The New Australian Poets: Networks and the Generation of 68 Fiona Elizabeth Allan Scotney Bachelor of Arts, University of Queensland Graduate Diploma of Learning and Teaching, University of Southern Queensland Master of Arts (English Studies) University of Southern Queensland A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at The University of Queensland in 2014 School of English, Media Studies, and Art History ii Abstract The “generation of 68” is a contested label applied to a loose group of Australian poets who began writing and publishing in the late 1960s. The thesis questions how this loose group of Australian poets can be understood as a generation, and uses network theory to map connections between generation of 68 poets. The application of network theory to literary studies presents a method for addressing as individuals poets who are also aligned with a generation. Central to the thesis is John Tranter’s The New Australian Poetry (1979) anthology, which attempts a definition of the generation of 68, and includes twenty-four poets Tranter identifies as belonging to the generation of 68. These poets include Robert Adamson, Charles Buckmaster, Michael Dransfield, and John Forbes. The generation of 68 poets presents unique difficulties to the researcher and critic due to the imprecise nature of literary generations. One of the main guiding questions for this thesis has been how to critically approach a group like the generation of 68 when the label, and the generation itself, is still so contested. Critical approaches to the generation of 68 often overlook the importance of the group dynamics on the poets and the poetry. Network theory offers a way to examine the dynamics of the group and the impact these relationships have not only on the formation of the generation, but also on the poets’ writing and publishing. By tracing the network connections, this thesis shows that the poets in The New Australian Poetry are part of overlapping poetry communities. What also becomes clear is that the label, generation of 68, is useful as a way to begin thinking about a large number of poets publishing during this period, and that the application of a decentralised understanding of network connections and vectors of sociability offer a new reading of this group of Australian poets. The thesis presents a taxonomy of little poetry magazines, to which generation of 68 poets contributed from 1968 to 1979, as a way of reading connections in the network. It also examines textual representations of sociability through generation of 68 poets’ use of names in poetry, with a specific focus on elegies written for deceased generation of 68 poets. The thesis considers the ongoing nature of these dialogues and the continuing connections between these poets. Significantly, it offers a new approach to the generation of 68 as a literary generation and provides a two-step approach for using network theory to examine a generation. iii Declaration by author This thesis is composed of my original work, and contains no material previously published or written by another person except where due reference has been made in the text. I have clearly stated the contribution by others to jointly-authored works that I have included in my thesis. I have clearly stated the contribution of others to my thesis as a whole, including statistical assistance, survey design, data analysis, significant technical procedures, professional editorial advice, and any other original research work used or reported in my thesis. The content of my thesis is the result of work I have carried out since the commencement of my research higher degree candidature and does not include a substantial part of work that has been submitted to qualify for the award of any other degree or diploma in any university or other tertiary institution. I have clearly stated which parts of my thesis, if any, have been submitted to qualify for another award. I acknowledge that an electronic copy of my thesis must be lodged with the University Library and, subject to the General Award Rules of The University of Queensland, immediately made available for research and study in accordance with the Copyright Act 1968. I acknowledge that copyright of all material contained in my thesis resides with the copyright holder(s) of that material. Where appropriate I have obtained copyright permission from the copyright holder to reproduce material in this thesis. iv Publications during candidature Interviews: Duggan, Laurie, “Laurie Duggan’s Coalcliff Days.” Interview by Fiona Scotney. Australian Poetry Journal 2.2 Nov. 2012 114-18. Duggan, Laurie, “Laurie Duggan interviewed by Fiona Scotney.” Southerly 71.3 May 2012 http://southerlyjournal.com.au/long-paddock/71-3-a-nest-of-bunyips/laurie-duggan- interviewed-by-fiona-scotney/ Reviews: Scotney, Fiona. “Fiona Scotney reviews Alan Wearne.” Cordite Poetry Review 6 Aug. 2013 Publications included in this thesis No publications included. Contributions by others to the thesis No contributions by others. Statement of parts of the thesis submitted to qualify for the award of another degree None v Acknowledgements I would like to acknowledge my gratitude to a number of people and organisations that made this thesis possible, beginning with my advisory team at the University of Queensland, Professor David Carter and Dr Bronwen Levy, as well as Dr Martin Duwell, Dr Bronwyn Lea and Professor Carole Ferrier. I’d also like to thank the highly professional and helpful EMSAH administration staff including Angela Tuohy, Cathy Squirrel, and Story Wehi. The thesis was funded through an Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) scholarship, for which I am grateful. I also received a six week National Library Summer Scholarship, which enabled me to research at the National Library (NLA) and the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Academy Library at ADFA, while living on campus at the Australian National University. Thank you to the anonymous donor for providing the funding for this valuable scholarship. I extend my thanks also to the library staff at NLA and UNSW ADFA. I would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the Fryer library. I am grateful that they have added my interviews and correspondence with generation of 68 poets to their collection. Thank you also to the staff at the AustLit database for this amazing resource and for helping me to track down people and publications. Trove was also an asset to this thesis, as it made it possible to locate rare poetry magazines in libraries around Australia. I have been very fortunate to interview and maintain communication with a number of generation of 68 poets while working on this project. I would like to thank John Tranter for his time and his quick responses to emails, Robert Adamson for his openness and ongoing interest in the thesis, Kris Hemensley for his sage words and book discounts, Laurie Duggan for access to his diaries and memories, Alan Wearne for his great stories, John Scott and Robert Kenny for their informative interviews, Ken Bolton for the informal chats and magazine information, and Juno Gemes, John Jenkins, Rae Desmond Jones, Nigel Roberts, Tim Thorne, and Lyn Tranter for their assistance via email. Finally, I would like to thank my husband, family, and friends for their love and support while undertaking this project. Onwards! vi Keywords Generation of 68, Australian poetry, New Poetry, literary generations, literary groups, networks, little magazines Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classifications (ANZSRC) ANZSRC code: 200502 Australian Literature 100% Fields of Research (FoR) Classification FoR code: 2005 Australian Literature 100% vii Table of Contents The New Australian Poets: Networks and the Generation of 68 .......................................................... i Abstract ................................................................................................................................................ ii Declaration by author .......................................................................................................................... iii Publications during candidature .......................................................................................................... iv Contributions by others to the thesis ................................................................................................... iv Acknowledgements .............................................................................................................................. v List of Figures and Tables ................................................................................................................... ix Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ x Ideas Become Things: The Generation of 68 as Idea ....................................................................... x Chapter One ....................................................................................................................................... 1 The Generation of 68: Label, Provenance, and Reception ............................................................... 1 Chapter Two ..................................................................................................................................... 30 Network Theory: A New Critical Approach to the Generation of 68 ............................................ 30 Chapter Three .................................................................................................................................