Oscar: A Literary Love Affair

With Kip Williams' production of Picture of Dorian Grey captivating the world stage (and the screen rights snapped up by Cate Blanchett), a new animated feature film adaptation of The Canterville Ghost wowing children and TikTok claiming Oscar Wilde as the world’s first influencer, it’s fair to say that the man who wrote “There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about” is having a moment.

In September 2024, The Australian Ballet is embarking on a monumental new ballet based on the life and writings of Oscar Wilde. As part of its longstanding partnership with The Australian Ballet, La Trobe University is launching a range of public initiatives/activity around the Melbourne Oscar© season to highlight the scientific, education and creative research links between the two organisations.

Curated by Prof Clare Wright OAM, this public event will explore the cultural influences on Oscar Wilde’s own literary output (particularly his philhellenism, a love affair with classical antiquity) as well as the ways that his work has impacted later generations of writers, artists, critics and curators. This discussion is also a chance to reflect on who the lesser-known literary heroes of the modern gay rights movement might have been. And who are the idols of today’s young LGBTQI+ people?

To coincide with Oscar©, La Trobe is also producing a book, The Importance of Being Oscar, making public the historical consultation a team of La Trobe experts in history, sexuality, English and creative writing provided to The Australian Ballet to bring Oscar Wilde’s life, times and works to life onstage with integrity and compassion. This free book offers a new level of insight into Oscar Wilde’s story, and a copy is included with your ticket. To receive your copy, please remember to add postage details at checkout.

Books from La Trobe authors will be available to purchase from Readings Books at the event or can be purchased online from Fiction — Readings Books.

Ticket sale proceeds will be donated to Pride Foundation Australia for support of queer asylum seekers.

Doors open 6.00pm for a 6.30pm start.

Curator:

Professor Clare Wright OAM, Author and Professor of Public Engagement, La Trobe University

Moderator:

Professor Dennis Altman AM, Author and Vice-Chancellor's Fellow, La Trobe University

Speakers:

David Hallberg, Artistic Director, The Australian Ballet

Christos Tsiolkas, Adjunct Research Fellow, Humanities and Social Sciences, La Trobe University

Dr Alexis Harley, Senior Lecturer, English and Creative Writing, La Trobe University

Tobias Fulton, Tutor, History and Classics, La Trobe University