Emeritus Faculty Events

The ANU Emeritus Faculty (ANUEF) periodically runs Conferences, Lectures, Excursions, Operatunities and other events of interest to Faculty Members and others. Events for which you may register your expression of interest are listed below

ANUEF events and lecture series

Unless otherwise noted, Lectures are held in The Molony Room, ANU Emeritus Faculty, Fellows Lane Cottage (Building 3T) at 4:00pm on the dates indicated.

Other events will be held at the venues and dates indicated.

21 October 2009

Rape in a Major Key

By Hans Kuhn

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Abstract: The Goethe poem 'Heideröslein' is the description, in folksong style, of a rape pure and simple; there is no communication between the testosterone-driven 'wild boy' and the 'little rose' fighting him off. Yet, of nine composition known to me, only one takes the tragedy seriously by setting it in a minor key. This is an example of how every composition of an emotionally mixed poem is an interpretation by the composer; by choosing mode, key, rhythm and speed, he shows what for him is the prevailing mood of the text. This will be illustrated with three further Goethe poems, 'An den Mond' (To the Moon), 'Erster Verlust' (First Loss), and 'Um Mitternacht' (At Midnight). All texts will be avialble in the original and in translation..

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Hans Kuhn, originally from Switzerland, was Professor of Germanic Languages at the A.N.U. 1965-1990 and has been a Visiting Fellow since, dividing this time between Australia and Europe. In recent decades, he has worked much in the borderline area of text and music, publishing a book on Danish patriotic songs ('Defining a Naton in Song', 1990) and regularly attending conferences on ballads and folktales.

[ PowerPoint ]

11 November 2009

Historian at work: my life as a military social historian

By Peter Stanley

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Abstract: Since graduating from ANU with my first degree in 1977 I’ve mainly worked as a professional historian (after the usual couple of years messing about, as you do; or did). I’ve published twenty-two books of various kinds and been involved in many historical enterprises, from exhibitions to films and public events. Some of the sorts of work I now do did not exist when I was at university – the whole field of ‘public history’ has been defined and even invented since then. But what does that mean? What does working as a military social historian entail? What training or experience does it call upon? What attributes does it require? What risks or compromises does it bring? What choices, issues and decisions does it involve? In this talk I’ll discuss some of the projects in which I’ve been involved as a public historian who has specialised in military or, better, military social history. I’ll raise, and welcome, questions about the sort of work I’ve done.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Dr Peter Stanley has been the inaugural head of the Centre for Historical Research at the National Museum of Australia since 2007. He was formerly Principal Historian at the Australian War Memorial for twenty years, where he worked from 1980. In the past year or so Peter has published four books: Invading Australia: Japan and the Battle for Australia, 1942 (Viking Penguin); A Stout Pair of Boots (Allen & Unwin); Men of Mont St Quentin (Scribe) and Commando to Colditz (Murdoch/Pier 9). His future books will include Bad Characters: Sex, Crime, Mutiny and Murder in the Great War (2010) and Simpson’s Donkey, a fictional book for children (2011).

[ PowerPoint ]

16 December 2009 at 5:00pm

Annual General Meeting

Followed by the Emeritus Faculty Christmas Party

17 February 2010

The Academy of Science Building Story

By Alan Roberts

17 March 2010

How does latitude affect the human birth sex ratio?

By Ron Wells

21 April 2010

Sustainability

By Richard Dennis

19 May 2010

Solar Energy

By Andrew Blakers

16 June 2010

The State of the University Sector

By Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Chubb