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A Retrospective: Life on the Literature Programme in 2019!

As a new semester begins, join us for a look back at the many highlights of life on the Literature Programme in 2019, all recorded here on the Words Matter blog!

LBGT History Month 2019

Inclusivity Library Display

The Library revealed a display of inclusive children’s and young adult’s fiction, inviting staff and students to suggests further titles to add  to the display over the duration of LGBT History Month. Read more about it here. 

God’s Own Country Screening

Dr Saffron Vickers Walkling introduced a special screening of the film God’s Own Country. Read more about it here. 

“The Problem with Social” Progress: Reflections on Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

In a dedicated series of posts, blog writers recommended books for LGBT History months. In one of the year’s most read posts, Adam Kirkbridge discussed Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Read the piece here. 

LBGT History Month Display

The month ended with the unveiling of the second book display, this time compiling recommendations from staff and students via the Words Matter blog. Read more about the display here. 

Smith & Waugh Talk About Satire

On 14 Feb 2019, our lecturers Dr Jo Waugh and Adam Smith launched a podcast exploring the form, function, future and history of satire.  Read more about it here. 

International Women’s Day 2019: Freeing Body Image

Blog staff-writer Abi Whitaker shared a vivid report of activities that took place at YSJU for IWD2019, which included to workshops and a special screening of Embrace. Read Abi’s account here. 

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Literature Research Showcase 2019

Always a highlight of our academic calendar, the Literature Research Showcase is an opportunity for staff to share the cutting-edge research they are working on with all of the students, across every year group.

Read Adam Kirkbride’s detailed account of the evening here. 

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Autism Awareness Week: Student Art Display

In a special post, Benjamin Longbone discussed the artwork of fellow student Monica Marshall. Read all about it here.  

Reflections on the Future of Satire 

Charlotte Crawshaw shares here account of attending a York Literature Festival event delivered by our Drs Jo Waugh and Adam Smith on the future of satire in uncertain times. Read all about it here. 

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Trip to Stratford upon Avon

Happy smiling faces!

Students on our Level 5 Module went to visit the home of William Shakespeare, and you can read all about it!

You can also read Amy Langton’s account of the trip here. 

All The World’s A Stage

Mollie Piggot reports back on the Shakespeare Perspectives  trip to see the RSC production of All The World’s A Stage. Read all out it! 

Shakespeare on the Blog 

Shortly after returning from the annual student trip to Stratford upon Avon, Charlotte Crawshaw and Caroline Carlson reported back on a blogging workshop led by Dr Saffron Vickers Walking. Click here to read about it.  

Terra Two Anthology Launch

This ongoing project to provide reading material for the first humans to colonise new worlds, directed by Associate Head Dr Liesl King, celebrated the launch of a new printed anthology of creative writer. Contributors were joined by novelist Temi Oh. Read Annice White’s account of the event here. 

The YSJU Students Union Awards

At this year’s YSJU SU Awards, students nominated Smith & Waugh Talk About Satire (a podcast hosted by our Drs Jo Waugh and Adam Smith) for a Pedagogical Research Award, which the podcast then won!

Third Year Celebration Event 

As another academic year drew to a close we prepared to bid farewell to our Level 6 students with our annual dedicated celebration event. Check out the photo-reel! 

A Heart-Felt Farewell

In a moving post, former Words Matter sub-editor Charlotte Stevenson reflected on her time at YSJU ahead of completing her final semester. 

To all of the teachers who have taught me, thank-you for being brilliant, patient and kind in equal measure; a blend I do not think can be bested. I wish each of you all the very best for the future and hope you have a peaceful summer.

Read the complete piece. 

The YSJU Big Summer Read 2019

Every year our students vote for a novel to read over the summer, and last summer that novel was Anne Burns’ Milkman. Read all about it. 

Words Prize Winner 2019

The Words Matter Prize

The 2019 Words Matter Prize was won by Adam Kirkbride. Upon recieving his award, Adam offered his advice for the next generation of students: 

Engage with the course as much as possible; attend the Words Matter lecture, read or write for the blog, go to the research showcase, start a study group, join the English Literature Society, book tutorials and make the most of your lecturers. I could go on forever! 

Read Adam’s full nomination and speech. 

Words Matter Lecture 2019: Music, Storytelling and Selfhood

This years Words Matter lecture was delivered by Dr Fraser Mann. Read Erin Byrne’s account, “We Are All Stories, and Our Stories Are Us.”

Black History Month 2019: Nelson Mandela, a Life of Activism

For BHM2019 we welcomed Dr Sarah Slater (Oxford Brooke’s University) for a discussion of the life and activism on Nelson Mandela. Read Hannah Darley’s reflection on this lecture. 

And Finally, Another Big Year For The English Literature Society!

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