Effy Alexakis
Department of Modern History, Politics and International Rel
Macquarie University
Australia
Biography
Historian Leonard Janiszewski and documentary photographer Effy Alexakis have been researching the historical and contemporary Greek-Australian presence, both within Australia and overseas, since 1982. Their ongoing project and archive - In Their Own Image: Greek-Australians - is recognised as one of the largest collections of Greek-Australian material in the country. The archive encompasses a wealth of visual images, recorded interviews, paper-based textual documents and memorabilia. It is currently housed at Macquarie University, Sydney, in partnership with the Australian History Museum and Discipline of Modern History. Over 180 academic and popular journal articles, book chapters, conference papers and catalogues have been produced, as well as two major books and three film documentaries. Both national and international touring exhibitions have been created. Of their exhibitions, the most pronounced have been 'In Their Own Image: Greek-Australians' and 'Selling and American Dream: Australia's Greek Café'. The former toured throughout Australia and travelled to both Athens and Thessalonki. The latter opened at the National Museum of Australia in 2008, and is still touring nationally.
Research Interest
Documentary photography; Greek-Australian history and culture; exhibition development and curation; applied photography
Publications
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Kanawati N, Woods A, Shafik S, Alexakis E. Mereruka and his family. Part III: 1, The tomb of Mereruka.
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Janiszewski L, Alexakis E. American Beauties at the Niagara: The Marriage of American Food Catering Ideas to British-Australian Tastes and the Birth, Life and Demise of the Classic Australian'Greek Cafe'.
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Janiszewski L, Alexakis E. California Dreaming: The ‘Greek Cafe’and Its Role in the Americanisation of Australian Eating and Social Habits. Modern Greek Studies (Australia and New Zealand). 2012 Oct 3;11.
