Introduction
In the past three decades, the University of Sussex has established itself as a leading research university in the arts and humanities.
At Sussex American studies, art history, English, European literature and culture, history, linguistics and English language, music and philosophy all have reputations for excellence and innovation.
Our excellence in the humanities was confirmed by the most recent Research Assessment Exercise, which awarded a top rating to American studies, English, art history, philosophy and music.
Sussex has always moved beyond the boundaries of single disciplines, questioning and challenging received ideas. The University pioneered interdisciplinary studies in the humanities, unifying a strong focus on historical study with the exploration of modern and post-modern theory.
The University supports a number of research centres that address aspects of the arts and humanities, drawing together faculty, postdoctoral fellows and research students working on focused areas of investigation. For example, the Centre for Colonial and Postcolonial Studies is a research centre reflecting significant interdisciplinary interest in the histories and cultures of colonialism, and postcolonial theory and practice; and the Centre for Visual Fields fosters research in a wide range of interests in visual studies across media, disciplines and cultures.
2007 saw the launch of two new research centres in the arts: the Sussex Centre for Cultural Studies, created to consolidate the current and historical work in cultural studies that is long established at Sussex; and the Marcus Cunliffe Centre for the Study of the American South, which facilitates research in the social, political, economic and cultural history of the American South from the colonial period (1600) to the present.
All of our research centres in the arts have a common endeavour to interrogate, understand and share knowledge of the historical, literary and artistic manifestations of human existence. We have a thriving and distinctive research culture, creating an environment in which we work collectively to enrich our cultural and intellectual life.
Major research grants in 2007 included:
- £337,584 from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)for The Newton Theological Papers Project
Robert Iliffe (history) - £253,756 from the AHRC for New Technology in Lyric Theatre
Tim Hopkins (music) - £112,066 from the Leverhulme Trust for Cultural Factors of Slavery in North America and Brazil 1780-1888
Marcus Wood (English) - £108,663 from the Leverhulme Trust for History of the Dissenting Academies
Knud Haakonssen (history) - £96,296 from the Leverhulme Trust for Composition Byzantine Glass in Mosaic Tessearae
Liz James (art history)
