On Tuesday the 18th of February we will be looking at Graham Harman’s ‘The Third Table’. In this essay, Harman aims to clarify the nature of real objects, which is to say what an object is on its own terms. He does this by considering the everyday object of the table. For Harman, there are … Continue reading “CTRG – Speculative Philosophy – February 18th”
Works Loved Teach Out: Solidarity and Resistance
To mark the UCU industrial action, we’re planning to run an off-campus teach out session using our regular ‘Works Loved’ format. We invite you to share any favourite text that relates to themes of solidarity and resistance. Are there books that you return to in challenging times? Texts that capture instances of activism and protest, … Continue reading “Works Loved Teach Out: Solidarity and Resistance”
Works Loved (Wed 12 Feb, 1pm)
This week’s Page Breaks session will return to our ‘Works Loved’ format. We often have a cohering theme, but this week we invite you to bring any favourite text. Are there books that you return to in difficult times? Passages you read for pleasure or relaxation? A text you’ve read recently but anticipate will stay … Continue reading “Works Loved (Wed 12 Feb, 1pm)”
Romance Reading Group Launch: Valentines Special
Launching on Thursday 13th February 2020, the Romance Reading Group will be running bi-monthly, postgraduate-led sessions on Thursdays 4:00-6:00 in Arts 439. These sessions will all focus on the undervalued yet meaningful popular genre: romance.
Imagining Catastrophe – February 4th
Join us at 4pm in Arts 141 on the 4th of February for a discussion of Michael Richardson’s ‘Climate Trauma, or the Affects of the Catastrophe to Come’. In this article Richardson argues that ‘climate catastrophe are traumatically affecting without necessarily being traumatizing: they are jarring, rupturing, disjunctive experiences of future crisis in the now.’ … Continue reading “Imagining Catastrophe – February 4th”
Page Breaks Teaching Special (Wed 5 Feb 2:30pm)
This week’s Page Breaks will be an informal special session to reflect on tips and techniques for teaching undergraduate seminars, including suggestions for preparation and ways to prompt discussion. We’ll share examples of good (and bad!) teaching experiences, and exchange ideas on what has worked well in different seminar contexts.
Page Breaks (Wed 22 Jan) Mars is Heaven!
Ray Bradbury’s short story ‘The Third Expedition’, first published as ‘Mars is Heaven’ in 1948 and later collected in The Martian Chronicles, describes the arrival of a space expedition on Mars whose crew discover a seemingly familiar American town.
Page Breaks (29 Jan): ‘Dialogue between Old England and New’, with Peter Auger
In this new series for Page Breaks, we’ve asked other members of staff to bring in passages they’re puzzling over at the moment in their own research. We’ll be using the sessions for members of staff to discuss their work in its very first stages – when they’re still at the stage of asking questions … Continue reading “Page Breaks (29 Jan): ‘Dialogue between Old England and New’, with Peter Auger”
CTRG – Queerness and Disability (24th of Jan) & Schedule
It’s a New Year, and to usher in the times, Timothy the Octopus has put together a new schedule! Our first session will be on Theory relating to Queerness and Disability. However, we wanted to try something a little bit different for this session: instead of setting a text to read, we will be having … Continue reading “CTRG – Queerness and Disability (24th of Jan) & Schedule”
Works Loved: New Beginnings (Wed 15 Jan)
A new year, and a new theme for Works Loved. In our first session of 2020, we’ll share texts that explore fresh starts, new beginnings, and other kinds of reinvigoration. All types of texts are welcome – and as always, feel free to mix up the tone with a drastic ending! An extra challenge: accounts … Continue reading “Works Loved: New Beginnings (Wed 15 Jan)”