Shaping Territories

RESEARCH BACKGROUND: Scott Mitchell is one of three members of OSW, a collaborative group whose projects emerge from exploratory workshops. With Dr Terri Bird (Monash University) and Dr Bianca Hester (Uni of Sydney) he wrote 'Shaping Territories' for this edited anthology of writing by artists, art historians, curators and writers who are also science fiction fans. The essays are linked by the idea of science fiction as a platform for the building of alternate art histories. RESEARCH CONTRIBUTION: Constructed as three parallel texts this chapter explores relations between narrative fiction, forces of colonisation, the writings of Manuel De Landa and the philosophy of Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari. The work highlights the role matter plays in the shaping of our world, emphasising the intertwined nature of geological, biological, economic and social systems. The parallel texts support this argument through the use of organic and inorganic material as the central character within a social and economic narrative. The work contributes to discussions of 'new materialism' and aligns with this fields focus on the immaterial dimension of matter and its role within philosophical and cultural discourse. RESEARCH SIGNIFICANCE: This essay was commissioned by editors Amelia Barikin and Helen Hughes. The quality of the contributors to this anthology is a further measure of its significance. 'Shaping Territories' appears alongside work of academics and writers with international reputations. Other contributors include film and art critic Adrian Martin (2013/14 Distinguished Visiting Professor at Goethe University, Frankfurt); Ryan Johnston (head of art at Australian War Memorial, Canberra); and Associate Prof Rex Butler (University of Queensland) and Dr Chris McAuliffe (director Ian Potter Museum of Art, Uni of Melb 2010-2012).