Tara Brabazon's blog
Three special mentions in the news for this month. As I suggested in my director's cut, there are many projects 'in process' or 'in development' that I can't announce yet. But three special people deserve our attention this October.
Firstly, I wanted to give a shout out to our PCC editor, Angela Thomas-Jones. We have just received the news that Ange is now Dr Ange. Her thesis was passed with high commendation by examiners. We love Ange in the PCC and she has contact with most members most of the time. On behalf of us all, Ange — congratulations. A great woman. A great achievement.
Well, I always hoped it would happen. May 2007 was the month. There is certain popular culture that not only informs or frames our lives, but actually is our life. If we are lucky, then these popular cultural revelations not only provide transitory enlightenment for the duration of a song, a year or a relationship, but last a lifetime.
My popular cultural lifelong companion has always been the Pet Shop Boys. I fell in love with Neil Tennant's coat in 'West End Girls.' Ten years later, I bought its copy and still wear it through the streets of Brighton. Chris Lowe taught me through my twenties-no matter how unconvincingly-that casual wear may indeed be an option.
All the teachers in the collective have been marking like champions through the month, cleaning up their courses. I will be reporting back on all the teaching and learning from the PCC in June, but I wanted to report some radio work this month.
Debbie Hindley, our resident sporting expert, appeared on radio through the month offering commentary on the role of 'celebrity' in the behaviour of male footballers, whether it be their behaviour with women, alcohol, cars or drugs. Debbie has demonstrated a long term interest in this topic, and I am sure it will develop into a self standing piece for her in the next few months. However Debbie is continuing her commitment to not only scholarship, but the dissemination of that scholarship. Thank you Debbie for the work that you do.
Great news from three of our members this month. As we reported last month, Nick Chinna graduated with first class honours. He has got in touch with the collective this month to tell us about his postgraduate research. Continuing his interests in citizenship and democracy, he is re-evaluating the historiography of the Enlightenment in relation to the contemporary debates concerning the limits of citizenship, democracy and the public sphere. He remains interested in constructing an inclusive, multicultural, democratic and egalitarian body politics. As always, we wish him every success with his project and look forward to continual updates.
We start the next cycle of sporting seasons beginning and others ending. The Premier League finishes as Australian Rules commences. The Cricket World Cup finally staggers to a conclusion while County cricket eases through its early rounds.
Like many of the Popular Culture Collective, I have been marking assignments this month. As always, my response ranges from rapture to rage. The best student work is always a reward for their effort as much as ours. The worst students summon a dense anger in me that educational opportunities have been wasted.
So much fantastic news has emerged through the month. While in April I will reporting on many of our members' research projects in progress, I wanted to celebrate some endings — and new beginnings.
Firstly, congratulations to Angela Thomas-Jones — our extraordinary editor — and Debbie Hindley — our Tackling Sport convenor. Both have graduated from their Doctor of Philosophy this month. They were remarkable scholars during their candidature, and are continue to achieve, challenge and question the boundaries of scholarship. Here is a terrific picture of Debbie in full gown.
Since the death of Princess Diana ten years ago, magazines have changed. Graeme Turner termed this transformation 'tabloidation.' News became entertainment. Public relations replaced journalism. This is celebrity culture. While I have got used to Posh offering fashion advice and Becks offering commentary on new masculinities, times have changed.
In the UK at the moment, there is a suite of celebrities who do not actually do anything. They are often 'presenters,' people who wear a short skirt and read an auto-cue. It is dreadful. Celebrity magazines give these superficial creatures some form of depth and intent. But it is not enough.
One major bit of news from our members on this February. Jodie Bonomini, our film guru of the PCC, has a major achievement to report.
She has been nominated for a Western Australian screen award, for production design. She worked on a short film called Disturbance in 2006.
Jodie has an incredibly varied film making career. She's shown great talent throughout her student years and has a burgeoning portfolio of achievements.
Members, check out her achievement in the production design category.
Congratulations Jodie — you are a great film maker and a great member of the PCC.
See you in March.
T XXX
What a great month for our researchers. Mike Kent has produced a terrific article in AQ. I'm so impressed by it that I immediately placed it in my course at Brighton. He does something incredibly courageous. He tells the truth about the Australian university sector and the waste of talent that is currently left in the casualised workforce. It was a remarkable piece, a pleasure to read and — what we love in the PCC — incredibly courageous.
