Blog | English Literature | York St John University
Continue reading “manchester and the industrial revolution: YSJU student trip”
As part of Black History Month 2017, the School of Humanities, Religion and Philosophy is excited to present Black History Month and the Transatlantic Imagination – 12.30-2pm, De Grey lecture theatre. Members of staff will introduce the transatlantic moments, people, and events that have impacted on black identities. Come and hear more about Miles Davis, learn about the lives of Lancashire cotton pickers, and think about Marvel comics and issues of diversity.
Tickets are FREE and can be reserved here.
Two of the country’s leading Shakespearean actors, Pippa Nixon and Alex Waldmann will be visiting York St John University on 1st November 2017. Pippa and Alex are cultural fellows here at YSJU and will be in conversation about their work with our Shakespeare: Perspectives tutors.
Continue reading “upcoming event: meet leading shakespearean actors alex waldmann and pippa nixon”
Dr Anne-Marie Evans, Subject Director for English Literature, warmly invites all students to the the inaugural ‘Words Matter’ lecture, which this year will be delivered by Dr Kaley Kramer. Continue reading “inaugural words matter lecture”
By Tia Byer
For Emma Stone in Easy A, it seems to be “always the way” that there is a connection between the literature we study in class and the way it resonates in real life. I have often mused upon this myself. But during the last two years of my undergraduate degree in literature, I have never fully grasped the true meaning behind this notion. All that was about to change. This summer I actually had one of those experiences.
York St John University Literature graduate Holly Beson-Tams has gotten in touch to tell us about a new music magazine that she has founded, and to offer an exciting opportunity to current students.
Continue reading “student opportunity: write for music magazine denim + leather”
YSJU graduate Beth Cairns has been in touch to advertise an exciting opportunity to current students. Beth now works for York’s library service, Explore York, and writes:
On Thursday 28th September we will be hosting Rose Drew and Alan Gillott from The Poetry Show podcast. They will be recording an edition of podcast in Acomb Library, and will be inviting people to read a poem for it. If any students would like an opportunity to share their work please let us know and come along from 3pm.
All budding writers, from Literature and the Creative Writing programmes, are encouraged to contact Beth and get themselves to Acomb library if interested.
Adam Smith is looking for performers to help him stage an informal dramatic reading of Ben Jonson’s 1606 play, Volpone, which is to be studied by first year students this semester.
“This bawdy, provocative and frankly vicious play follows the Machiavellian Volpone and his parasitic side-kick Mosca as they con and connive their way through renaissance Venice. Filled with razor sharp wit and cutting insults, Jonson’s play is and exciting, darkly comic and haunting tale, which I hope you might consider helping me bring to life in Week 5.
Continue reading “student opportunity: join a live reading of the play volpone”
By Chris Maunder
I started this book with some relish. For many years, I have been a researcher of the cult of the Virgin Mary; I have written one book, edited another, written several articles on the topic, and there are more publications to come. I particularly like provocative work about Mary that is prepared to undermine some of the old myths: controversial feminist academics like Jane Schaberg and Mary Daly, for example, or authors of novels on Mary such as Michèle Roberts. I once introduced Dutch feminist Els Maeckelberghe’s Desperately Seeking Mary to a group of Catholic deacons in training; it so upset them that they refused to engage with it. I wasn’t invited back to speak the next year! I am by no means averse to upsetting the status quo. So why was I so disappointed with The Testament of Mary? Continue reading “big summer read: a really radical mary?”
We are looking for first year, second year, and third students to join our blog team at Point Zero. These exciting extra-curricular roles are ideally suited to students who are considering careers in writing, journalism, or publishing or who simply have a passion for words and literature. The team, working under the guidance of our academic blog team (Dr Janine Bradbury, Dr Alex Beaumont, and Dr Adam Smith) will meet several times over the year to curate content and there will be an expectation that you will be prepared to be a regular and reliable contributor to this site.
Please email Dr Alex Beaumont (a.beaumont@yorksj.ac.uk) to express an interest by Wednesday of Week 2 (27th September 2017) if you would like to join us!
This semester we are issuing an open call for contributions to Point Zero that fall under the broad theme of ‘global literature’. We are especially interested in:
Please send your submissions of no more than 1000 words to Janine Bradbury (j.bradbury@yorksj.ac.uk). We are unable to publish all submissions, and submissions may be subject to minor editing for length and tone. We will be accepting submissions until Week 12 of Semester 1.
By Nicoletta Peddis
Testament (n.) late 13c.: “last will disposing of property,” from Latin testamentum “a last will, publication of a will,” from testari “make a will, be witness to,” from testis “witness.” Used in reference to the two divisions of the Bible (early 14c) (…) subsequently was interpreted as Christ’s “last will.” (from Online Etymology Dictionary).
In the Gospels, the Virgin Mary is the personification of grace and suffering, the mater dolorosa who is largely voiceless. We know little about her, except for her virginity and her grief. Colm Tóibín’s short novel The Testament of Mary gives voice to Mary, subverting the traditional representation of Jesus’s mother and at the same time expanding the definition of the term testament. The Testament of Mary is her giving witness to, her attestation; “I was there,” she says. The fictional portrait that Tóibín creates of Mary breaks with tradition to deepen her humanity and to bring her down to earth, trying to understand her as a suffering woman and as a mother afflicted with a difficult son. Continue reading “big summer read: mary rewrites jesus of nazareth”
Management and consultancy firm WSP has been in touch to advertise the role of Proposals Coordinator at their Leeds office. Continue reading “job opportunity: proposals coordinator, wsp leeds”
The Theology and Religious Studies team are organising a three night trip to Krakow, Poland in November 2017 and there are some limited spaces for literature students on a first come first served basis. Continue reading “student opportunity: trip to krakow, poland”
An invitation for YSJU students to volunteer for Light Night Leeds, 5th – 6th October.
Continue reading “student opportunity: light night leeds”