Festival of Ideas 2015: Recent Episodes
Cambridge University
The Festival of Ideas is an annual celebration of arts, humanities and social sciences from the University of Cambridge.
War reporting presents particular issues for politicians and journalists. Has censorship in wartime changed over time and what are the issues for broadcasters in a world of 24/7 news and social media? Can national broadcasters be truly independent at a time of war?
With Professor Christopher Andrew, Professor of Modern and Contemporary History, Cambridge; Professor David Welch, Emeritus Professor of History at University of Kent specialising in 20th century political propaganda; and Dr Peter Busch, Department of War Studies, King's College London who is a specialist in war and social media. Chaired by BBC Cambridgeshire's Chris Mann, a former Moscow Correspondent during the Cold War.
A discussion on Ulinka Rublack’s new book, The Astronomer and the Witch: Johannes Kepler’s Defence of his Mother which tells the shocking story of how the mother of the famous scientist Kepler was accused of witchcraft. The witch craze did not just affect women but families. Siblings fought deeply with their own mixed feelings about mothers on trial. In conversation with Juliet Mitchell, the author explored historical resistance to women as well as ways in which families have been implicated in mechanisms of power.
Shakespeare experts Paul Edmondson and Stanley Wells cast new light on the poet and his times by looking afresh at the lives of the people he was closest to, in both his personal and his professional life.
This original and enlightening talk casts fresh light on Shakespeare by examining the lives of his relatives, friends, fellow-actors, collaborators and patrons both in their own right and in relation to his life. Well-known figures such as Richard Burbage, Ben Jonson and Thomas Middleton are freshly considered; little-known but relevant lives are brought to the fore, and revisionist views are expressed on such matters as Shakespeare‘s wealth, his family and personal relationships, and his social status. Written by a distinguished team, including some of the foremost biographers, writers and Shakespeare scholars of today, this enthralling volume forms an original contribution to Shakespearian biography and Elizabethan and Jacobean social history. It will interest anyone looking to learn something new about the dramatist and the times in which he lived. A supplementary website offers imagined first-person audio accounts from the featured subjects.
New forms of resistance, grounded in technological change, are emerging at a pace faster than regimes can quash them. Three University of Cambridge researchers discuss how innovations are supporting revolutionary struggles worldwide. - See more at: http://www.festivalofideas.cam.ac.uk/events/technologies-revolution-how-innovations-are-undermining-regimes-everywhere#sthash.ZL9ANgqk.dpuf
When people think of flamenco, usually stereotypical images of dark-haired Gypsy dancers, polka-dot dresses and passion come to mind.
In this talk, Matthew Machin-Autenrieth (Research Fellow at the Faculty of Music) explores an alternative side to flamenco that is little known outside of Spain – one of acting as a vehicle for political protest and a catalyst for social change.
He considers two case studies: flamenco flashmobs against the economic crisis and a performance that raises awareness about immigration and racism in Southern Spain. Using these examples, Matthew will demonstrate how flamenco is harnessed as a tool for political protest and as a catalyst for social change. - See more at: http://www.festivalofideas.cam.ac.uk/events/fully-booked-flamenco-and-politics-resistance-flashmobs-and-immigration-spain#sthash.djf6KPEa.dpuf
Cambridge Festival of Ideas explores new and original thinking on some of the most pressing issues of the day. The aim of the Festival is to fuel people’s interest in arts, humanities and social sciences through a series of events ranging from talks, debates and film screenings to exhibitions and comedy nights. Of the over 250 events at the Festival, most are free.
www.festivalofideas.cam.ac.uk/
Credits: Ukraine Maidan conflict footage courtesy of Honest Fish Documentary Stories, taken from the documentary 'All Things Ablaze' (http://bit.ly/1Rb9wK6) Music by Gallery Six (https://gallerysix.bandcamp.com)