Richard Neville Australian writer and self-proclaimed futurist. Country: Australia

1. Richard Neville - Australian Writer and Self-proclaimed Futurist
2. Founding 'Oz' Magazine
3. Legal Troubles and Imprisonment
4. 'Oz' in the UK and Legal Battles
5. Later Years and Current Activities

Richard Neville - Australian Writer and Self-proclaimed Futurist

Richard Neville is an Australian writer and self-proclaimed futurist who gained fame as the editor of the counterculture magazine 'Oz', which was published in Australia and the United Kingdom in the 1960s and early 1970s. In the early 1960s, Neville closely collaborated with the libertarian movement at the University of New South Wales.

Founding 'Oz' Magazine

In late 1963 and early 1964, Neville, then just the editor of the student magazine 'Tharunka', met Richard Walsh, who was also involved in publishing a student magazine at the University of Sydney. They both wanted to create a new, 'alternative' magazine and hired Martin Sharp as the artist. Thus, 'Oz' magazine was created. The first issue of the Sydney-based magazine was released on April Fool's Day, April 1, 1963. It had a characteristic irreverent style that resembled student publications, but it quickly gained a large following.

Legal Troubles and Imprisonment

As expected, such a vibrant countercultural project attracted the attention of censors. Neville and Walsh were fined twice for publishing obscene material. The first trial received relatively little attention, but unfortunately, the editors followed someone's ill-advised suggestion and pleaded guilty. The first fine was small, but their admission led Walsh and Neville to lose the second, more high-profile trial. The charges were mainly based on two works published in the early issues of the magazine. One controversial piece was Sharp's poem 'The Word Flashed Around The Arms', which mocked the trendy habit of attending parties without an invitation. Another offense was a photo on the cover of the sixth issue, where Neville and two friends pretended to urinate in a sculptural fountain by Tom Bass. In the end, Sharp, Neville, and Walsh were found guilty and sentenced to prison terms as prescribed by the law. The incident caused significant public controversy, but the 'Oz trio' learned the hard way that jokes and the law don't mix.

'Oz' in the UK and Legal Battles

In late 1966, Neville and Sharp moved to the United Kingdom, followed by their compatriot Jim Anderson in 1967. Together, they established the London branch of 'Oz' magazine. From there, they continued to push boundaries and challenge authorities, which endeared them to readers but also led to legal battles. 'Oz' magazine is most remembered in the UK for its involvement in the country's longest obscenity trial. Once again, the authorities prevailed, and Anderson, Neville, and their colleague Felix Dennis were sent to prison (though they were later released on appeal). The magazine ceased publication only in November 1973.

Later Years and Current Activities

After his involvement with 'Oz', Neville spent several years traveling the world, studying youth cultures, social transformations, and attempting to predict the possible shape of the future. In the 1980s, he returned to Australia and began working in television, delivering reports on popular culture, unconventional ideas, and the search for sustainable coexistence on the program 'Midday Show'. Just like in the old days, Neville often caused a stir with his segments. For example, he once smoked marijuana live on camera to test its influence on driving. Neville continues to be an active speaker to this day. His memoir, 'Hippie Hippie Shake', formed the basis of a promising film about the subcultures of the 1960s, in which Cillian Murphy will portray Richard himself.