Product Description
by David Nichols (Editor), Sophie Perillo (Editor)
- Offers a multi-disciplinary range of texts, analyses and primary sources to illuminate the post-punk milieu of inner-city Australia; its social historical impact; its reflection in built environment use and reuse; and its representation in film.
- Features original and hitherto undocumented interviews and materials relating to Dogs in Space; testimony from both observers and participants in the film and the events it portrays; and analysis and research from academics and insiders.
- Provides new insight into a film continually growing in popularity and value over time; mapping the richness of a multi-layered work, providing insight into a host of historical and contemporary worlds.
Back Jacket
Richard Lowenstein's 1986 masterpiece Dogs in Space was and remains controversial, divisive, compelling and inspirational. Made less than a decade after the events it is based on, using many of the people involved in those events as actors, the film explored Melbourne's 'postpunk' counterculture of share houses, drugs and decadence. Amongst its ensemble cast was Michael Hutchence, one of the biggest music stars of the period, in his acting debut.
This book is a collection of essays exploring the place, period and legacy of Dogs in Space, by people who were there or who have been affected by this remarkable film. The writers are musicians, actors and artists and also academics in heritage, history, urban planning, gender studies, geography, performance and music. This is an invaluable resource for anyone passionate about Australian film, society, culture, history, heritage, music and art.
Author Biography
David Nichols lectures in Urban Planning at the University of Melbourne, with a focus on history, culture, community and place. His previous books include Community: Building Modern Australia (co-edited with Hannah Lewi), Trendyville: the Battle for Australia's Inner Cities (with Renate Howe and Graeme Davison) and Dig: Australian Rock and Pop Music 1960-1985.
Sophie Perillo is an interdisciplinary performance artist, musician and writer. She has devised independent and collaborative performance works for Artist Run Initiatives, major galleries and festivals. She has performed in Melbourne bands The Ancients, PSA and Hi God People. Her research and writing is centred in gender theory, performativity and theatricality.
