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After Word Time-based audiovisual study in the arts and humanities 14 May 2018, 6pm, Birkbeck Cinema, 43 Gordon Square, London WC1H 0PD The binary of theory and practice still casts a long shadow over the arts and humanities. For some time, the preferred mode of critical, theoretically-informed expression in these fields has been the written word. Words mediated, more prosaically, via software programmes such as Microsoft Word. When alternative modes of expression and analysis – and their related hardware and software apparatuses – come into play, the register tends to shift to a pedagogy regarded as more ‘practical’ or ‘vocational’. While this binary has never been absolute, and is often exaggerated, its days are arguably numbered. The technical means of media creation and distribution (e.g. recording equipment, editing software, online networks and platforms) – previously the preserve of professional media producers and highly vocational study – have become cheaper, easier to use, and, in principle, more available to a wider range of potential users. And, as a result, a space has opened for an arts and humanities that unites rather than separates theory and practice: where critical thinking and theory might be explored through new forms of doing, making, remix and creativity. In this symposium, Professor Catherine Grant will present on these topics with reference, primarily, to her own experimentation with making, teaching and publishing video essays over the last decade. She will demonstrate how the sensuous and time-based methodologies of audio-visual forms of research and expression can frame particularly instructive and persuasive kinds of phenomenological possibility for media and humanities studies. As well as an introducing a hands-on understanding of audiovisual argumentation (involving selection of evidence, montage and mise en scene, titling, sound editing and other creative effects), audiovisual essays also offer an active viewing process ideal for sharing in classroom situations as well as online. Unlike written texts, video essays don't have to remove themselves from audio-visual, audio or visual-specific forms of meaning production to have their knowledge effects on us, and so may add a whole suite of key skills to the central ones of ekphrasis-based forms of writing. Professor Grant will show some of her most recent video-essay work to illustrate her talk. Professor Grant’s talk will be followed by critical responses from Dr Caroline Edwards and Dr Dorota Ostrowska, and will be chaired by Dr Scott Rodgers. The event will be followed by a wine reception. Register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/after-word-audiovisual-study-in-the-arts-and-humanities-tickets-44180979499 -------------------------------------------------------- MeCCSA mailing list -------------------------------------------------------- To manage your subscription or unsubscribe from the MECCSA list, please visit: https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?SUBED1=MECCSA&A=1 ------------------------------------------------------- MeCCSA is the subject association for the field of media, communication and cultural studies in UK Higher Education. This mailing list is a free service and is not restricted to members. It is an unmoderated list and content reflect the views of those who post to the list and not of MeCCSA as an organisation. MeCCSA recommends that the list be used only for posting of information (for example about events, publications, conferences, lectures) of interest to members or to promote discussion of current issues of wide general interest in the field. Posts to the MeCCSA mailing list are public, indexed by Google, and can be accessed from the JISCMail website (http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/meccsa.html). Any messages posted to the list are subject to the JISCMail acceptable use policy, which states that users should avoid engaging in unreasonable behaviour, or disrupting the general flow of discussion on a list. For further information, please visit: http://www.meccsa.org.uk/ --------------------------------------------------------