We are an open and inclusive collective of student artists and student entrepreneurs who band together for social contacts, artistic education and stimulation, entertainment and all things pertaining to the advancement of our dreams and careers in media, journalism, film, television, music, sound and video recording and distribution, set design, costume design, lighting design, concert, online innovations, photography, architecture, mixed and multi-media and dramatic performance.
[Pictured above: George Ewart Evans (1909, Abercynon, South Wales – 1988) was a Welsh-born schoolteacher, writer and folklorist who became a dedicated collector of oral history and oral tradition in the East Anglian countryside from the 1940s to 1970s, and produced eleven books of collections of these materials.]
My esteemed colleague Professor Hamish Fyfe writes to us:
Dear Colleagues,
A date for your diaries
The 1st of April 2009 marks the centenary of the birth of the writer and pioneer oral historian George Ewart Evans. His name is eponymous to the Centre for Storytelling here in CCI. George was born in Abercynon but completed most of his seminal work in Suffolk.
The gathering here in Atrium on the 1st of April will bring together significant figures to consider his life, his work and his legacy..
These will include his son the former Faber and Faber Chairman Matthew Evans, David Gentleman the artist, Colin Thomas the film-maker our colleague the historian Gareth Williams who is Evans’s biographer.
If you know about Evans’s work come and join us in celebrating, if you don’t come and learn more about the man and his work from those that knew, read and have been influenced by him . . .
Hamish Fyfe
Professor Hamish Fyfe,
Cardiff School of Creative and Cultural Industries
Atrium, University of Glamorgan
Adam Street, Cardiff, CF24 2XF
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Welsh-American Family Genealogy, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Welsh Music, Film, and Books Symposium, on the World Wide Web.
Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Celtic Cult Cinema on the World Wide Web.
[Pictured above: Zanzibar Soccer Queens, Dir Florence Ayisi, UK/Tanzania, 2007]
There will be a day conference to mark International Women's Day at the University of Glamorgan on Saturday 8 March 2008.
The event is free and all are welcome.
International Women’s Day, March 8th 2008. University of Glamorgan, J132/234/237 Provisional Schedule
9.30 Opening remarks: Christine Chapman, Assembly Member for Cynon Valley; Chair of the All-party Group on Women and Democracy.
9.40 Keynote speakers: Politics and the history of feminism ➢ Prof June Hannam (University of the West of England, Bristol) ➢ Kat Banyard (The Fawcett Society)
10.40 TEA/COFFEE
11.00 Presentations: Feminist activity today ➢ Kim Griffiths (Women’s Aid) ➢ Lindsay Hannigan (Trustee of the China Centre) ➢ Dilys Jackson (Women’s Arts Association) ➢ Dr Mair Rigby (Mind the Gap)
[Pictured above: Professor June Hannam]
Followed by a round-table discussion facilitated by Dr Kath Holden (University of the West of England, Bristol)
➢ A screening of the acclaimed film, 'Zanzibar Soccer Queens', followed by a short discussion with Florence Ayisi, the director.
A provocative and timely portrait of Women Fighters, a team of Zanzibari women playing soccer, and defining new roles and identities for themselves, in a predominantly Muslim society. Dir Florence Ayisi, UK/Tanzania, 2007, 83 mins
[Pictured above / Yn ffoto y fynny: DD-CH : Ffion Cambell-Davies, Ryan Bennett, Daf Du (Presenter – BBC Radio Cymru C2), Lois Williams, Jac Moore]
February 29, 2008
Young people from sixth forms across South and West Wales gathered at the University of Glamorgan’s brand new ATRiuM building in Cardiff this month to celebrate the growing number of Welsh language university courses available to them in the capital.
Young people from sixth forms across South and West Wales gathered at the University of Glamorgan’s brand new ATRiuM building in Cardiff this month to celebrate the growing number of Welsh language university courses available to them in the capital.
The day during which the youngsters took part in workshops with some of Wales’ youngest creative talent, marked the announcement of Glamorgan expanding its Welsh language provision for creative industry based courses including a bilingual option for media and music courses.
Renowned young Welsh author Caryl Lewis was joined by BBC Radio Cymru presenter Daf Du during the day which saw fifty 16 and 17 year-olds take part in practical and question and answer sessions.
Schools attending included, Ysgol Gyfun y Cymer, Ysgol Gyfun Plasmawr, Ysgol Gyfun Glantaf, Ysgol Bro Myrddin and Ysgol Maes yr Yrfa.
BBC Wales series Pobol y Cwm producer Dafydd Llewelyn and Huw Meredydd Roberts a producer with BBC Radio Cymru also took part in the event during which the pupils got a taste for all things creative including devising new storylines for Pobol y Cwm and learning how to put a radio programme together.
Ioan Gruffudd - Pobol y Cwm 1991
[Ioan Gruffudd appearing as 'Gareth Wyn' on the Welsh-language soap 'Pobol y Cwm' circa 1991 /Ioan Gruffudd ar Pobol y Cwm tua 1991].
Lisa Lewis Head of Drama at the Cardiff School of Creative & Cultural said, “The aim of the day was to inspire young people and to demonstrate the range of careers open to them in the creative industries if they want to work through the mediums of both Welsh and English.
“At ATRiuM we currently offer a bilingual drama course and will soon be offering both media and music as bilingual pathways.
The University of Glamorgan is at the forefront of developing bilingual courses in the creative industries in Wales and we hope that many of the pupils who visited the new campus will go on to study here in the future.”
The University is running a competition for Welsh speaking applicants applying this year. Students are required to submit a portfolio of work through the medium of Welsh and could win one of four prizes of £1500.
Datblygiadau Cyffrous i Ddarpariaeth Dwyieithog Morgannwg
DATGANIAD I’R WASG 29.02.08
Daeth myfyrwyr chweched dosbarth o ysgolion ledled de a gorllewin Cymru i’r ATRiuM yn ddiweddar i ddathlu twf y cyrsiau prifysgol cyfrwng Cymraeg sydd ar gael iddyn nhw yn y brifddinas.
Yn ystod y dydd bu’r bobl ifainc yn rhan o weithdai gyda rhai o dalentau creadigol ieuengaf Cymru a’r nod oedd hyrwyddo cyfleoedd gyrfaol dwyieithog a dathlu’r datblygiadau i ddarpariaeth Cyfrwng Cymraeg Morgannwg o fewn y diwydiannau creadigol a diwylliannol, gan gynnwys opsiynnau dwyieithog yn y meysydd Cyfryngau a Cherddoriaeth.
Ymunodd cyflwynydd Radio Cymru, Daf Du â’r nofelydd ifanc enwog, Caryl Lewis i ddarparu sesiynau holi ac ateb ymarferol i dros hanner cant o fyfyrwyr 16 a 17 mlwydd oed.
Ymysg yr ysgolion yn bresennol oedd Ysgol Gyfun y Cymer, Ysgol Gyfun Plasmawr, Ysgol Gyfun Glantaf, Ysgol Bro Myrddin ac Ysgol Maes yr Yrfa.
Fel rhan o’r digwyddiad yn ogsytal darparwyd sesiynnau gan Dafydd Llewelyn, cynhyrchydd Pobol y Cwm a’r cynhyrchydd BBC Radio Cymru Huw Meredydd Roberts, lle gafodd y myfyrwyr y cyfle i gymryd rhan mewn sesiynnau creadigol gan gynnwys meddwl am straeon ar gyfer Pobol y Cwm a dysgu am gynhyrchu rhaglen radio.
Dywedodd Lisa Lewis, Pennaeth Drama yn Ysgol Diwydiannau Creadigol a Diwylliannol Caerdydd, “Nod y diwrnod oedd ysbrydoli pobl ifainc a dangos yr amrediad o yrfaoedd dwyieithog sydd ar gael iddyn nhw yn y diwydiannau creadigol”.
“Yn yr ATRiuM ar hyn o bryd rydym yn cynnig cwrs Drama dwyieithog a fydd yn fuan yn cynnig llwybrau dwyieithog yn y cyfryngau ac mewn cerddoriaeth.
Mae Prifysgol Morgannwg ar flaen y gad o safbwynt datblygu cyrsiau dwyieithog yn y diwydiannau creadigol yng Nghymru”.
Ar ben hyn y mae’r Brifysgol yn darparu cystadleuaeth yn arbennig i ymgeiswyr cyfrwng Cymraeg eleni.
Y mae angen i’r myfyrwyr anfon portffolio o waith creadigol drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg at y Brifysgol lle darperir 4 gwobr o hyd at £1,500 i bedwar unigolyn a £1,000 i’w ysgolion.
Myfyrwyr Ysgol Gyfun Plasmawr – Caerdydd
For additional info please contact Dr. Mark Leslie Woods at mwoods[at]glam.ac.uk
Take the library with you: an introduction to e-Books
Workshop dates:
Glyntaff Room GT137 Tuesday 4 March 12-1pm Presented by Jan Williams & Louise Williams
ATRiuM Room CA211 Thursday 6 March 12-1pm Presented by Amanda Endicott & Emma Rye
Treforest Room L310a Friday 7 March 12-1pm Presented by Emma Rye & Jan Williams
The e-Book revolution… read your textbooks online!
What is an e-Book? Where can you access e-Books?
How do you read an e-Book? How do you use the content of an e-Book?
These workshops are a basic introduction to finding and using the University's e-Book content (focussing in particular on NetLibrary), and they are suitable for students, staff and researchers.
To book a place, please email Emma Rye - erye[at]glam[dot]ac[dot]uk - with your details and which workshop you would like to attend.
For additional info please contact Dr. Mark Leslie Woods at mwoods[at]glam.ac.uk
[Pictured above: Stereophonics, a band originating from Wales with members Kelly Jones, Richard Jones and Javier Weyler.]
Dear colleague,
Cardiff School of Creative and Cultural Industries and Roland UK have come together to launch ‘The Music Academy’.
The Academy’s aim is to implement the delivery of world-class music training both nationally and internationally, throughout the national qualifications framework.
Courses will be available on a both part-time and full-time basis, along with short and professional courses written in conjunction with Roland.
To launch this partnership The Music Academy is pleased to announce the inaugural ‘Battle of the Bands’ competition sponsored by Rockschool.
The competition will be held at the award winning ATRiuM in Central Cardiff on Saturday 5th April 2008, where the short-listed bands will perform live before the general public and a team of industry experts.
The Battle of the Bands showcase will also feature a number of master classes run by industry professionals and will be open to the general public.
The winning act on the 5th April will receive £3000 worth of Roland equipment plus three days recording time in one of the state-of-the-art ATRiuM recording studios.
In addition there will be cash prizes for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd placed acts in the competition courtesy of our sponsors Rockschool.
To enter the competition, the bands must comply with the following criteria:
1) Be aged 16 – 25 2) Submit a 2/3 track demonstration recording either on CD or via a URL link to a social network site e.g. My Space. 3) Be able to perform the demonstration music tracks live at the Battle of the Bands final on the 5th April.
The demo CD/URL link along with a completed application form should be submitted to Dr. Paul Carr (Head of The Music Academy) by no later than Wednesday 5th March.
The address for applications is: Dr Paul Carr, Battle of the Bands competition, ATRiuM, Adam Street, Cardiff, CF24 2XF.
The eight short listed finalists will be then be notified by no later than Friday 14th March in order to allow time to prepare for the final competition.
Due to the large number of entries expected for the competition, any bands that have not received notification by Friday 14th March should presume that their application has been unsuccessful.
For any further information please contact ccirolandacademy[at]glam[dot]ac[dot]uk
Yours Sincerely
Dr. Paul Carr Head of Music Academy ATRiuM/CCI
For additional info please contact Dr. Mark Leslie Woods at mwoods[at]glam.ac.uk
Radio Stations and Rugby Clubs: Roger Lewis in conversation
As the 2008 Six Nations gets underway, Group Chief Executive of the Welsh Rugby Union Roger Lewis chats to BBC Radio Wales’ Richard Evans.
This Radio Academy event charts the amazing journey of the Welshman who helped BBC Radio 1 to 18 million listeners and now runs the country’s most popular sport.
All fans of rugby and radio welcome - staff and students.
Tony Platt is visiting the Cardiff School of Creative & Cultural Industries ATRiuM on Tuesday, 4th December.
Tony Platt: Tony is a leading member of the British Music Producer's Guild
Engineer for Bob Marley & The Wailers “Catch A Fire”, Boomtown Rats “Fine Art of Surfacing”, AC/DC “Back In Black”
Producer for Iron Maiden “Phanton of The Opera, AC/DC “Flick of the Switch”, Buddy Guy “Damn Right I got The Blues”, Soweto Kinch "Conversations with The Unseen", and many, many more, including film and TV (http://www.platinumtones.com/discography.htm)
Tony Platt is visiting ATRiuM on Tuesday, 4th December!!!
Tony will be providing useful careers orientated presentations. These are particularly for Music and Sound students, who should attend as follows:
1.00 – 2.00 pm CB4 2nd Year Music and Sound
2.00 – 3.00 pm CB4 1st Year Music and Sound
3.00 – 4.00 pm CB4 3rd Year Music and Sound
Other students and staff are welcome to attend as they are able.
Submitted to AIM ATRiuM Intelligent Media Blog by:
James E Barrett Principal Lecturer Department: CCI - Drama & Music
[Pictured above: Tony Platt]
Tony Platt’s career in the music business started at Trident Studios in London but he made his name as an engineer at the now legendary Island Studios.
Working his way from assistant engineer to engineer on sessions with the likes of Free, Traffic, The Who, Rolling Stones, Sutherland Brothers, Led Zeppelin, Paul McCartney, Jess Roden and Mott the Hoople to he came to engineer albums for a hitherto unknown Jamaican artist, Bob Marley, which would launch reggae music into the mainstream for good.
This association led him to complete ”Funky Kingston” for Toots and the Maytals and work with several other notable Jamaican artists such as ZapPow, Lorna Bennet, Harry J’s All Stars, Aswad and The Cimarons.
However, although Tony Platt’s reputation is principally based on his work in the world of rock, at Island he gained other more eclectic experience working on the numerous orchestral, commercial and pop sessions that came through the studio and some fairly eccentric projects including a 30 piece avant garde jazz band and an album consisting entirely of Tibetan bells !
After working with the various spin off projects from the recently disbanded Free - Sharks, Toby, Peace and Kossoff, Kirke,Tetsu and Rabbit and as engineer for Muff Winwood on the debut Sparks album Kimono in my House he finally left Island and turned freelance.
Having recorded demos that prefaced deals for Thin Lizzy and the Stranglers he became engineer for Mutt Lange.
With Mutt, Tony worked on the AC/DC albums Highway to Hell and Back in Black, Foreigner - 4, Boomtown Rats - Fine Art of Surfacing and Broken Home and AC/DC asked him to mix the soundtrack on their documentary film and then to work with them on Flick of the Switch.
When he joined the Zomba producer roster in 1980 Tony enjoyed immediate success producing and engineering the work of artists such as Samson (with Bruce Dickenson singing) & Iron Maiden, Krokus, Motorhead, Gary Moore, Cheap Trick, The Cult, Marillion , the list goes on.
For additional info please contact Dr. Mark Leslie Woods at mwoods[at]glam.ac.uk
The best of Welsh culture will be on show at a major Washington D.C festival held during Independence Day celebrations in 2009.
The annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival will see over 100 Welsh artists, performers and cultural scholars cross the Atlantic to take part.
The Festival is a complex production, over the years drawing on the research and presentational skills of more than 1,000 folklorists, cultural anthropologists, ethnomusicologists, and numerous other academic and lay scholars.
Its production involves the expertise of hundreds of technical staff, the efforts of volunteers, and the backing of sponsors and supporters.
Some observers have noted that the involvement of the Welsh Assembly Government, the numerous Welsh scholars and perfomers, the travel and hospitality, event planning and marketing programmes and staff, and the expected operating budget budgets related to this project imply MILLIONS of DOLLARS in necessary expenses along with the potential of MILLIONS of POUNDS in long-term tourism and economic benefit to Wales after the event.
Understandably the news of this event is travelling quickly, and many folks in Wales are beginning to wonder how they can contribute to or benefit from this project.
Members of the Welsh-North American Expatriate, 'Diaspora' and Welsh-descended organisations and scholarly groups are said to be hoping to participate and benefit as well.
[Pictured above Answers.com map of persons in the U.S. with Welsh ancestry -- 'Welsh ancestry' Dark red and brown colours indicate a higher density.]
The Smithsonian Folklife Festival is an international exposition of living cultural heritage annually produced outdoors on the National Mall of the United States in Washington, D.C., by the Smithsonian Institution's Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.
The Festival takes place for two weeks every summer overlapping the Fourth of July holiday.
It is an educational presentation that features community-based cultural exemplars.
Free to the public, like other Smithsonian museums, each Festival typically draws more than one million visitors.
Initiated in 1967, the Festival has become a national and international model of a research-based presentation of contemporary living cultural traditions.
Over the years, it has brought more than 23,000 musicians, artists, performers, craftspeople, workers, cooks, storytellers, and others to the National Mall to demonstrate the skills, knowledge, and aesthetics that embody the creative vitality of community-based traditions.
Wales has been chosen as the featured nation for the 10-day event, which regularly attracts over one million visitors.
But this clearly understates the potential benefit of a newly 'energized' American 'connection' with Wales. For example, the Smithsonian Folklife Centre reports that:
"As the largest annual cultural event in the U.S. capital, the Festival receives considerable publicity, typically reaching 40 million readers and viewers through print and electronic media."
"In the past, the Festival was named the Top Event in the U.S. by the American Bus Association as a result of a survey of regional tourist bureaus—thus joining previous winners that include the Olympics and the World Expo."
"The Festival has also been the subject of numerous books, documentary films, scholarly articles, and debate."
Some skeptical observers have been asking in blogs and discussions, "Is Wales going to be ready for this event, or will a golden, once-in-a-century opportunity be missed for the nation of Wales?"
The Smithsonian has written about the festival's impact upon foreign domestic markets, that:
"The Festival has strong impacts on policies, scholarship, and folks "back home."
"Many states and several nations have remounted Festival programs locally and used them to generate laws, institutions, educational programs, books, documentary films, recordings, museum and traveling exhibitions."
"In many cases, the Festival has energized local and regional tradition bearers and their communities, and thus helped to conserve and create cultural resources."
On November 5th, 2007 the Assembly spokeman reported in a news release that:
"Representatives from the Smithsonian Institution will be in Cardiff today [ 5 November] to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Assembly Government to confirm the Welsh presence at the 2009 Festival."
[Pictured above: Welsh National Assembly First Minister Rhodri Morgan]
"They will also meet First Minister Rhodri Morgan to discuss plans for the event. . ."
The event celebrates the cultural traditions of communities across the United States and around the world. It showcases the best of community-based arts and highlights the importance of heritage to communities.
The Welsh Assembly Government will lead the development of in building of the programme for Wales, which will demonstrate the wealth of cultural history and traditions in Wales. As well as the cultural activities, the Welsh Assembly Government will use this festival to target its international audience to maximise economic opportunities for Wales.
The Welsh Assembly Government will be working closely with partners throughout Wales to build a dynamic programme of performance, demonstration, and discussion events.
The participation of the Welsh Assembly Governemt in this Smithsonian initiative seems to complement and support the 'Assembly Government’s vision for Wales as a confident, diverse, creative and physically fit nation.'
[Pictured above: The Smithsonian's first building, popularly known as the Castle, houses the Institution’s administrative offices and the Smithsonian Information Center, located at 1000 Jefferson Drive SW in Washington, D.C. Completed in 1855, the original Smithsonian Institution Building was designed by architect James Renwick Jr., whose other works include St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City and the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery in Washington, D.C. This Washington landmark is constructed of red sandstone from Seneca Creek, Maryland, in the Norman style (a 12th-century combination of late Romanesque and early Gothic motifs).]
The Welsh Assembly Goverment has published related statements declaring 'our intention is to raise the profile of Wales and stamp our unique identity on the world stage'.
In a related story, on Wednesday 14th November, a diverse group of arts and cultural practitioners and academics met at the new University of Glamorgan, Cardiff School of Creative & Cultural Industries complex called the ATRiuM on Adam Street in the Cardiff City Centre to address the symposium theme through a series of focused conversations and group exercises.
These discussions were set within the context of what is now a key economic sector, the creative and cultural industries.
Presenting at this event was the ATRiuM / Smithsonian Institution Visiting Fellow, Folklorist Dr Betty Belanus.
Dr. Belanus is Curator at the Smithsonian Institution’s Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, and has joined the Centre as a Visiting Research Fellow and is undertaking preparatory work for the Smithsonian Festival's focus on Wales in 2009.
2007 Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Washington, DC
Since arriving, Dr Belanus has been engaged in an active period of fieldwork which has also involved consultative planning visits around Wales.
[Pictured above: The Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.]
The ATRiuM has been fortunate to have Dr Betty Belanus, Curator at the Smithsonian Institution’s Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, as a participant at this symposium.
Dr Belanus is currently a Visiting Research Fellow with the Centre for the Study of Media and Culture in Small Nations.
Key Players from the Welsh Higher Education, Welsh Tourism, National Gallery and National Museums, and Arts and Media sectors attended this crucial and timely ATRiuM symposium and participated in the discussions.
Keen interest was show toward all the presentations, although the events related to the upcoming Smithsonian 2009 event attracted animated and intense questions and comment.
Concerns were raised that Wales carefully considers and plans the nation's participation in this upcoming event in 2009, so that the broadest variety of sector in Welsh society and the Welsh economy benfit from this project, both before, during and after the event.
The Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage is a research and educational unit of the Smithsonian Institution promoting the understanding and continuity of diverse, contemporary grassroots cultures in the United States and around the world.
The Center produces the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, Smithsonian Global Sound, exhibitions, documentary films and videos, symposia, publications, and educational materials.
The Center conducts ethnographic and cultural heritage policy oriented research, maintains the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, and provides educational and research opportunities through fellowships, internships, and training programs.
The Center also produces major national cultural events consistent with its mission.
In 2004 these included the National World War II Reunion and the First Americans Festival for the opening of the National Museum of the American Indian.
The Center's activities are funded by federal appropriations, Smithsonian trust funds, contracts and agreements with national, state, and local governments, foundation grants, gifts from individuals and corporations, income from the Festival, and Folkways product sales.
The Center's experienced staff is culturally diverse and extremely productive, combining interdisciplinary scholars with technical specialists. The Center has distinguished advisors and cooperates with numerous international, state, local, and professional organizations.
For additional info about the articles discussed above please contact Dr. Mark Leslie Woods at mwoods[at]glam.ac.uk
Mary Traynor, the Head of Teaching and Learning at the Cardiff School of Creative & Cultural Industries / ATRiuM, University of Glamorgan has encouraged Arts & Media students to move as quickly as possible to sign up for place on the Careers Workshops, since places are strictly limited . . .
Mary Traynor is one of the ATRiuM Arts & Media students' favourite instructors . . .
-- Mary engages in Practice based research interests that include community Radio production and Radio drama production --
Mary oversees students involvement with the Glamorgan County Borough local Radio station, GTFM.
This involves overseeing programming, managing Radio training courses and facilitating participation in the Radio station by the wider community.
Careers@ATRiuM
Q&A Sessions for ATRiuM Students
Creative and Cultural Industries experts answer your questions on getting your ideal job. Including advice on self promotion and marketing, preparing CVs and portfolios.
Performance and Directing for Theatre, Film, TV, Radio and Multimedia - Wednesday 28th November 6 - 8pm in CA202
Design, Photography and Digital Media - Wednesday 5th December 2 - 4pm in CA303
Radio Production, Film and Sound Technology - Thursday 6th December 5 - 7pm in CA112
Places strictly limited. Reserve your place by signing up at the ATRiuM Advice Shop.
Cardiff School of Creative and Cultural Industries / Ysgol Diwydiannau Creadigol a Diwylliannol Caerdydd University of Glamorgan/Prifysgol Morgannwg ATRiuM Adam St/Heol Adam Cardiff/Caerdydd CF24 2XF
As you may know, we are hosting a one-day conference on the ground-breaking TV series Life on Mars in the Faculty on Friday 16th November.
A highlight will be a discussion with two of the executive producers of the series (Claire Parker from Kudos and Julie Gardner from BBC Wales) in the afternoon.
Many thanks – and look forward to seeing some of you there.
Stephen swlacey[at]glam[dot]ac[dot]uk
Professor Stephen Lacey Cardiff School of Creative and Cultural Industries/Ysgol Diwydiannau Creadigol a Diwylliannol Caerdydd University of Glamorgan/Prifysgol Morgannwg ATRiuM Adam St/Heol Adam Cardiff/Caerdydd CF24 2XF
Life on Mars One-day symposium Friday 16th November 2007
CCI researchers are hosting a one-day research symposium on the ground-breaking and critically-acclaimed BBC Wales/Kudos drama series Life on Mars, which finished its second, and final, series earlier this year.
"Starsky and Hutch meets Cracker...intriguing British drama" The Toronto Sun
"...brilliant detective-noir" The National Post
‘Life on Mars’ will attract academics from across the UK for what is the first research event devoted to a drama series that has emerged as one of the most significant of the 21st century.
STOP PRESS! Both Claire Parker and Jane Featherstone of Kudos have confirmed their attendance
Life on Mars Series 2 Trailer x2
The conference will open with a keynote address by Professor Robin Nelson, whose book on ‘quality’ television drama (A State of Play, MUP, 2007) has recently been published, and will close with a panel discussion with some of the leading figures behind the series; so far, Claire Parker of Kudos, who produced Life on Mars, Julie Gardner, Head of Drama for BBC Wales who commissioned it, and Ashley Pharoah, one of the series’ devisers and main writers, have provisionally agreed to attend.
Papers will be given on a range of topics, including the role of nostalgia in audiences’ responses to the series, the re-working of the iconography of the 1970s, the programme’s relationship to other police series and the role of the uncanny.
The symposium is organised by Dr Ruth McElroy and Professor Stephen Lacey, and will be one of the first research events to be held in the Atrium, the University of Glamorgan’s new base in Cardiff.
Life on Mars One-day symposium Friday 16th November 2007
Panel 1: Sam’s Stories - Narrative and Genre Panel 2: Producing Audiences for the Past
1:00-2:00 Lunch
2:00-3:15 Discussion with members of the production team: Julie Gardner (BBC Wales) Claire Walker and Jane Featherstone (Kudos) Ashley Pharoah (writer)
3:15-3:30 Tea
3:30-5:00 Panels 3 and 4 Panel 3: Nostalgia and the Uncanny Media Panel 4: Locating the 1970s
Life on Mars Panels
Panel 1: Sam’s Stories - Narrative and Genre Nichola Dobson (??) ‘Am I mad, in a coma, or back in time?’ Generic and narrative complexity in Life on Mars
Karen Devlin (University of Hull) Voices Bleeding Through: The Strange Journey of Sam Tyler in Life on Mars
Ross Garner (Cardiff University) Make Another World: Expressing the Nostalgia Affect in the Diegesis and Narrative of Life on Mars
Angelina Karpovich (Brunel University) Life on Mars and the Dialectic of Suicide
Panel 2: Producing Audiences for the Past John Cook (Glasgow Caledonian University) ‘Moonage Daydreams’: Industrial and Cultural Memory contexts of Life on Mars
Brett Mills (University of East Anglia) ‘American Remake – Shudder’: Online Debates about Life on Mars and ‘Britishness’
Justine Mortimer (University of Winchester) ‘Knowing’ Quality: Exploiting Popular Cultural Capital, and Producerly and Audience Expectations
Panel 3: Nostalgia and the Uncanny Media Matt Hills (Cardiff University) The Media is the Monster…or the Message? Uncanny Test Cards and Interactive OU Lecturers in Life on Mars
Elisa Oliver (Central St Martins, University of the Arts, London) Longing to Return-Seeing the 1970s. Life on Mars: Britain, Nostalgia and Art
Peter Jachimiak (University of Glamorgan) ‘Through the TV Screen’ – The Test Card Girl, the Uncanny and a ‘70s Childhood
Panel 4: Locating the 1970s Teresa Forde (University of Derby) Location, Location, Location: What does the 1970s look like?
John Curzon (University of Warwick) Sam Tyler and the New North
Andy Willis (University of Salford) Memory Banks Failing! Life on Mars and the politics of re-imagining the 1970s
[Pictured above: Philip Glass; Photograph by Robert Mapplethorpe 1976.]
The European première of a collaboration between Philip Glass and Leonard Cohen, Book of Longing features a new score composed by Glass, set to Cohen’s powerful words, and accompanied by artwork and imagery created by Cohen himself.
Theatrical, atmospheric and intimate, this production is performed by an eclectic seven-piece group of musicians, featuring Glass on keyboards, and utilises a mixture of live voices and a pre-recorded Leonard Cohen vocal.
Book of Longing is poignant yet passionate, playful yet profound, and one of the highlights of the achievement of two of the world’s most uncompromising, celebrated and influential musical visionaries.
Free pre-performance talk with PHILIP GLASS 6.30pm 18 October – please book place in advance.
Leonard Cohen's new book of poetry, Book of Longing, has been published in Canada in April 2006 by McClelland & Stewart, and in the United States by Ecco (HarperCollins) in May 2006. UK & Commonwealth edition was published by Viking Penguin in October 2006.
My colleague Dr. Paul Carr has written to inform me of wonderful but limited opportunity for our ATRiuM students.
[Pictured above: Dr. Paul Carr, Principal Lecturer in Popular Music / ATRiuM]
Dr. Carr writes:
"Dear Colleagues, The Millennium centre have been in touch regarding offering our students discounted tickets for the forthcoming European premiere of Philip Glass’ Book of Longing’ concert. Students can gain access to the concert for £7.50 as opposed to the normal price range of £15 - £45."
"Philip Glass is also offering a free pre concert talk before the 2nd concert at 6.30, which our students are eligible for providing it is booked at the time of purchasing the ticket."
"I would really appreciate if you would pass this on to students during lectures and tutorials, as I am attempting negotiate similar deals for future concerts. "
"Tickets can be obtained in person or over the phone, and students simply need to verify that they are purchasing the “Philip Glass Student Deal” – or something similar. "
"Tickets have to be booked in advance as places are limited, and I have around 40 leaflets which outline the detail of the concerts (which are on the 17th and 18th of this month). I will keep them on my desk, so please feel free to come and pick some up."
Dr Paul Carr, Room CA409 Cardiff School of Cultural & Creative Industries Atrium Cardiff CF24 2XF
BOOK OF LONGING Conceived and Composed by Philip Glass Based on the poetry of Leonard Cohen
A new work by Philip Glass based on the poetry of Leonard Cohen, Book of Longing has been conceived as an evening-length concert work composed for ensemble, singers, spoken word and imagery.
[Pictured above: Composer Philip Glass]
The culmination of years of mutual admiration between two of the most celebrated musical artists of their generation, the piece will feature new music by Glass inspired by Cohen's most recently published book of the same name.
Comprised of Cohen's poetry and sketches created over the course of the past 20 years including eight years spent at the Mt. Baldy Buddhist monastery, Book of Longing is signature Leonard Cohen-- at once meditative, playful, erotic, and provocative.
The poems are a diverse collection that can loosely be collected into the categories of long "ballads," love poems, autobiographical works, spiritual meditations written at Mt. Baldy, and short comic pieces that Philip Glass has nicknamed "limericks."
Philip Glass has conceived the concert as a collection of poetry from each of these loose categories that will run as a continuous evening rather than a traditional song cycle.
The music is currently being written for an ensemble of seven musicians including electronic keyboard (one played by Glass himself), flute/bass clarinet, hand percussion, violin, cello, upright bass, and oboe/English horn that will be visible on stage throughout the evening.
The music will be directed by Glass's longtime musical director Michael Riesman.
Four singers (Soprano, Mezzo, Tenor and Baritone) will sing lyrics pulled from Cohen's poetry as a quartet and in a variety of combinations throughout the evening and will be staged and likely visible for the majority of the evening.
The visual artwork of Leonard Cohen has never before been seen in conjuction with his music and they will be incorporated into this work. Exact means of their incorporation is still to be determined.
Philip Glass has chosen to work with choreographer/director Susan Marshall, with whom he created the opera Les Enfants Terribles, to stage the musicians and singers.
Set by Christine Jones, Lighting by Scott Zielinksi, and costumes by Kasia Walicka Maimone.
For further study:
Four Musical Minimalists: La Monte Young, Terry Riley, Steve Reich, Philip Glass (Music in the Twentieth Century): La Monte Young, Terry Riley, Steve Reich, ... Glass (Music in the Twentieth Century) (Paperback) by Keith Potter
The American composers la Monte Young, Terry Riley, Steve Reich and Philip Glass are widely regarded as pioneers of the aesthetic and the techniques of minimalism in musical composition during the 1960s and early 1970s.
This book offers the most detailed account so far of their early works, putting extensive discussion of the music into a biographical perspective.
The true musical minimalism of these years is placed in the wider context of their music as a whole, and considered within the cultural conditions of the period which saw not only the rise of minimalism in the fine arts but also crucial changes in the theory and practice of musical composition in the Western cultivated tradition.
To Apply Quickly Contact: Dr. Mark Woods, Senior Welfare Tutor ATRiuM / CCI Ty Pont Haearn at mwoods[at]glam.ac.uk
