Scripsi
Encyclopedia
Scripsi was an Australian literary periodical
published from 1981 to 1994 in Melbourne
, first from the English Department and subsequently from Ormond College
of the University of Melbourne
. Its name comes from Pontius Pilate
's assertion "Quod scripsi, scripsi" (What I have written, I have written).
It was founded by Michael Heyward and Peter Craven, who met while studying at the University of Melbourne. Craven and Heyward co-edited the journal until 1989, when Heyward left. For many years, the poetry editor was John Forbes
and the graphics editor was Bill Henson
. Associate Editors included Penny Hueston, Philippa Hawker, Owen Richardson and Andrew Rutherford. The latter two were briefly co-editors, in 1993–4. Editorial assistants included Rosemary Hunter and Rosemary Sorensen.
For several years in the 1980s a weekly radio show ‘Scripsi of the Air’ was also presented by Heyward, Craven and others on Melbourne Radio Station 3RRR
. In 1989 a single number was published by Penguin Books Australia Ltd. From 1991 to 1994 the magazine was published by Oxford University Press. Otherwise later numbers were described as published 'at' Ormond College.
The magazine was widely regarded at the time as one of the world's finest literary magazines. It published a wide variety of Australian writers, in fiction, poetry and non-fiction, and attracted contributions from world-famous literary figures such as Susan Sontag
, Salman Rushdie, Georges Perec
, John Ashbery
, August Kleinzahler
and others. Ostensibly a quarterly, Scripsi's gradually slowing publishing rate, rarely managing more than three issues a year, led the Australia Council
to withdraw funding in 1994, and the magazine closed.
Currently a contemporary resurrection of Scripsi is underway with anticipated publications for late 2009 or early 2010. Former influential contributers will be contacted for contributions. This endeavor is spurred by two current residents of Ormond College.
Literary magazine
A literary magazine is a periodical devoted to literature in a broad sense. Literary magazines usually publish short stories, poetry and essays along with literary criticism, book reviews, biographical profiles of authors, interviews and letters...
published from 1981 to 1994 in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, first from the English Department and subsequently from Ormond College
Ormond College (University of Melbourne)
Ormond College is the largest of the residential colleges of the University of Melbourne. It is home to 332 undergraduates, 30 postgraduates and 27 professorial/academic residents.-Establishment:...
of the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
. Its name comes from Pontius Pilate
Pontius Pilate
Pontius Pilatus , known in the English-speaking world as Pontius Pilate , was the fifth Prefect of the Roman province of Judaea, from AD 26–36. He is best known as the judge at Jesus' trial and the man who authorized the crucifixion of Jesus...
's assertion "Quod scripsi, scripsi" (What I have written, I have written).
It was founded by Michael Heyward and Peter Craven, who met while studying at the University of Melbourne. Craven and Heyward co-edited the journal until 1989, when Heyward left. For many years, the poetry editor was John Forbes
John Forbes (poet)
-Life:John Forbes was born in Melbourne, Australia, but during his childhood his family lived in northern Queensland, Malaya and New Guinea. He went to Sydney University and his circle of friends included the poets Robert Adamson, Martin Johnston, and John Tranter...
and the graphics editor was Bill Henson
Bill Henson
Bill Henson is an Australian contemporary art photographer.-Background:Henson's art has been exhibited in many locations, including the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, the Venice Biennale, the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia, the Art Gallery of New South Wales in...
. Associate Editors included Penny Hueston, Philippa Hawker, Owen Richardson and Andrew Rutherford. The latter two were briefly co-editors, in 1993–4. Editorial assistants included Rosemary Hunter and Rosemary Sorensen.
For several years in the 1980s a weekly radio show ‘Scripsi of the Air’ was also presented by Heyward, Craven and others on Melbourne Radio Station 3RRR
3RRR
3RRR is a popular Australian community radio station, based in Melbourne. It is the largest per capita subscribed radio station in the world....
. In 1989 a single number was published by Penguin Books Australia Ltd. From 1991 to 1994 the magazine was published by Oxford University Press. Otherwise later numbers were described as published 'at' Ormond College.
The magazine was widely regarded at the time as one of the world's finest literary magazines. It published a wide variety of Australian writers, in fiction, poetry and non-fiction, and attracted contributions from world-famous literary figures such as Susan Sontag
Susan Sontag
Susan Sontag was an American author, literary theorist, feminist and political activist whose works include On Photography and Against Interpretation.-Life:...
, Salman Rushdie, Georges Perec
Georges Perec
Georges Perec was a French novelist, filmmaker, documentalist and essayist. He is a member of the Oulipo group...
, John Ashbery
John Ashbery
John Lawrence Ashbery is an American poet. He has published more than twenty volumes of poetry and won nearly every major American award for poetry, including a Pulitzer Prize in 1976 for his collection Self-Portrait in a Convex Mirror. But Ashbery's work still proves controversial...
, August Kleinzahler
August Kleinzahler
-Life and career:Until he was 11, he went to school in Fort Lee, New Jersey, where he grew up. He then commuted to the Horace Mann School in the Bronx, graduating in 1967. He wrote poetry from this time, inspired by Keats and Kenneth Rexroth translations, among other works...
and others. Ostensibly a quarterly, Scripsi's gradually slowing publishing rate, rarely managing more than three issues a year, led the Australia Council
Australia Council
The Australia Council, informally known as the Australia Council for the Arts, is the official arts council or arts funding body of the Government of Australia.-Function:...
to withdraw funding in 1994, and the magazine closed.
Currently a contemporary resurrection of Scripsi is underway with anticipated publications for late 2009 or early 2010. Former influential contributers will be contacted for contributions. This endeavor is spurred by two current residents of Ormond College.