Monthly Archives: November 2017

winter concert

Winter Concert

The beautiful Royal Dockyard Church (Chatham Historic Dockyard) provides the stunning seasonal setting for a feast of musical offerings from University of Kent (School of Music and Fine Art, Medway) ensembles, the University choir and band and University chamber orchestra on 13 December.

Programme:

Part One

Kumpo: World Percussion Ensemble

Franz Schubert: Symphony No. 3 (D.200): University Chamber Orchestra (Medway)

Pop, Rock and Soul Choir

Seasons of Love: Jonathan Larson

Merry Christmas Everybody: Slade

Part Two

Otono Porteno: Astor Piazzolla – Chamber Music Forum

Phase Study – Guitar Ensemble

Saxophone Ensemble

Aligato – Andy Scott

Charm or Smarm – Will Gregory

Improvisation Group

Nothing Personal – Don Grolnick

Go Daddy-O: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy –  Little Big Band

University Choir and Band (Medway)

The Lamb: John Tavener

Selection from ‘A Night at the Opera‘: Queen

FREE to attend but booking via the Gulbenkian.

CPP-image

CPP launches the Advanced Journal of Professional Practice

The Centre for Professional Practice is delighted to announce the launch of the Advanced Journal of Professional Practice (AJPP). The AJPP is an online open-access, work-related journal dedicated to sharing of experiences and gold standard practices from anyone working in a professional role, as well as academics and students.

You can access the journal here.

The AJPP has been established as a portal for new knowledge created for the advancement of professional practice. AJPP hosts new creative work and welcome submissions of traditional or untraditional nature, but which demonstrate translational work-related professional practice application “, said Dr Claire Parkin, the Editor-In-Chief of the AJPP.

John Wightman, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, said: We welcome the appearance and creation of the Advanced Journal of Professional Practice (AJPP). The founding of the AJPP at the University of Kent will allow for the publication of new knowledge and innovations of a work-related professional practice nature or practical advancements. It will encourage its readers to apply new knowledge and skills or to unearth new found inspiration to develop innovative practices within their workplace.

If you are interested in publishing your work, please send email enquiries to AJPP@kent.ac.uk and submissions via the website.

Kent’s Centre for Professional Practice programmes and short courses give you the opportunity to gain academic recognitions for the skills, knowledge and experience you have developed in your workplace.

Christina Kim in Linguistics and Philosophy

Dr Christina Kim, Lecturer in the Department of English Language & Linguistics, has just published an article in the journal Linguistics and Philosophy, entitled ‘The Division of Labor in Explanations of Verb Phrase Ellipsis’, co authored with Jeffrey T Runner (University of Rochester, USA).

Linguistics and Philosophy is a quarterly journal that focuses on issues related to structure and meaning in natural language, as addressed in the semantics, philosophy of language, pragmatics and related disciplines. The journal began 1977.
The article examines the phenomenon of Verb Phrase Ellipsis (VPE), a syntactic construction where the main verb is omitted from a sentence, as in the second sentence in: ‘Christina emailed Mike. Jeff will, too.’

Ellipsis, or the omission of a word, has been a central topic in theoretical syntax and semantics for decades, in part because theories of ellipsis must explain how a sentence containing ellipsis is nevertheless interpreted as though missing elements in the sentence are still present (the above sentence is understood as Jeff will email Mike, too’). Much of the debate has centred around the nature of the relationship between the ellipsis site (‘Jeff will, too’) and the antecedent clause (‘Christina emailed Mike’), which the meaning of the ellipsis seems to depend on. The article presents an empirical study of acceptability in Verb Phrase Ellipsis, and argues for a particular division of labour between grammatical requirements and discourse constraints.

To access the full article, please see the webpage.

Amy Li

Xiaofan Amy Li on literary borders

Dr Xiaofan Amy Li, Lecturer in the Department of Comparative Literature, has contributed an essay to the newly published edited volume Minding Borders: Resilient Divisions in Literature, the Body and the Academy (Legenda, 2017).

The essay, entitled ‘When Do Different Literatures Become Comparable? The Vague Borders of Comparability and Incomparability’, explores the state of the discipline of Comparative Literature as a matter of crossing borders, and considers how far discussions, in the philosophy of comparison can revise critical thinking and methods in comparative literature.

The edited book Minding Borders, where the essay is published, traces the troubling and yet generative resilience of borders. It explores how borders define as well as exclude, protect as well as violate, and nurture some identities while negating others. A book launch event was held on the 27 November 2017 at St Anne’s College, Oxford, where Amy joined the discussion with the editors Matthew Reynolds, Adriana X. Jacobs, Ben Morgan, Mohamed-Salah Omri, and Nicola Gardini.

Find more information about the book and discussion event.

Alex Marlow-Mann on world cinema

Dr Alex Marlow-Mann, Lecturer in Italian in the Department of Modern Languages has co-edited a new collection entitled The Routledge Companion to World Cinema (Routledge, 2017), alongside Professor Rob Stone (University of Birmingham), Professor Paul Cooke (University of Leeds) and Dr Stephanie Dennison (Unversity of Leeds).

The collection explores and examines a global range of films and filmmakers, their movements and audiences, comparing their cultural, technological and political dynamics, identifying the impulses that constantly reshape the form and function of the cinemas of the world. Each of the forty chapters provides a survey of a topic, explaining why the issue or area is important, and critically discussing the leading views in the area. Designed as a dynamic forum for forty-three world-leading scholars, this companion contains significant expertise and insight and is dedicated to challenging complacent views of hegemonic film cultures and replacing outmoded ideas about production, distribution and reception. It offers both a survey and an investigation into the condition and activity of contemporary filmmaking worldwide, often challenging long-standing categories and weighted often politically motivated value judgements, thereby grounding and aligning the reader in ‘remapping’; an activity designed to prompt rethinking.

This book is part of a new book series Remapping World Cinema: Regional Tensions and Global Transformations, co-edited alongside Professor Rob Stone (University of Birmingham), Professor Paul Cooke (University of Leeds) and Dr Stephanie Dennison (University of Leeds), to be launched on Thursday, 23 November 2017.

For more details, please see the publisher’s webpage.

Kent Music

University Chamber Choir students work with leading British composer

Students in the University Chamber Choir had the opportunity to work with one of Britain’s leading composers in rehearsal on Tuesday 28 November, in preparation for singing in the University Carol Service in Canterbury Cathedral.

The choir was privileged to welcome Russell Hepplewhite to Colyer-Fergusson Hall, to work on Russell’s Star of the East. It can be a daunting prospect, performing a composer’s work in their presence, but the Choir rose to the occasion magnificently.

Hailed by the Evening Standard as one of the brightest young talents to have emerged in recent years, Russell’s award-winning work has been commissioned to critical acclaim by English Touring Opera, and his choral works are part of the recent Genesis Choral Library series launched by Banks Music Publications. His next work, ‘Moonfleet,’ is set to open at the Salisbury Playhouse in April.

It was a terrific opportunity for the students to get to grips with contemporary music with the composer offering them insights into the creation of the work and its realisation; huge thanks to Russell for coming down from London especially for the event.

new years dinner

International student New Year’s dinner

The Student Learning Advisory Service would like to invite all International Students to a traditional New Year’s Dinner on Friday 5 January 2018 (during the winter vacation), 18.00-20.00 on the Canterbury campus. The venue will be confirmed nearer the time.

This is a great opportunity for you to enjoy an evening of traditional British food, to meet up with the other ‘stay on campus students’, to enjoy some music and break the monotony of the winter holiday. The dress code is smart casual, but feel free to dress up if you wish.

This event is FREE, but please book a place online by 7 December at the latest. Tickets will be issued on 8 and 11 December 2-17 on a first-come-first-served basis. You will receive a reminder email to collect your ticket.

If you are around during the holidays, book a place here.

Professor Colin Seymour-Ure

Condolences for Colin Seymour-Ure

The School of Politics and International Relations is very sad to hear of the death of Professor Colin Seymour-Ure.

Colin was one of the founder members of the study of politics at the University of Kent, joining the University on its establishment in 1965.

He served as Dean of Social Sciences and Head of Department. He was one of the world’s leading scholars of political communications and mass media.

His publications cover the role of the press and broadcasting in a wide range of issues and institutions: Downing Street and White House news management; election campaigns; images of Tony Blair and John Major in the Sun and Daily Mirror; press partisanship; the power of media barons; media policy; political rumours. He wrote the biography of the great cartoonist David Low and helped the British Cartoon Archive, founded by Dr Graham Thomas, prosper.

Professor Seymour-Ure was a Council member of the Hansard Society and Chairman of the Study of Parliament Group, made up of parliamentary staff and academics. In the 1970s, he spent two years with a Government Press Commission. Later, he worked at Harvard and in Washington, Australia and Canada. For six years, he chaired the Independent Television Commission’s committee responsible for advising on ITV’s advertising rules. He was an Emeritus Professor from 2002 and until his death in November 2017.

We have lost not only a scholar and colleague but also a friend.

Professor Richard Whitman
Head of the School of Politics and International Relations

Celebration of Life Reception

Colleagues are welcome to join a Celebration of Life Reception on Wednesday 20 December at 14.00 at Canterbury Cricket Ground (Harris Suite), Old Dover Road, CT1 3NZ.

The reception will include tributes to Colin from family and friends, and a light finger buffet will be served. All are invited to attend and, as this is a celebration of Colin’s life, you are invited to wear something cheerful.

To help with catering, please email judy@seymour-ure.org.uk by 10 December if you are able to attend.

Santa Run

Santa Run

A Christmassy 3.5km fun run through Parkwood and along the Crab and Winkle Way finishing at The Pavilion where you can reward yourself with a free hot chocolate and mince pie.

The run is open to all! Staff, students and alumni, individuals, sports teams and departments are welcome. So grab your friends, get on your best Santa costumes and come and get festive.

Register from 12 noon on 6 December at the Pavilion, warm up from 12.45. 

Cost: suggested £2 donation. Proceeds to CoppaFeel – a breast cancer education charity aiming to prevent late detection of breast cancer and misdiagnosis. The Uni Boob Team will be at the event talking to participants about the importance of boob/peck checking habit from an early age!

Prizes:
• Best dressed individual
• Best dressed Club Team
• Best dressed Staff Team
• Best homemade costume
• Best shop bought costume

To enter please:
• Register at the Sports Centre or Pavilion receptions
• Email sportsdevelopment@kent.ac.uk
• Book through www.letsplay.simplybook.me