Applications are now open for a 3-year collaborative doctoral studentship based at the Department of History, Kings College London, working with the KCL Department of Film Studies, in collaboration with the National Horseracing Museum, Newmarket.
Project Description:
Although horse-racing is a popular topic of historical analysis, the horse – as the key participant in the sport - is strangely absent from existing histories. This project will correct this deficit by examining its history in Britain, c1918-2000. Conducted as an inter-disciplinary collaboration between the KCL departments of History and Film Studies, and the Arts Council-accredited National Horseracing Museum (NHRM) in Newmarket (which has recently undergone a multi-million pound transformation into a National Heritage Centre for Horseracing and Sporting Art), it aims to generate a new sporting history of the horse, and a horse-centred history of the sport. It will approach racehorses as products of both
nature and culture, and explore how these elite equine athletes were constructed through human manipulations of their bodies, behaviours, health and welfare, and through their representation in film and other media. This research will make use of the collections of the NHRM. It will also result in opportunities to develop professional curatorial experience eg through contributing to temporary exhibitions at the NHRM.
This project is suitable for a student with an MA in history, museum studies, film studies or other related area. The successful candidate will join a thriving group of PhD students working on aspects of animal history, and will be expected to contribute to the activities they organise under the Animal History Group: https://animalhistorygroup.wordpress.com/
Lead Supervisor: Professor Abigail Woods
Second Supervisors: Dr Catherine Wheatley
Partner Organisation Supervisor: Mr Christopher Garibaldi
For more information about the award and details of how to apply, see http://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/fees-and-funding/student-funding/postgraduate-research-funding/richard-trainor-scholarships.aspx
The deadline is 7 May.
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