Issue Details: First known date: 2010... 2010 Publishing and Australian Literature : Crisis, Decline or Transformation?
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Authors abstract: The end of the 'golden age' of Australian literature and publishing has been proclaimed many times, and multiple causes of this situation have been identified, including 'declining editing standards, changes in literary taste, the rise of marketing departments in publishing houses, changing leisure patterns, [and] the advent of Nielson BookScan'. Most often and most convincingly, the end of this 'golden age' is attributed to the globalisation, consolidation and economic rationalisation of book publishing. Nathan Hollier's claim that 'Australian literature is dying, or at least disappearing', because 'the Australian publishing industry and market is dominated by a handful of large corporations, themselves generally parts of massive, multinational conglomerates', captures the general view. This supposed dominance of Australian publishing by multinational conglomerates is described by some commentators, like Michael Wilding and David Myers, as negative for Australian literature as a whole, and by others, like Webby and Mark Davis, as responsible for a specific decline in Australian literary fiction. I explore both positions, first investigating trends in Australian novel publication and comparing these to trends in publication of novels from other countries as well as other forms of Australian-originated literature (specifically, poetry and auto/biography). I then consider the case of Australian literary fiction, before looking in detail at Davis's account of the changing output of large publishers of Australian novels. The results of this study reveal a decline in Australian novel and poetry titles (since 2000 and 1994 respectively), but suggest a more complex picture of this trend than dominant expressions of nostalgia and alarm about the fate of Australian literature and publishing imply.

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Works about this Work

The Poetry of Survival : The Shifting Landscape of Poetry in the Australian Publishing Industry Candice Fox , 2012 single work criticism
— Appears in: TEXT : Journal of Writing and Writing Courses , October vol. 16 no. 2 2012;
'It has been repeatedly claimed - even before the global financial crisis - that literary publishing is entering a shaky chapter. Opportunities for established writers are narrowing, and opportunities for new writers are scarce. This article explores the state of poetry in the Australian publishing industry. It argues that far from being a spent force in publishing, poetry is surviving better than many writers imagine. It argues that reinvention and adaptation are crucial if poetry is to use advances in technology to survive.' (Author's abstract)
Creative Writing, Cultural Capital and the Labour Market Scott Brook , 2012 single work criticism
— Appears in: Australian Humanities Review , November no. 53 2012;
'Over the last decade several Australian broadsheet newspapers have run numerous articles on the state of literary publishing, providing a rare opportunity for academic debate to enter the public arena. According to the reported commentary of novelists, publishers and academics, it would seem the literary field is caught between two contradictory currents: although the economic viability of Australian literary titles appears under pressure, there is booming demand for university courses in creative writing. This casual linkage has enabled a range of speculations on the possibly 'perverse' market relations between writing programs and the publishing industry. Has consumer demand for Australian literary authors shifted from the bookshop to the arts faculty? A recent quip by Frank Moorhouse would suggest so: 'Now the joke goes that when someone says they're a writer, the next question is, "where do you teach?"' (10).' (Author's introduction)
Creative Writing, Cultural Capital and the Labour Market Scott Brook , 2012 single work criticism
— Appears in: Australian Humanities Review , November no. 53 2012;
'Over the last decade several Australian broadsheet newspapers have run numerous articles on the state of literary publishing, providing a rare opportunity for academic debate to enter the public arena. According to the reported commentary of novelists, publishers and academics, it would seem the literary field is caught between two contradictory currents: although the economic viability of Australian literary titles appears under pressure, there is booming demand for university courses in creative writing. This casual linkage has enabled a range of speculations on the possibly 'perverse' market relations between writing programs and the publishing industry. Has consumer demand for Australian literary authors shifted from the bookshop to the arts faculty? A recent quip by Frank Moorhouse would suggest so: 'Now the joke goes that when someone says they're a writer, the next question is, "where do you teach?"' (10).' (Author's introduction)
The Poetry of Survival : The Shifting Landscape of Poetry in the Australian Publishing Industry Candice Fox , 2012 single work criticism
— Appears in: TEXT : Journal of Writing and Writing Courses , October vol. 16 no. 2 2012;
'It has been repeatedly claimed - even before the global financial crisis - that literary publishing is entering a shaky chapter. Opportunities for established writers are narrowing, and opportunities for new writers are scarce. This article explores the state of poetry in the Australian publishing industry. It argues that far from being a spent force in publishing, poetry is surviving better than many writers imagine. It argues that reinvention and adaptation are crucial if poetry is to use advances in technology to survive.' (Author's abstract)
Last amended 12 Jun 2012 11:15:26
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