Roger Horrocks was founder and head of the Department of Film, Television and Media Studies at Auckland University, the largest department of its kind in New Zealand, and is Emeritus Professor. Ten years ago he retired early to write full time. He has written on many aspects of film, television, literature and the arts. He is also a published poet. Len Lye, his biography of the experimental film-maker, was a finalist in the NZ Book Awards in 2002. He has been involved in many media and arts organizations and was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for his services to film and television.
Horrocks has been awarded the Autumn Residency to work on his latest project, a book about the evolution of the arts in New Zealand, from colonial cringe to the growth of many creative areas, including the Maori renaissance. He will also consider the huge impact of digital technology today.
He has just launched his second poetry volume, a long philosophical poem entitled The Song of the Ghost in the Machine, published by Victoria University press, a meditation on thinking and the experience of being human. He was interviewed on National Radio about his work. He was also interviewed for a blog on the VUP web site.
Photo – Auckland Writers Festival