The enduring effect of democratic reformers, labour protestors, revolutionaries and Indigenous resistance fighters who suffered incarceration in Australia’s convict system of the late 18th and 19th century for rights and freedoms we still value today, will be showcased on the Conviction Politics’ online transmedia hub, to be launched on Thursday 2 December from 6.30pm.
Members can register to livestream the event, which will include the screening of a series of short documentaries featuring compelling animations, interviews and live action, plus the official launch by ACTU Secretary Sally McManus. Registration is essential. RSVP here.
Federation is a proud academic partner/sponsor of the international digital history project Conviction Politics, researching the story of radicals and rebels transported as political convicts to Australia. Between 1792 and 1867, more than 3600 political prisoners were transported by the British to Australia. They came from Britain, Ireland, Canada and other parts of the British Empire.
Based at Monash University’s School of Media, Film and Journalism and led by Associate Professor Tony Moore, the Conviction Politics project has been investigating the link between these prisoners, their activism in their place of exile, and the creation/formation of Australian political and social democracy as well as the birth of the Australian trade union movement.
The online transmedia hub will host more than 1000 pieces of content based on the project’s discoveries so far, including more than 100 digital stories of unrest, dissent, punishment and activism such as William Cuffay — Song and Dance Man; data visualisations and an interactive atlas.
Watch the video trailer for the Conviction Politics online transmedia hub.