.edu.sg