7 July 2016: Symposium on the psychology of artistic creativity

You are welcome to attend the symposium, Psychology of Artistic Creativity, taking place on Thursday 7th July from 9:30am – 12:45pm as part of the Cognition Institute Conference at Plymouth University. It is free to attend. The session will feature talks from: Jon May (Plymouth University) – The psychology of artistic creativity David Sargeant (Plymouth University) – Thinking through fiction Emma Redding… Continue reading 7 July 2016: Symposium on the psychology of artistic creativity

Feature: “Professional Wrestling: Cultural history made by the people”

“The Winner” P.J. Jones (heel) going for a pinfall against Plymouth Wrestler Eddie Ryan “The English Lion” (face). Photography G H Bennett

With a Cornish Pro Wrestling show coming up on Saturday, 23 July 2016, G.H. BENNETT offers a historian’s view of professional wrestling. ‘Wrestling – that’s fake, right?’ ‘Wrestling – that’s guys in tights or flowery briefs covered in body lotion, yes?’ Wrestling is usually, and swiftly, dismissed for a variety of reasons ranging from perceived artifice… Continue reading Feature: “Professional Wrestling: Cultural history made by the people”

The Sonification of David Bowie at the Port Eliot Festival

What does the sonification of David Bowie sound like? You can find out as part of the brand new science programme at the Port Eliot Festival, which takes place 28-31 July 2016 in St Germans, Cornwall. Dr Alexis Kirke, who is Senior Research Fellow in Plymouth University’s Interdisciplinary Centre for Computer Music Research (ICCMR), and Martyn… Continue reading The Sonification of David Bowie at the Port Eliot Festival

A Time of Judgment (23-24 June 2016): Conference Report

Judgment everywhere. Implacable judgment in scarlet up in the Central Criminal Court or delivered in measured tones in the High Court of Chancery. Beside the Embankment in the imperial senate, judgment confidently uttered before the witnesses in committee chambers or mumbled amid the gilded crockets of a stifling House of Lords. Judgment by the bearded… Continue reading A Time of Judgment (23-24 June 2016): Conference Report

Keynote presentations by Prof Liz Wells this summer in Plymouth and Sheffield

Liz Wells, Professor in Photographic Culture at Plymouth University, is delivering a number of keynote presentations this summer. On 30 June, Liz will be discussing visual literacy, criticality and photo education at the Association for Photography in Higher Education (APHE) conference, hosted jointly by Plymouth University and Plymouth College of Art. And on 4 July 2016,… Continue reading Keynote presentations by Prof Liz Wells this summer in Plymouth and Sheffield

Feature: “Knowledge is Power. And fun: The Brave New World of Mechanics’ Institutes”

Manchester Mechanics' Institute, Cooper Street, UK (1825)

BY DOUG WATSON Sometimes we take education and learning for granted. We’re swimming in an ocean of knowledge. We have added “The Information Age” to the timeline of Western Civilisation. Finding something out is just a click, or a voice command (and in a few years, potentially just a thought impulse) away. Yet today is… Continue reading Feature: “Knowledge is Power. And fun: The Brave New World of Mechanics’ Institutes”

New edited collection on Early Modern Letter Writing

Prof James Daybell has just published a new book, with Andrew Gordon of Aberdeen University, entitled Cultures of Correspondence in Early Modern Britain. This edited collection about early modern letter writing, published in the University of Pennsylvania Press’ Material Texts series, brings together leading scholars in the field from around the world including Nadine Akkerman, Mark Brayshay, Christopher… Continue reading New edited collection on Early Modern Letter Writing

Digital artwork created by i-DAT for opening of new Tate Modern building

i-DAT, working with Tate Collective London, have created a new interactive sculpture called This is Where We Are, for the opening of the new Tate Modern building in London, which will take place from 17 – 19 June 2016. i-DAT is an Open Research Lab at Plymouth University for playful experimentation with creative technology. This Is Where We Are is… Continue reading Digital artwork created by i-DAT for opening of new Tate Modern building

Feature: “The poetic film-making of Margaret Tait”

35mm filmstrip Painted Eightsome © Margaret Tait 1970, courtesy LUX

BY KAYLA PARKER The Orcadian artist, Margaret Tait (1918-1999), wrote prose and poetry, and made short films, usually shooting on 16mm with her clockwork Bolex camera. In her cinematic work she explored an array of highly experimental techniques, including painting and scratching on the film surface, from the beginning of her filmmaking career in Italy… Continue reading Feature: “The poetic film-making of Margaret Tait”

Paintings by Plymouth University researcher in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition

Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2016. Photo: http://karenroulstone.com/

Dr Karen Roulstone has had two of her paintings selected for inclusion in the 248th Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in London. Karen is Lecturer in Fine Art and programme leader for the MA Contemporary Art Practice at Plymouth University. She is also co-director of The Alamo Project, an artist led studio initiative offering a mentoring environment for emerging… Continue reading Paintings by Plymouth University researcher in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition