A symposium to scope future research into magic lantern slide projection in Australia and New Zealand

Download: Program for the Lantern Slide Symposium

Join colleagues from the National Film and Sound Archive, the ANU, Melbourne University, Sydney University, Griffith University and other institutions to catch up on the research currently being done, and to scope the potential for further research and collaboration.

For over a century Australia’s visual culture was profoundly shaped by the technology of magic-lantern slide projection. From the 1840s to the 1930s this technology permeated theaters, lecture halls, church services, private homes and even open public spaces. It crossed from popular entertainment venues to elite educational institutions, and evolved from beautifully hand-painted slides to high-quality photographic reproductions. Some aspects of the technology were uniquely Australian, while other aspects were closely plugged into global networks of image trade and cultural exchange. Lantern-slide performances produced complex multimedia, multi-sensory experiences for their audiences which can now historically inform our understanding of the collective experience of contemporary new media technologies. As well, they left behind large collections of glass slides in a wide variety of institutions large and small. Although neglected until now because they do not fit easily into traditional museum and gallery taxonomies, these slides have the potential to provide an exciting new archival resource for historians, curators and artists.

For more information contact martyn.jolly@anu.edu.au

Lucerna — The magic lantern web resource database
http://www.slides.uni-trier.de/index.php

Magic Lantern Society (UK)
http://www.magiclantern.org.uk/

Multi-Media Victorian
http://filmstudiescenter.uchicago.edu/events/2011/multi-media-victorian-magic-lantern-metropolis-and-extraordinary-ballads-george-r-sims

Australian Screen (NFSA)
http://aso.gov.au/

Spatial Aesthetics (Uni of Melb)
http://spatialaesthetics.unimelb.edu.au/

Digital Archive of Queensland Architecture
http://qldarch.net/publich/

“Architectural Practice in Post-War Queensland: Building and Interpreting an Oral History Archive” (University of Queensland, State Library of Queensland)
http://www.ica2012.com/files/data/Full%20papers%20upload/ica12Final00326.pdf

Genealogies of digital light (Melbourne, Monash, RMIT)
http://www.digital-light.net.au/

Australian Video Art Archive
http://www.videoartchive.org.au/about.html

Magic Lantern Society Australasian Convention 27-28 October
http://magiclanternconvention.wordpress.com/
 

October Update:

Colleagues from the Australian National University, the National Film and Sound Archive, the National Museum of Australia, the Australian War Memorial, the National Library of Australia, Melbourne University, Museum Victoria, Griffith University, the College of Fine Arts, Macleay Museum, University of Sydney, the Australian Museum, and Victoria University Wellington are meeting on December 14 at the ANU School of Art to scope future research possibilities into magic lantern slide projection in Australia and New Zealand, but more are welcome!

A highlight of the day will be re-enactments of nineteenth and early twentieth century magic lantern shows by Professor Ian Edwards. However there will also be re-interpretations of the projection experience by contemporary artists, presentations on theoretical and methodological approaches, and reports on lantern slide collections in both big and small institutions. The day will end with a round table discussion of future research directions and potential collaborations or partnerships.

Below is an initial list of confirmed presenters and participants.

Presenters:

• Associate Professor Scott McQuire - School of Culture and Communication, University of Melbourne

• Michael Loebenstein - CEO, National Film and Sound Archive

• Dr Elizabeth Hartrick - Honorary, Historical and Philosophical Studies, University of Melbourne

• Martin Bush - Curator, Antarctic History and Scientific Instruments, Museum Victoria

• Dr Danni Zuvela - Artist, Other Film Collective and Griffith University

• Professor Ian Edwards - Magic lanternist extraordinaire

• Itzell Tazzyman - Curator, NFSA

• Dr Catherine de Lorenzo - Adjunct Senior Researcher College of Fine Arts, UNSW

• Shingo Ishikawa - Conservator, NFSA

• Jan Brazier - Curator, Macleay Museum, University of Sydney

• Vanessa Finney - Manager, Archives and Records, Australian Museum

Participants:

• Michael Loebenstein - CEO, National Film and Sound Archive

• Dr Jenny Gall - Scholars and Artists in Residence, National Film and Sound Archive

• Martin Bush - Curator, Antarctic History and Scientific Instruments, Museum Victoria

• Lindsay Cox - Salvation Army Heritage Centre

• Alison Wishart - Senior Curator of Photography, Australian War Memorial

• Gabrielle Considine - Australian War Memorial

• Lauren Hewitt - Australian War Memorial

• Stella Ramage - Victoria University Wellington

• Kirsten Wehner - Head Curator, People and the Environment, National Museum of Australia

• Fiona Hooton - National Library of Australia

• Professor Nicolas Petersen - Archaeology and Anthropology, Australian National University

• Professor Jill Matthews - School of Cultural Enquiry, Australian National University

• Dr Sally May - Archaeology and Anthropology, Australian National University

• Katherine Bode - Digital Humanities, Australian National University

• John Pratt - School of Art, Australian National University