School of Culture and Communication - Theses

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Type: Masters Coursework thesis × Start date: 2015 × End date: 2015 ×

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    Extreme males: autistic masculinity in three bestsellers
    Kelly, Peter ( 2015)
    Inspired by Simon Baron-Cohen’s theory that autism can be understood as an extreme version of typical male behaviour, this thesis will examine whether this view is reflected in the representation of autistic males in best-selling fiction (“Extreme Male Brain” 248). It will investigate autism representations in the context of hegemonic masculinity, by comparing the behaviour of Christopher Boone from The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Jacob Hunt from House Rules, and Don Tillman from The Rosie Project to Linda Lindsey’s masculinity norms. These include anti-femininity, emotional reticence, success, intelligence, toughness, aggressiveness and an obsessive heterosexuality (Lindsey 241-7). While Christopher's surprising violence, extreme intelligence, insensitivity and stubbornness are masculine traits, his asexuality disqualifies him from being an extreme male. Jacob’s masculinity is shown in his aggressiveness, intellect and physique, but is undermined by his ambiguous sexuality and patchy career history. Don’s physical appearance, heterosexuality, stoic attitude and intellect are all masculine qualities, unlike his need for social guidance and apparent virginity at the novel’s beginning. All three characters are white and compensate for a lack of emotional awareness with hyper-rationality. Their paradoxical masculinity may account for their novels’ success. This thesis finds that these three fictional autistics are not extreme males by the standards of hegemonic masculinity.
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    A creative nation is a productive nation: a theoretical and contextual exploration of Tasmania’s Collect Art loan scheme
    Buckley, Caroline ( 2015)
    Tasmania’s Collect Art loan scheme enables eligible consumers to take out an interest free loan from the Tasmanian Government in order to purchase works of art. As the first scheme of its kind in Australia, Collect Art presents an interesting and real life case study of a market facilitating instrument of government subvention. With the aim to explore and establish its significance as such, this thesis discusses the Collect Art loan scheme within relevant theoretical and contextual frameworks. It explores the implications of Collect Art with respect to its impact on artists, government and consumers, and under these circumstances, assesses its efficacy. I have determined that the efficacy of Collect Art is located predominantly in its economic outcomes. To this end, I have concluded that the scheme’s significance lies in its orientation toward the consumer, and in its establishment as a consequence of the economic paradigm that permeates the contemporary arts ecosystem.