The Centre's research takes place within and between four programs, each of which is led by an outstanding researcher of emotion in their own discipline.
Each research program includes multiple chief investigators and international partner investigators from a variety of disciplines, working on collaborative sub-projects, and operating across multiple universities.
Each program contributes to the analysis of the other programs. Research sub-projects in turn will simultaneously feed into specific programs and collaborations between programs.
The four programs
- Meanings is led by internationally renowned scholar of Shakespeare and early modern English literature and drama Professor Robert White. This program studies the changing understandings and categorisation of emotions over the period 1100-1800 in Europe.
- Change is directed by the leading historian of early modern panic literature, Professor David Lemmings. This program investigates the drivers of changes in societal emotional regimes, and the power of collective emotions to produce major cultural, social, political and economic change.
- Performance is led by top creative practitioner and performance practice researcher Professor Jane Davidson. This program will interrogate how emotions were performed and expressed in pre-modern dramatic, literary, artistic and musical performances.
- Shaping the Modern is led by internationally renowned cultural scholar Professor Stephanie Trigg. This program will explore Europe's legacy of emotional understandings and practices in Australia today, and the many ways in which modern Australians engage with and re-interpret Australia's emotional heritage.
