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.
Had a brilliant time repurposing dolls for #InternationalWomensDay2019 with @arfeuse & my doll (complete with comfy shoes & lovely book) is now hanging out in my office with my Siri Hustvedt books & this seems completely appropriate and right. pic.twitter.com/qoWIhZkHt5
— Anne-Marie Evans (@DrAMEvans) March 6, 2019
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
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.
What a brilliant evening! Music (of our youth!) & memory with @FraserYSJ, then @DrAMEvans weirded out (in a good way) by Tennessee Williams, then @waugh_JS & @elementaladam in their satirical two-hander. Proud to present on Al-Hamlet Summit in this @YSJLit company #WordsMatterYSJ https://t.co/RVuXATXgtR
— Saffron Vickers Walkling (@WorldShax) February 28, 2019
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
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.
Talking satire with @waugh_JS and @elementaladam as part of @YorkLitFest this evening. Apocalyptic headlines. The end of the world. Your average everyday stuff… @YSJEvents @YSJLit pic.twitter.com/JcwH0xDGY9
— Rob O’Connor (@RobOConnor26) March 25, 2019
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Trip to Stratford upon Avon
![](https://i0.wp.com/blog.yorksj.ac.uk/englishlit/files/2019/04/patience.jpg?resize=525%2C394)
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.
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!
Definitely our 80+ sign ups at Freshers fair, our new committee and old committee together to plan the upcoming year, our amazing Christmas meal, pints and poetry in both the last academic year and this one, and our summer and Christmas reads! pic.twitter.com/9l6pNOWnyL
— YSJ English Literature Society (@YSJEnglishLitSc) January 31, 2020