Category Archives: Events

Meet Our PSAC Open Days Team

We are looking forward to welcoming potential applicants to our Paris School of Arts and Culture during our upcoming Postgraduate Open Days 2021. The event will be held virtually on Wednesday 24 February, 16:00-19:00 (GMT).  It’s an excellent opportunity to converse with members of our faculty, staff and current students. Meet those who will be in attendance below. They will be happy to answer questions regarding our Paris Master’s programmes in Film, Creative Writing and the History and Philosophy of Art as well as queries on student life and living in Paris.

Dr Frances Guerin

Dr Frances Guerin is a Senior Lecturer and the School Deputy Director of Graduate Studies for our Paris School. She teaches modules in our Film and History and Philosophy of Art programmes. She completed her PhD in Cinema Studies at NYU in 2000, following an MA in Art History at University of Melbourne, and a BA (Hons) in English Language and Literature at University of Adelaide, Australia. Her articles on art and film are published widely in academic and art journals. She is also the author of three published monographs and has two forthcoming publications. Read Dr Guerin’s full bio here.

Yelena Moskovich

Yelena Moskovich

Yelena Moskovich is a Lecturer in our Creative Writing MA Programme. She studied theater at Emerson College, at the Lecoq School of Physical Theatre and Université Paris 8. She is the author of two novels: Virtuoso (Two Dollar Radio, 2020) and The Natashas (Serpent’s Tail, 2016). Her plays and performances have been produced in the US, Canada, France and Sweden. Read her full bio at this link.

Frank – PSAC Admissions & Recruitment Officer

Neda – MA Creative Writing (Paris)

 

Callum – MA Film Studies (Canterbury-Paris)

 

Esme – MA History & Philosophy of Art (Paris)

Have you signed up for our event yet? Register here.

Annual Paris Lecture to Feature Professor Ben Hutchinson – Virtual Event 3 March 2021

We are pleased to announce that our annual Paris Lecture, in conjunction with our Paris Master’s Programmes, will be taking place virtually on Wednesday 3 March at 18.30 (GMT). Our annual Paris event not only celebrates Kent’s Paris School of Arts and Culture, but also showcases strong and exciting research undertaken by our academics and students at the University of Kent.

Ben Hutchinson, Professor of European Literature at the University of Kent, will present his new book The Midlife Mind: Literature and the Art of Ageing (Reaktion Books, 2020), followed by a panel discussion chaired by Professor Jeremy Carrette (Dean for Europe), with three leading specialists in the field of literary studies: Lucie Campos, Director of the Villa Gillet, Claire Davison, Professor of Modernist Studies at Paris III, and Daniel Medin, Professor of Comparative Literature at the American University of Paris.

The talk and panel discussion will explore the meaning of midlife and ageing through the history of literature. What does it mean, in the famous formulation of Dante, to be in the middle of life’s way? From the ancients to the moderns, from poets to playwrights, writers have long meditated on how we can remain creative as we move through our middle years. There are no better guides, then, to how we have regarded middle age in the past, how we understand it in the present, and how we might make it as rewarding as possible in the future. The talk and discussion will explore these issues alongside questions of the midlife crisis, the menopause, the acceptance of mortality, and the creative potential of ageing. Read more on Professor Hutchison’s book here.

The lecture will begin at 18.30 virtually via Zoom. Please ensure you register so you can receive your link to access the event.

Register now

There will be an opportunity to ask questions after the panel discussion, so please send any questions in advance to events@kent.ac.uk.

We look forward to seeing you on March 3rd.

Statement of intent regarding Autumn 2020

The University of Kent is looking forward to welcoming new and returning students in the autumn of 2020. We will, as now, be open for business when the autumn term begins on 21 September 2020

However, we recognise that the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to have an impact on how we all live and work. It is likely that we will have to adapt how we deliver our education, and the wider student experience of university life, in response to changes in government requirements.

We realise what an anxious time this is and want to assure you that planning is already underway to prepare the University for the next academic year. If necessary, we will adapt our teaching styles and delivery methods to ensure that the education and experience of students remains of the highest quality possible and occurs in a safe and effective manner – taking into consideration relevant advice and guidelines that are in place at the time. The safety and wellbeing of our students, staff, visitors and surrounding communities will continue to be our highest priority.

We are committed to ensuring that the standards that led to the University being rated as gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework are upheld, whether that teaching is delivered face-to-face, online or in a blended form of the two with appropriate social distancing in place. Our community of teaching, research and professional services staff will ensure that all education continues to be both a stimulating and fulfilling experience for all our students whether they are at Canterbury, Medway, Brussels or Paris.

We know our campuses are an important part of student life and we look forward to welcoming you all on to campus as soon as it is safe to do so. In the meantime, as we transition back to more usual ways of working, we promise you that, as a member of the University, you will be part of a diverse, dynamic and supportive community and receive an education of the highest possible standard.

This is a repurposed version of a blog post and may differ from the original. View the original blog post.

Kent awarded funding to research the social implications of COVID-19

Kent, in partnership with Belong: The Cohesion and Integration Network, has been funded by the Nuffield Foundation to carry out research into how societal cohesion has been affected by the COVID-19 emergency.

Professor Dominic Abrams and Dr Fanny Lalot of Kent’s Centre for the Study of Group Processes will lead the research, alongside Belong to use data that emerges in real time.

The project will build on existing data focussing on societal cohesion during Brexit. Data will be gathered through surveys of representative samples in Kent, Scotland and Wales, and five local authorities, and combined with qualitative data, including insights from community activists. The research will test how cohesion is made better or worse, how and why individuals become involved or disengaged with groups and communities. This evidence will provide insight into how significant medium term pressures are borne within regions, communities and by individuals.

The findings will provide a rich historical record of what is happening to societal cohesion as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold, and will support policy to build resilience against future short, medium and long term challenges.

The team have been awarded £234,559 to conduct the intensive research that will take place over the next nine months.

Dominic Abrams, Professor of Social Psychology said: ‘We are delighted to have this opportunity to understand what is happening to people’s sense of connection and belonging, their priorities and feelings during this extraordinary time. We hope that this research will break new scientific ground whilst also contributing valuable evidence for policy.’

Alex Beer, Welfare Programme Head at the Nuffield Foundation said: ‘During the massive social upheaval caused by the COVID-19 pandemic we have seen many people and communities organise for the benefit of others, but some disadvantaged groups remain overlooked. This project will inform policy by investigating the impact of the crisis on social cohesion and the factors which shape people’s attitudes and behaviours.’

Jo Broadwood, Chief Executive of Belong: The Cohesion and Integration Network added: ‘We are really pleased to be working with Dominic, his team and the Nuffield Foundation and are excited about the potential for this project to impact on both practice and policy in the future. We think there is much that we can learn from the huge outbreak of kindness and connection in neighbourhoods across the UK and the findings will have relevance for strengthening social bonds, resilience and cohesion as we emerge from the crisis.’

This is a repurposed version of a blog post and may differ from the original. View the original blog post.

Interdisciplinary interventions – new online lecture series to be launched

In continuation of our lecture series, Kent’s European Centres in Paris and Brussels will be holding some online discussions centered around the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Date: Thursday 7th May

Time: 15:00 (Central European Time)

Title: Whatever Happened to Brexit? Europe After Covid-19

Just a few months ago, Brexit was the dominant issue on the EU’s agenda – things have changed. Does the pandemic threaten the already tight negotiation schedule between the EU and the UK? How does it change the position of both parties? And how about the credibility of the EU, at times when solidarity seems to be questioned?

Scholars from the University of Kent’s Brussels School of International Studies will discuss how Covid-19 impacts the Brexit agenda, how it affects policies in both the EU and the UK and the challenges that this poses for the future.

The discussions will be hosted by Professor Jeremy Carrette, Dean for Europe and Professor of Philosophy, Religion and Culture.

Panelists:

  • Professor Richard Whitman, Professor of Politics and International Relations, University of Kent
  • Dr Tom Casier, Reader in International Relations, University of Kent’s Brussels School of International Studies

Register your place here 

Look out for other Interdisciplinary Intervention webinars

Literature, Life and Lockdown; How the Humanities can help the Species Survive.

Pandemic and Politics: Covid-19, Global Crisis and the Challenge to Humanity.

Applications to scholarship fund open today

Paris Scholarships to the value of £5,000 will be awarded to a limited number of outstanding applicants able to demonstrate a high level of academic achievement, clear intellectual ambition and the potential to make a strong contribution to their chosen MA programme.

Criteria

To be eligible, candidates:

  • Must have received a conditional or unconditional offer of a place on one of the Kent, Paris programmes for the academic year starting in September 2020, whether split-site (Canterbury and Paris) or Paris only.
  • Must start their course in September 2020
  • Intend to study full-time only
  • Can be UK, EU and overseas fee paying students
  • Will be assessed on academic excellence, and will usually hold by July 2020 a first-class Bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject, or hold by July 2020 an equivalent non-UK qualification or a Master’s degree at merit or distinction in a relevant subject or equivalent

For students whose programmes are quoted in euros, your scholarship will automatically be converted into that currency.

How to apply

Candidates must send a letter of motivation, not exceeding 500 words, stating why they wish to join their chosen Kent, Paris MA programme and how this fits into their longer term plans.

The letter of motivation should be saved with the following file name: “FirstnameSURNAME_application number_letter of motivation”, for example: CatherineWOOD_123456789_letter of motivation.doc.

The letter should be addressed to the Academic Director of Paris programmes and sent by email to paris@kent.ac.uk with the subject line: “Scholarship application Firstname SURNAME application number”, for example: Scholarship application Catherine WOOD 123456789.

The opening date for accepting applications is Wednesday 1 April 2020.

Deadline

Friday 15 May 2020, 23:59 BST

At Reid Hall, Paris mayoral candidates discuss the place of the bike in contemporary Paris

With both rounds of Paris’ mayoral elections taking place in March 2020, five candidates including incumbent Anne Hidalgo, visited Reid Hall yesterday to discuss the place of bicycles and cycling in the French capital.

Paris was a world pioneer in developing its successful bike-share system, known as Vélib, in the first decade of the twenty-first century. Representing an important part of the Parisian psyche, each candidate presented his or her plan to make cycling easier and more accessible to Parisians. Forming part of a global trend, Parisians increasingly rely on bicycles to go to work, class, and move freely about the city. To that end, Paris continues to develop bicycle-only lanes across its paved surfaces.

As with all events held at our Paris Centre, University of Kent Paris School of Arts and Culture students had the opportunity to attend the event and ask questions.

 

Students participate in seminar on psychogeography

Students enrolled on Paris School module The Verbal and the Visual: Dialogues between Literature, Film, and Art spent Friday afternoon learning about and participating in their own experiment in psychogeography. Under the direction of guest seminar leader and author Professor Vybarr Cregan-Reid, University of Kent students combed the streets of Paris in their bare feet in order to explore their urban environment from an unfamiliar (and sometimes uncomfortable!) perspective. Psychogeography was first made popular as a concept in France in the 1950s, notably by philosopher and artist Guy Debord.

MA in History and Philosophy of Art student exhibits in Brussels

Artistic works by Janise Yntema, who is studying the History and Philosophy of Art MA at the University’s Paris School of Arts and Culture, are being exhibited at the Green Door Gallery in Brussels.

Janise Yntema is already regarded as one of the foremost contemporary artists working in the ancient technique of beeswax encaustic, and by using original photography within her work has brought a contemporary platform to this historic medium.

The exhibition at the Green Door Gallery in Brussels is entitled “PRAETER terram”. The works on display interrogate us on where we locate ourselves in a changing environment where sustainability is our only hope. Yntema’s use of beeswax ensures environmental concerns remain inherent within the works she produces.

The Farmed Land grey concrete by Janise Yntema

The Farmed Land by Janise Yntema

The exhibition runs from 28 November 2019 to 12 January 2020 at the Green Door Gallery in Brussels, Belgium. The gallery is open from 2-6 p.m. Friday – Sunday and also by appointment at other times.

Janise is originally from New York and received her formal art training at Parson’s School of Design. Her works are found in the collections of several museums including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Gutenberg Museum in Germany and the National Museum for Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C.

PSAC director to present at annual Wimbledon BookFest

The academic director of the Paris School of Arts and Culture Professor Ben Hutchinson will present his new publication, Comparative Literature: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press) at the annual Wimebledon BookFest on Saturday, 5 October 2019. Professor Hutchinson will take part in the Intellectual Speed Dating event, and present with three other authors who have also published in Oxford University Press’ Very Short Introduction series.

High-level but digestible overviews written by experts in their field, the Very Short Introduction series is a wonderful way to discover a new subject.

Conceived as a form of “intellectual speed dating”, at the BookFest the audience will be split into small groups and will move around the event space, enjoying ten minutes with each of four authors for a pithy introduction to the topics covered.

Further information including ticketing can be found by visiting the Wimbledon BookFest website.