Past events
A selection of previous events linked to the Media, Arts and Humanities Research Institute.
Media, Arts and Humanities Faculty Communal Reading Day
Research Reading and Writing days to support you to share ideas and write productively
Background: Recent consultation has confirmed that there is enthusiasm across the School for a system that enables us to read each other’s research in a structured and manageable way.
Benefits: A model of collective reading has many benefits, offering an opportunity to:
- Test out new ideas
- Consider interdisciplinary and alternative perspectives on your work
- Reflect on how your writing might be received by different audiences
- Support career development – from ECRs to Professors
- Familiarise ourselves with the work of our colleagues, furthering a sense of research community and identity, which can enrich all our research lives.
How are Reading and Writing days going to be planned?
- Two days in the next six months will be devoted to communal reading sessions, each paired with a MAH writing retreat in January and July 2024. You can sign up for as many of the 4 sessions offered as you like.
- PGRs do attend the writing retreats but will have their own dedicated communal reading scheme.
- In keeping with Beginnings, our Institute theme for 23/24, faculty will be asked to submit a short (c.750 words) sample of writing from an opening/introduction to an unpublished piece of research/work in progress. These are to be circulated amongst the group at least a week ahead of the meeting. (Pieces don’t need to be shared when you register.)
- The communal reading day is designed so that the 2-3 short pieces can be read in the morning and discussed the same afternoon.
- Meetings are intended to be informal and based on a constructive discussion of the work. One element of focus might be the way in which the sample frames what is to follow. Might it be more ambitious? Can it be placed in a broader context?
How can I sign up?
- The first Communal Reading Day will be on Wednesday 10 January, with the Writing Retreat to follow on Friday 12 January 2024.
- Register with your Sussex email address via Eventbrite page for the Communal Reading Day (locations TBC) by 5pm on Wednesday 3 January (to allow time to circulate the writing).
- Register on the Eventbrite page for the Writing Retreat (WRAP, Brighton – near Brighton Station) by 5pm on Tuesday 19 December (for catering purposes).
This should be a gentle but stimulating way to start the New Year, engage with new ideas and support colleagues. It is designed to minimise the workload and maximise the benefits, and meetings could take place in cafes, online, whilst walking in the countryside, in any form that feels right and allows us to share our research joy!
Posted on behalf of: School of Media, Arts and Humanities
Last updated: Thursday, 14 December 2023