The Contentious Museum

Last week Dr Ruth Adams attended the 6th University Museums in Scotland conference, on the topic of ‘The Contentious Museum’, at the University in snowy(!) Aberdeen. Session topics included ‘Human remains and sacred items’, ‘Negotiating with communities’ and ‘The Legacy of empire and slavery’. Ruth contributed a paper to this last session which considered the history of the Indian Collection at the V&A and whether the Museum has effectively managed the shift from colonialism to multiculturalism.

The conference was a lively and friendly event, and Ruth enjoyed the opportunity to listen to the research of other academics with an interest in museums, as well as opportunities for socialising and networking.

Celebrity Photography Since the Kuroi

Centre director Dr Richard Howells gave a well-attended guest research seminar next door at the Courtauld Institute of Art . “Celebrity Photography since the Kuroi” was a research paper in progress in which Richard worked to explain the almost sacred appeal of the celebrity photographic image today. The paper was followed by questions and then an informal discussion over a glass of wine. Current MA CCI students were very well-represented in the audience, and Richard hopes further to strengthen contacts with our art historical next door neighbours in Somerset House.

Duke Ellington in London

The Independent newspaper published a two-page article by CCI lecturer Dr Harvey G. Cohen this week, on 13 November: an account of Duke Ellington’s first tour of Britain in 1933, and how it changed Ellington’s career and American musical history. The story was trailed on the cover of the paper, and the web version includes ten photos tracing Ellington’s career from the 1920s to the 1970s.

The article precedes Harvey’s second appearance in consecutive years on a panel at the London Jazz festival, on 17 November at 6pm. This time he will focus on the music and career of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, in discussion with fellow guests at the Purcell Room at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on the South Bank. There will be musical examples as well as conversation, and the event is free of charge. After the panel the Alan Barnes’ Octet will play a (ticketed) concert featuring Ellington’s music. More information here.

Harvey’s appearance at last year’s London Jazz Festival was also reported on this blog.

(Hold the) Mayo

On Tuesday 28 October, Centre lecturer Dr Harvey Cohen appeared on the Simon Mayo show (with Phil Williams hosting) on BBC Radio 5 Live, chatting about the American election, the latest polls, and the so-called “Bradley Effect.” It was one of those typical cases where the producer told Harvey about the 4-5 topics they wanted to talk about, and almost none of those came up in the on-air conversation, so if you were listening the sound you heard consisted largely of Harvey winging it live on national radio. Kinda fun, like surfing. Another highlight was getting to chat off-air with his fellow guest on the radio show, Gok Wan, who was promoting his controversial new Channel Four TV show Miss Naked Beauty on twelve different stations that day. No wonder he was gulping down copious amounts of coffee.