Cultural Studies as Political Practice: Generation and Activism
Cultural Studies
The School of Humanities and Social Science and the Centre for 21st Century Humanities present an HDR Masterclass, "Cultural Studies as Political Practice: Generation and Activism." The session will be presented by Dr Ben Little and Dr Alison Winch, both of the University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.
Cultural Studies as a discipline is often more closely associated with continental theory and appreciative study of popular culture rather than as a mode of political practice. Arguing that its original emphasis was as a radically egalitarian political project rather than a strictly scholarly endeavour, we will explore the ways in which academics working under the sign of Cultural Studies can incorporate activism in their professional lives and think about ways to link the intellectual productions of the university with the broader political sphere. The workshop will be structured in two parts, separated by a shared lunch, with the first looking at conjunctural analysis and how to think - do politics through cultural studies (with examples of taught practice and political intervention) while the second half will focus on generation and feminist activism.
Facilitators
Alison Winch is Lecturer in Feminist Media Studies at the University of East Anglia, her book Girlfriends and Post-Feminist Sisterhood came out in 2013 and she has edited special editions of Feminist Media Studies (2016) on Intergenerational Feminisms and the Journal of Gender Studies (2017) on Mediated Intimacy. She is also a poet and wrote her PhD on 18th Century women’s travel writing.
Ben Little is Lecturer in Media and Cultural Politics at the University of East Anglia. His book Russell Brand: Comedy, Celebrity, Politics comes out this month and he is series editor of the Radical Future series, free eBooks about radical politics for the under 30s. Both Ben and Alison are editors for Soundings journal.
Suggested readings
Ben Little (2015) ‘A Growing Discontent: Class and Generation under Neoliberalism’ in Stuart Hall, Doreen Massey and Michael Rustin (eds.) After Neoliberalism: The Kilburn Manifesto (London: Lawrence and Wishart)
Alison Winch, Jo Littler and Jessalynn Keller (2016) ‘Why “Intergenerational Feminist Media Studies”?’ Feminist Media Studies 16.4
Jo Littler (2016). 'On not being at CCCS.' In: M. Hilton & K. Connell (Eds.), Cultural
Studies 50 Years On: History, Practice and Politics. London: Rowman & Littlefield International
The two halves of the seminar will be separated by lunch (12:30-1.30), and people are welcome to attend either one or both halves.
For the purposes of adequate catering, please RSVP to Michelle Allan (michelle.allan@newcastle.edu.au) by CoB Tuesday 6th December.
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.