2014 is the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Birmingham Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies.
From the UoB website:
Using innovative teaching and research methods and often adopting a politicised engagement with subjects, the Centre was one of the first academic bodies to take ‘mass’ culture – pop music, television programmes, fashions – seriously. By creating an archive of Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies (CCCS) material, as well as staging an exhibition at the Midlands Art Centre (running from 10 May to 29 June 2014) andconference at the University of Birmingham (on 24 and 25 June 2014) to mark the 50th anniversary, this project seeks to learn more about the Centre’s research and practices and the way it helped to shape the development of an international discipline.
Here’s a brief overview of a few things going on as part of the anniversary celebrations:
Looking out from the CCCS – Vivid Projects
SATURDAY 21 JUNE | 1-6PM | VIVID PROJECTS
DISCUSSION: FILM/FEMINISM/IDENTITY/ACTIVISM
It’s week three of Vivid Projects’ ‘Looking out from the CCCS‘ season. This Saturday, you are invited to join Vivid Projects for an afternoon of informal illustrated discussions exploring the key themes of the exhibition and the CCCS legacy. All events are free, but booking is recommended.
- 1pm – The Femail Project – In 2013 artist/curator Emma Leppington curated hundred of images submitted by feminist artists worldwide in a quest to present a single collective image of ‘feminism’. What does feminism mean to you?
- 2.30pm – Birmingham Broadside – A round table discussion looking at the aesthetics, politics and methods of grassroots media from 1970s to the present day. Convened by Brian Homer, Sarah Silverwood and Keith Dodds.
- 4pm – What we’re trying to do is make popular politics: The Birmingham film and video workshop – The BFVW was a pioneering collective co-ordinated by CCCS post-graduate Roger Shannon and included members Jonnie Turpie, Alan Lovell and Heather Powell. This illustrated discussion situates the work of the BFVW in the socio-political context of the 1970s and 80s, the UK workshop movement and its relationship with the establishment of Channel Four Television.
There are more events as part of Vivid Project’s CCCS season, see their website for listings.
Back in the CCCS – University of Birmingham
As the 50th anniversary of the founding of CCCS approached, Mahasiddhi, formerly known as Roy Peters, embarked on a journey to photograph some of his contemporaries from his time at the Centre between 1975 and 1979. The result is this series of intimate, reflective yet lighthearted portraits of just some of the movers and shakers who passed through the doors of CCCS.
Catch the exhibition at the Bramall Building & Rotunda, Aston Webb, University of Birmingham, 2nd June – 30th July 2014
50 Years on Exhibition – mac
On ’til the 27th June, mac Birmingham are host to an exhibition examining the legacies of the institutional origin of cultural studies. Featuring the work of artists including Trevor Appleson, David Batchelor, Mahtab Hussain, Sarah Maple, Sarah Silverwood and Nick Waplington. The exhibition explores – in spite of its closure in 2002 – how the Centre’s work continues to be relevant today.
For other events taking place as part of CCCS50, visit their website.