Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
Over the past few decades I've had the privilege of working on a range of projects, with many writers, musicians, poets and creative thinkers. I've also worked as an adult educator (in Humanities, Creative Arts and Social Science disciplines) at Bendigo Kangan Institute, La Trobe University and Victoria University. I'm a published writer (non-fiction and fiction) and poet, as well as an editor. I've also written both lyrics and music for many professionally produced and distributed songs, and in various music genres (e.g. alt rock, folk rock, post-punk, Indie, etc.). Besides previously published books, I have six recent manuscripts currently being edited for publication (i.e. Nonfiction MSs, a Poetry MS and a Collected Song Lyrics MS. Since 2018, 12 albums linked to the Award-Winning band, Interstitium, & to the Ian Irvine Solo project, have been produced/released. Sixty-three Interstitium songs have received rotation play at radio stations in various countries (for 14K+ plays since 2020). Various songs have charted at many of those stations (for 228 chart events). More albums are in various stages of production and many of those are part, of a long-running multiplatform project that also features poetry, novels, nonfiction works, public talks, live performances, etc. called 'Songs of the Interstitium' (2014-2026). This project explores humanity's accelerating (& traumatic) transformation of itself, and the planet, since the Early Modern era. Behind the various roles listed above, I hold to the belief that what I call fundamental (in contrast to functional) creativity is life-affirming, healing, anti-oppressive and community building. It is one of the means by which individuals and communities successfully adapt to and make sense of challenging social and environmental conditions. My most recent experimental novel, The City of Quartz, part of the transmedia/multi-platform project entitled "Songs of the Interstitium", explores this theme to some depth. As a long-term teacher of psychology, I'm also interested in the convergence of New Science/Quantum thinking on consciousness and identity, with Post-Jungian/Transpersonal perspectives on the same. My PhD thesis tracked the phenomenon of 'chronic ennui' from its roots in Ancient Rome (as 'taedium vitae'), through Medieval and Early Modern descriptions (as 'acedia', 'Saturnine Melancholy' & 'the spleen'), on to modern & postmodern descriptions of the same symptom set (as 'anomie', 'alienation', 'depression', 'postmodern ennui' etc).
Non-fiction (essays and articles), short stories and poetry published internationally, including in Best Australian Poetry (Black Ink books, Melbourne), Agenda - Anthology of Australian Poets (UK) and Fire (Special International edition, 2008, UK). Author of four books and co-editor of the following journals: The Animist electronic journal of the arts (7 edition - 1998-2001), Painted Words (17 editions - 2005-2021) and Scintillae 2012. Writer, co-writer and performer of songs/music for movie soundtracks and two band projects: Interstitium (8 albums 2014-25) and Goya's Child (1) (1991-93) (now called "Ian Irvine Solo", 3 albums 2018-22) . Also writing as Ian Hobson and Ian Irvine (Hobson). Interstitium songs have enjoyed over 14,000 radio plays since 2020, and have frequently charted in international Indie, Underground, etc. radio charts. Recent Projects: Novel and Transmedia story entitled 'The City of Quartz' (Genre: Magical Realism/Quantum Fiction). Also, Content Creator and Editor for Zoetics Institute, and editor for Melbourne Poets Union 'Chapbooks' by emerging poets series. Sample Publications List: Arena Magazine (Melb.), Poetry Life and Times, Takahe, Poetry New Zealand, LINQ, Tirra Lirra, Jacket Magazine, Humanitas, The Antigonish Review, Envoi/Coffee House Poetry, Tears in the Fence, The Seventh Quarry, Southern Ocean Review, Conspire, Mascara, Pennine Platform, New England Review, Verandah, Acme Poetry, Platform, Sara Douglass Worlds, Riding the Meridian, Media and Culture, Woorilla, Psico Mondo, Oban 06, Tamba, Tarralla, Idiom 23, Gravity 22, Bluff, The Australian Writers Journal, Baacchor Magazine, etc.
I've taught Professional Writing & Editing subjects since 1999 (to various levels): Editing, Role of the Editor, Creativity in Cultural Context, Lit. for Writers, Transmedia Storytelling, Novel and Short Story Writing, Poetry and Lyrics, Myths and Symbols, Popular Fiction, Nonfiction, Writer and Research, Industry Overview and Internet Skills for Writers. OTHER TEACHING: 1) Cert. IV in Visual Arts - 'Art History' unit (2023-25); 2) Dip. of Graphic Design - 'Critical and Creative Thinking' unit and 'History and Theory of Visual Media' unit (2018); 3) Health and Community Services program (taught Psychology and Sociology units to Dip. level, 1999-2012); 4) VCE Program (Psychology); 5) Koori Unit (various courses to Cert IV level 1999-2003); & 6) Training and Assessment Program (Dip. of VET Practice). COURSE COORDINATOR ROLES: various departments and campuses between 1999-2018, including: 1) Professional Writing and Editing (Advanced Diploma, Diploma and Cert IV); 2) Music Industry Department (Certs II-IV in Sound Production); 3) Koori/Aboriginal Unit (various courses). Note: Graduates from BKI's Diploma of PWE have enjoyed credit transfers into various Victorian university degrees over the years.
Teacher/Lecturer - Subjects: Cultural Context for Creativity; Myths & Symbols for Writers; Introduction to Fiction Writing, Novel 1, Novel 2; and Advanced Fiction. Linked to this position (as well as to teaching and coordinating positions at Bendigo TAFE and La Trobe University since 1994): assessment of Honors, Masters and PhD theses by students enrolled at a range of Australian universities (in Creative Arts, Social Science and Humanities disciplines).
Part Time Lecturer/Tutor in various subjects including History (Medieval and Early Modern) & Contemporary Social Issues (part of the Sociology major). Also delivered occasional lectures to students in the Literature stream. Subject coordinator (1999) of 'Medieval Social World' unit (three campuses).