The Materialities of Inequality: Mould, Acid and Glitter
Materialities of Inequality
Across the Global North, economic inequality is returning to levels not seen since the 1800s. Based on current trends, wealth disparities and the inequalities they perpetuate are likely to increase. While most people are aware of the oft-repeated phrases such as ‘the 6 richest people in the world now have the same wealth of the bottom 50% of the world’s population’, such aphorisms do not seem to make much of difference towards generating broader discussions about inequalities, let alone alleviating the problems. One of the reasons for this is that inequality is not experienced as numbers: it is felt, an emotional experience that is mediated through affective relations and everyday materials.
This seminar will look at inequality by thinking with and through materiality: in this case, glitter, mould and acid. The seminar will invoke a sociological imagination to make the normal look strange by telling stories of inequality through mundane and material substances. These presentations contribute towards rethinking a politics of the future by exposing where power lies and how it moves in and through us all through our proximities to different forms of matter.
Speakers:
- Rebecca Coleman (University of Bristol)
- Roger Burrows (University of Bristol)
- Beverley Skeggs (University of Lancaster)
Event Information
- Date: Wednesday 8 October 2025 from 7:00pm - 9:00pm
- Duration: 2 hours
- Location: Online
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.