Dr Melissa Miles - Researcher Profile

Melissa Miles

Address

Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture
Monash University, Caulfield

Contact Details

Tel: +61 3 990 32886

Email: Melissa.Miles@artdes.monash.edu


Biography

Photo-conflict enters the public arena

Photographers working in public spaces face increasing restrictions from civil authorities. The effect this has on their work and their ability to capture images of Australia “as it is”, could have serious consequences for our recorded identity and future social history. As a photographic historian Dr Melissa Miles is investigating this issue, to identify – and hopefully resolve ­– the reasons for the potentially unlawful civil restrictions.

Dr Miles says sometimes civil authorities will physically restrain or remove photographers from public places. “It started with concerns about terrorism, then about protecting children. But the reasons change. So what really is behind it?”

She argues that unless photographers are free to record public life, future generations will know little of the humanity of our times other than staged or authorised photos. “By contrast, through photography we have gained from the past a strong connection with people and society as it was.”

Dr Miles hopes her Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage project, Photography and Crime, will help photographers work their way through this new landscape. Dr Miles is collaborating with Professor Mark Davison at the Monash Faculty of Law to develop a guide to these often contradictory laws, as well as colleagues within the Faculty of Art & Design, Professor Anne Marsh and Dr Daniel Palmer.

Along with the photographers’ guide, a book based on this research will be published by the project’s end in 2012. Project partner the Centre for Contemporary Photography also plans to host a symposium and an exhibition on photography in public space.

Dr Miles treats photography as a science, an art and a philosophy; as a medium for recording and telling the human story as it unfolds. This has lead to her second ARC-funded project, a Discovery Project, Light, Place and Presence in the History of Australian Photography. In this, she is expanding on the conventional story of Australian photographic history by rethinking myths of a particular Australian light. For Dr Miles these myths and related history are too one-dimensional.

“Photography has many forms; from art to news photography, to fashion, family, nature … It is unique because of its immediacy yet at the same time connects us visually with the past.”

Dr Miles will use her research into these issues of light, as influenced by culture and history, for a book on light in Australian photography and its role as a metaphor for place.

Her interest in photography, history and visual culture stems from her PhD thesis and first book ‘The Burning Mirror: Photography in an Ambivalent Light’. This research examined alternative approaches to photographic practice, history and theory using extreme or ambivalent light sources (outside conventional exposure principles).

“One of the reasons I decided to delve this deeply into photography was the potential for interdisciplinary study and research. Photography takes you into the history of optics, into literature, society, politics and culture.”

Research & Supervision Interests

    Key areas of expertise:

    • Photography history and theory, feminist art history and theory, contemporary visual culture
    • Student supervision - photography history and theory, fine arts, critical theory, feminist art history and theory, memory and archives

Keywords

Contemporary visual culture, Critical theory, Feminist art history and theory, Fine arts, Photography history and theory

Qualifications

GRADUATE CERTIFICATE OF HIGHER EDUCATION
Institution: Monash University
Year awarded: 2010
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
Institution: Monash University
Year awarded: 2006
BACHELOR OF ARTS, HONOURS
Institution: Monash University
Year awarded: 2002

Publications

Books

Miles, M.K., 2008, The Burning Mirror: Photography in an Ambivalent Light, Australian Scholarly Publishing, North Melbourne, Vic.

Book Chapters

Miles, M.K., 2009, Skin Deep, in Paper Thin, eds Peta Clancy, Peta Clancy, Melbourne, Vic, pp. 3-6.

Miles, M.K., 2007, Peter Booth and subtleties in the epic, in Brought to Light II: Contemporary Australian Art, 1966-2006, eds Lynne Seear and Julie Ewington, Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane, QLD, pp. 432-439.

Journal Articles

Miles, M.K., 2012, Occupy, redefine, overcome: Contemporary Australia: Women, Artlines [P], vol 1, Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane, Australia, pp. 23-27.

Miles, M.K., 2012, Out of the shadows: On light, darkness and race in Australian photography, History of Photography [P], vol 36, issue 3, Routledge, UK, pp. 337-352.

Miles, M.K., 2012, Shadows in the landscape: Ricky Maynard and the politics of presence in photography, Eyeline [P], vol 75, Eyeline Publishing Ltd, Brisbane, Australia, pp. 38-41.

Miles, M., 2011, Odani Motohiko: Phantom Limb, Eyeline [P], vol 74, Eyeline Publishing, Brisbane, Australia, pp. 78-79.

Miles, M., 2011, Up Close: Carol Jerrems with Larry Clarke, Nan Goldin and William Yang, Eyeline [P], vol 73, Eyeline Publishing, Brisbane, Australia, p. 86.

Miles, M., Whyte, J., 2010, Perverting photography, Arena [P], vol 109, Arena Printing and Publications Pty Ltd, Fitzroy Vic Australia, pp. 41-45.

Miles, M., 2010, The drive to archive: conceptual documentary photobook design, Photographies [P], vol 3, issue 1, Routledge / Taylor & Francis, United Kingdom, pp. 49-68.

Janet, J.M., Miles, M.K., 2009, ARTEMIS: Reinvigorating history and theory in art and design education, International Journal of Art and Design Education [P], vol 28, issue 1, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Oxford, UK, pp. 52-60.

Miles, M.K., 2009, Focus on the sun: The demand for new myths of light in contemporary Australian photography, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Art [P], vol 9, issue 1/2, Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane, Qld, pp. 220-239.

Miles, M.K., 2009, Second Nature: Design and the Natural World, Eyeline [P], vol 68, Eyeline Publishing Ltd, Brisbane, QLD, pp. 52-55.

Miles, M.K., 2009, Whose Art Counts?, Art Monthly Australia [P], vol Oct, issue 224, Art Monthly Australia Ltd, Acton, ACT, pp. 5-8.

Miles, M.K., 2008, Sun-pictures and shadow-play: untangling the web of gendered metaphors in Lady Elizabeth Eastlake's 'Photography', Word and Image, vol 24, issue 1, Taylor and Francis, Oxon, UK, pp. 42-50.

Miles, M.K., 2007, Lily Hibberd - Endless Summer: Sunglasses and the Spectacle of Vision, Eyeline [P], Eyeline Publishing, Brisbane, Qld, pp. 38-39.

Miles, M.K., 2006, Illusions of grandeur: highlights of the 2005 Melbourne International Festival Visual Arts Program, Eyeline, vol 0, issue 59, Eyeline Publishing Limited, Brisbane Qld Australia, pp. 45-47.

Miles, M.K., 2006, Matthew Sleeth: Pictured, Eyeline, vol 0, issue 61, Eyeline Publishing Limited, Brisbane Qld Australia, p. 58.

Miles, M.K., 2006, Peta Clancy: Skin and the Supple Boundaries of Self, Eyeline, vol 0, issue 61, Eyeline Publishing Limited, Brisbane Qld Australia, pp. 44-45.

Miles, M.K., 2006, Sally Smart: The Exquisite Pirate, Eyeline, vol 0, issue 60, Eyeline Publishing Ltd, Brisbane Qld Australia, pp. 38-39.

Miles, M.K., 2006, 'The darkened tomb of memory': Lisa Tomasetti's photography, Eyeline, vol 0, issue 59, Eyeline Publishing Ltd, Kelvin Grove Qld Australia, pp. 16-18.

Miles, M.K., 2005, Alternative spaces, Alternative Histories: Revisiting Three Artist-Run Initiatives, Eyeline: Contemporary Visual Arts, vol 58, issue Spring, Eyeline Publisher, Brisbane Qld Australia, pp. 25-27.

Miles, M.K., 2005, Graham Fletcher's Infectious Hybridity, Eyeline: Contemporary Visual Arts, vol 58, issue Winter, Eyeline Publisher, Brisbane Qld Australia, pp. 57-58.

Miles, M.K., 2005, Satellite of Love (I Like to Watch things on TV), Eyeline: Contemporary Visual Arts, vol 58, issue Spring, Eyeline Publisher, Brisbane Qld Australia, p. 45.

Miles, M.K., 2005, The burning mirror: photography in an ambivalent light, Journal of Visual Culture, vol 4, issue 3, Sage Publications Ltd, UK, pp. 329-349.

Miles, M.K., 2005, Transitions: Space and Perception, Eyeline: Contemporary Visual Arts, vol 57, issue Winter, Eyeline Publisher, Brisbane Qld Australia, p. 46.

Miles, M.K., 2004, City of Light: Paris and Photography 1850s-1930s, Eyeline: Contemporary Visual Arts, vol 55, issue Spring, Eyeline Publisher, Brisbane Qld Australia, pp. 48-49.

Miles, M.K., 2004, Shirin Neshat and the limits of authenticity, Southern Review: Communication, Politics & Culture, vol 37, issue 1, School of Applied Communication, RMIT University, Melbourne Vic Australia, pp. 5-20.

Miles, M.K., 2004, Spatial Collaborations: New Commissions at ACCA, Eyeline: Contemporary Visual Arts, vol 56, issue Summer, Eyeline Publisher, Brisbane Qld Australia, pp. 38-40.

Miles, M.K., 2004, The Line Between Us: The Maternal Relation in Contemporary Photography, Eyeline: Contemporary Visual Arts, vol 56, issue Summer 2004/2005, Eyeline Publisher, Brisbane Qld Australia, pp. 50-54.

Miles, M.K., 2003, Danielle Thompson: Marks of Light, Eyeline: Contemporary Visual Arts, vol 53, issue Summer 2003- 2004, Eyeline Publisher, Brisbane Qld Australia, pp. 30-31.

Miles, M.K., 2003, Peter Kennedy: Urban Illuminations, Eyeline: Contemporary Visual Arts, vol 52, issue Spring, Eyeline Publisher, Brisbane Qld Australia, pp. 25-27.

Miles, M.K., 2002, Taring Padi/ Teeth of the Rice Plant; No Worries!/ Mai Pen Rai, Eyeline: Contemporary Visual Arts, vol 49, issue Spring, Eyeline Publisher, Brisbane Qld Australia, pp. 42-43.

Conference Proceedings

Wilde, D., Helmer, R., Miles, M., 2010, Extending body and imagination: moving to move, The Eighth International Conference on Disability, Virtual Reality and Associated Technologies, International Conference on Disablility, Virtual Reality and Associated Technologies; ArtAbilitation, Valparaiso, Chile, pp. 1-9.

Miles, M., 2010, Light, place and presence in Australian photography: Trent Parke and Ricky Maynard, Tradition and Transformation, 1 to 4 December, Art Association of Australia and New Zealand, Adelaide, SA, p. 77.

Miles, M.K., 2008, The Art of Contextual Mobility: Rethinking Photography, Privacy and Public Space, Photographies: New Histories, New Practices, 10 -12 July, The Australian National University, Canberra, Act, p. 18.

Miles, M.K., 2007, Contemporary Taxonomies: Conceptual Documentary and the Photobook, Art and the Real: Documentary, Ethnography, Enactment, 12-14 July, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, pp. 1-10.

Other

Miles, M., 2011, Macabre imaginings and the shape-shifting print, Catalogue essay for group exhibition 'The Devil Had a Daughter', Monash University Museum of Art (MUMA), Caulfield East, Victoria, pp. 7-9.

Miles, M., 2011, Turning on Axes of Light, Catalogue essay for XYZ-NYC, No Longer Empty, New York, USA, pp. 17-18.

Miles, M., 2010, Reflections on Light, Catalogue essay for 'Meridian' exhibition, Light Projects, Northcote, Vic, pp. 1-3.

Miles, M., 2010, Sally Smart: Decoy Nest, Catalogue essay for 'Sally Smart: Decoy Nest' exhibition, Greenaway Art Gallery, Kent Town, SA, p. 2.

Miles, M., 2010, Serious moonlight, Catalogue text for 'Serious moonlight: new paintings by Saffron Newey', Melbourne Art Rooms, Port Melbourne, Vic.

Miles, M.K., 2009, Annette Messager: The Messengers, Eyeline: Contemporary Visual Arts, vol 68, Eyeline Publishing Ltd, Brisbane, QLD, p. 70.

Miles, M.K., 2009, Give me truths, for I am weary of the surfaces..., Catalogue essay in 'Josephine Kuperholz: blight', Gallery 101, Melbourne, Vic, pp. 1-2.

Miles, M.K., 2009, Light, Writing & Other Lies, Catalogue essay in 'Testing Ground', Ellikon Press, Fitzroy, Vic, pp. 12-13.

Miles, M.K., 2009, Sally Smart: The Exquisite Pirate, Catalogue essay in 'Sally Smart: The Exquisite Pirate', OV Gallery, Shanghai, China, pp. 15-17.

Miles, M.K., 2009, Seeing is Not Understanding, Catalogue essay in 'Ponch Hawkes: Seeing is Not Understanding', Horsham Regional Art Gallery, Horsham, Vic, pp. 1-2.

Miles, M.K., 2009, Solid States / Liquid Objects, Catalogue essay in 'Solid States / Liquid Objects: Nina Sellars, Joanna Zylinska', Shifted Gallery, Melbourne, Vic, pp. 3-4.

Janet, J.M., Nelson, R.H., Miles, M.K., 2008, ARTEMIS (Art Educational Multiplayer Interactive Space), Research Report, South Australian School of Art, Adelaide SA, pp. 14-17.

Miles, M.K., 2007, Perfect for Every Occasion: Photography Today, Flash, vol 1, Centre for Contemporary Photography, Melbourne, Vic, pp. 5-6.

Miles, M.K., 2007, Peter Booth, Essay for Melbourne Art Fair Awards Program, Melbourne Art Fair Foundation, Melbourne, Vic, p. 1.

Miles, M.K., 2007, Sally Smart: The Exquisite Pirate, Catalogue Essay, Kaliman Gallery, Sydney, NSW, pp. 1-2.

Miles, M.K., 2007, Unwritten Skin, Catalogue Essay, Byron McMahon Gallery, Sydney, NSW, p. 1.

Miles, M.K., 2006, Inhabition, Exhibition Catalogue, Australian Galleries, Collingwood Vic Australia, pp. 1-2.

Miles, M.K., 2005, Danielle Thompson: Place, Essay accompany video work on DVD, Launceston.

Miles, M.K., 2005, Danielle Thompson: Solace, Catalogue Essay, still Gallery, Sydney NSW Australia, 12/04/05 to 09/05/05.

Community Service

Volunteering/community engagement

  • Invited to present papers at some of Australia’s leading galleries and museums including Heide
  • Museum of Modern Art, the National Gallery of Victoria and the Centre for Contemporary Photography
  • Examined postgraduate research in Fine Arts and Art History and Theory
  • Referee for arts journals

Grants

Title:
Light, Place and Presence in the History of Australian Photography.
Investigators:
Miles, M
Funding:
(2010 - 2014). Australian Research Council (ARC).
Title:
Photography as a Crime.
Investigators:
Marsh, A, Palmer, D, Miles, M, Davison, M
Funding:
(2009 - 2013). Australian Research Council (ARC).
(2009 - 2013). Centre for Contemporary Photography.
Title:
Research a new book and exhibition on light, place and presence in Australian photography.
Investigators:
Miles, M
Funding:
(2009 - 2013). Australia Council for the Arts.

Postgraduate Research Supervisions

Current Supervision

Program of Study:
(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).
Supervisors:
Palmer, D (Main), Miles, M (Associate).
Program of Study:
(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).
Thesis Title:
Empty lands: photogrphy, trauma and history.
Supervisors:
Miles, M (Main).
Program of Study:
(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).
Thesis Title:
Not so (sure): Testing the possibilities of signification.
Supervisors:
Miles, M (Main).
Program of Study:
(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).
Thesis Title:
The digital thought-photography project.
Supervisors:
Miles, M (Main).
Program of Study:
(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).
Thesis Title:
The texture of her skin: a studio project excavating and reweaving visions of female subjectivity.
Supervisors:
Miles, M (Main).

Completed Supervision

Student:
Mccracken, T.
Program of Study:
The Measure of Heartbreak. (Masters) 2010.
Supervisors:
Miles, M (Main).
Student:
Mckeich, M.
Program of Study:
Style coding. (PHD) 2010.
Supervisors:
Miles, M (Main), Mccormack, J (Associate).
Student:
Monte, L.
Program of Study:
Objects of Desire: Rebirth of the Arcades: Observations and Explorations of the Commodity Fetish . (Masters) 2010.
Supervisors:
Miles, M (Main).
Student:
Trotter, P.
Program of Study:
Fantasy fulfilment and pressing politics: ethical communication as performance. (PHD) 2011.
Supervisors:
Miles, M (Main).
Student:
Vranjes, P.
Program of Study:
AMPLIFIED: an investigation of the theme of expansion. (Masters) 2011.
Supervisors:
Miles, M (Main).
Student:
Watts, R.
Program of Study:
Sound, Perception, Space: Investigations Concerning a Shift in Sensory Focus in Contemporary Artistic Production. (Masters) 2009.
Supervisors:
Miles, M (Main).
Student:
Wilde, D.
Program of Study:
Swing That Thing: moving to move. The poetics of embodied engagement. (PHD) 2011.
Supervisors:
Miles, M (Main).