Cirrus@Austlit

'The shift from the relative single-mindedness of the new plays of the late 60s and early 70s to the wild variety now, is the main development of the decade.' The author notes the comparative eclecticism of contemporary writing, its interest in the political morality of the times and how this affects the lives of individuals. He is encouraged by the growth of regional theatre companies, with their closeness to the communities in which they live and work.

Shoemaker explores the use of humour in Indigenous drama, seeing it an an enhancement of the socio-political messages which underlie the plays. He also notes the use of poetry in the drama.

A defence of the study of Australian Literature in universities: a response to Southall's 'The Strange Case of Aust. Lit'.

'...one's view of the literary criticism of a given period must take into account the ideas the critics of that period had about their own litetrature - which means looking at the literature first and the critic second, since the former begets the latter.'

Fryar refutes what she sees as the assumption that Moorhouse and Wilding were Australia's hottest literary properties.

A consideration of the 'revolution' that took place in Australian poetic process and style in the 1960s and 1970s, and the literary influences and the events of the 60s and 70s which contributed to this.