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A person seated by themselves on an outdoor seat, on a lawn, with a stately building in the background.
11 Aug

No One To Talk To: The Decline of Conversation

  • Free
  • Talk

In his Miegunyah Fellowship Lecture, Professor Ian Williams examines the social, technological, and political contradictions that threaten open conversation across our campuses and democracies.

Drawing on the thinking behind his 2024 CBC Massey lectures (published as 'What I Mean to Say: Remaking Conversation in Our Time'), Professor Williams considers the conundrum of how despite constant connectivity, we find ourselves in an epidemic of loneliness. Political activism is met with moral paralysis, diversity initiatives with terror of the stranger.

‘No one to talk to: the decline of conversation’ is an invitation to address the divide and rethink conversations – personal, online, and political  – as an antidote to polarisation and alienation.

Stay on for light refreshments following the conclusion of the lecture where there will be an opportunity to meet the speaker.

Hours

Date Times
Mon 11 Aug
  • 6.30pm - 7.30pm 6:30pm - 7:30pm

Location

Performance Space
The Wheeler Centre
176 Little Lonsdale St
Melbourne 3000

Open in maps location for The Wheeler Centre

Price and bookings

This is a free event

Book online for No One To Talk To: The Decline of Conversation

Contact details

  • email address: arts-engage@unimelb.edu.au
  • Visit website for No One To Talk To: The Decline of Conversation

Only In The City

Only in this City of Ours See what's on
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Only in the City

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  • Exhibition
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Now or Never
21 – 31 Aug

Now or Never

Arts, ideas, sound, technology; a festival of new dimensions for Melbourne/Narrm.

  • Festival
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Ostro x Einder
22 Aug

Ostro x Einder

Julia Busuttil Nishimura crafts a feast beneath the striking installation, Einder by Boris Acket.

  • Art
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Specimens Across Time
14 Aug

Specimens Across Time

A 200th birthday tribute to Baron von Mueller.

  • Free
  • Talk
Auto-Photo: A Life in Portraits Artist Floor Talk
14 Aug

Auto-Photo: A Life in Portraits Artist Floor Talk

Floor Talk with Kyle Archie Knight, Ruth O’Leary and Katherine Griffiths.

  • Free
  • Talk
Destiny: Writing from the Diaspora
12 Aug

Destiny: Writing from the Diaspora

Kirsty Marillier, Carly Findlay and Grace Yee explore histories through a diasporic lens.

  • Free
  • Talk
Women in Natural History: Art, Science and Rare Books
26 Jul

Women in Natural History: Art, Science and Rare Books

Discover the vital contributions women have made to natural history as illustrators and scientists.

  • Free
  • Talk
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The City of Melbourne respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land we govern, the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong / Boon Wurrung peoples of the Kulin and pays respect to their Elders past and present. We acknowledge and honour the unbroken spiritual, cultural and political connection they have maintained to this unique place for more than 2000 generations.

We accept the invitation in the Uluru Statement from the Heart and are committed to walking together to build a better future. For more information, visit Aboriginal Melbourne.

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