Hi,
My name is Christina Welch and I'm in year 4 of my PhD at University College, Winchester (was King Alfred's College). I aimed to finish in 3 as I am AHRB funded but life got in the way - luckily though they give you a writing up year unfunded!
My thesis is entitled "The Role of Visual Representation in the Construction of North American Indian and Western Alternative Spiritual Identites" - which means I've spent some time looking at films and photos of Ameican Indians and examining the effect of these on those who in seeking a spiritual identity have been drawn to an American Indian one. Plus, I've been researching the Uk Pow-wow scene.
My thesis is inter- and multi-disciplinary and I'm working within a Cultural Studies setting which allows me this freedom.
I'm published (only 2 publications but it's a start!), and have presented at a few conferences (the most recent being in Tokyo at the IAHR - very cool!). I'm co-convening the Indigenous Religions conference at the OU this September http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/relstud/bbb/ and the Spiritual and Social Change (with Adrian Harris whose also a postgrad at the uni) in April 2006 (sscconference.org.uk when it's up and running) - This conference will be interfaith and held at the new Univeristy of Winchester so if anyone's interested in submitting papers please get in touch - [log in to unmask]
All the best to all you Socrel bods.
Take care
Christina
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