Centre for Life History and Life Writing Research

Summer term 2008/09

Unless specified, all seminars for the Summer Term 2009 were held at the University of Sussex, Tuesdays 12.30-1.55pm, in the Russell Building, Room 12. (Wheelchair accessible.)

The poetic re-representation of life stories

Date: 16 June 2009
Speaker: Jane Speedy, Centre for Narrative and Transformative Learning, University of Bristol
Jane Speedy will discuss the work of the Centre for Narrative and Transformative Learning and using poetry to capture research participants' personal narratives in therapeutic contexts.

The art of the biopic

Date: 2 June 2009
Speaker: Lizzie Thynne, Media Studies, University of Sussex
Lizzie Thynne will talk about the art of the biopic, drawing on her experiences of writing and directing a film about the life of surrealist artist Claude Cahun.

Heritage Plus

Date: 19 May 2009
Speaker: Kirsty Henshall, Heritage Plus Project Manager
Heritage Plus is an innovative community history project run by the national charity WRVS, funded by the Heritage Lottery. Kirsty Henshall will explain how it combines oral history, reminiscence and other creative ageing practices, as well as engaging in public history debates.

Animating the Archive Performance

Date: 7 May 2009 and 8 May 2009
Director: Sara Jane Bailes
Venue: InQbate Entrance - back of Pevensey 2 Building at the University of Sussex
Sara Jane Bailes, from the Department of English and Drama at Sussex, is directing a performance that draws from and works with the Mass Observation Archive this week. 'Animating the Archive' will be performed at 6.30pm, on Thursday 7th and at 6.30pm on Friday 8th May. Meet at InQbate entrance, back on Pevensey 2 building at Sussex. The performance will last just over an hour. If you would like a ticket, please contact Fiona Allen, on f.p.allen@sussex.ac.uk.

The life history of a farmhouse

Date: 5 May 2009
Speaker: Dr. Wendy Hitchmough, Curator, Charleston Farmhouse
Wendy Hitchmough will draw on her experiences as Curator of Charleston in presenting its new oral history project which focuses on Charleston 's relationship to local lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered communities.

Underwater Life Writing

Date: 21 April 2009
Speaker: Dr Clare Brant, Director of Centre for Life Writing, Kings College
Clare Brant explores the difficulties of translating aquanautic experience to people on dry land who have little idea of underwater existences. She will outline some principal characteristics of subaqua lifewritings, referring to Jacques Cousteau, Hans Hass, Cindy Lee Van Dover and others.