The Centre of Research in the Arts (CoRA) and The Audience Project Research Group are excited to announce a new seminar series that will showcase cutting-edge research from both Oxford Brookes University and esteemed colleagues from other institutions. This series will dive deep into the evolving world of audience research, featuring expert speakers who will discuss a variety of topics, from virtual idols to historical film distribution.
The seminars will be held online, providing attendees the opportunity to engage with leading research and connect with the global academic community. Below are the details of the upcoming talks:
Asking about Listening – Multivocality, Generations, and Japanese Virtual Idols
Speaker: Dr. Rafal Zaborowski (Senior Lecturer in Digital Culture, King’s College London)
🗓 Date: October 18, 2024, 12:00 PM (London)
In this opening seminar, Dr. Zaborowski will reflect on his recent publications, including the monograph Music Generations in the Digital Age, to explore how asking audiences about their listening habits can illuminate generational shifts and engagement. Using ethnographic data on Japanese idols and virtual idols, he will examine the effects of artist-fan proximity and audience self-reflection on social practices.
🔗 Join via Zoom
Meeting ID: 842 9298 2403 | Passcode: 2858395706
The Distribution and Exhibition of European Religious Films in 1950s Ireland
Speaker: Sarah Culhane
🗓 Date: October 30, 2024, 12:00 PM (London)
This seminar will explore how religious films were distributed and exhibited in Ireland during the 1950s, offering a unique lens into post-war film culture and the religious landscape of that era.
🔗 Join via Zoom
Meeting ID: 821 1876 3856 | Passcode: 9058712762
A Look into Fandoms: Social Bonds, Creativity, and Activism
Speaker: Mélanie Bourdaa
🗓 Date: November 6, 2024, 12:00 PM (London)
This session will examine fandoms as communities of active audiences, focusing on their creative output and their role in driving social, political, and cultural activism. TV series fandoms will be used as case studies to explore how these groups foster social bonds and dialogue.
🔗 Join via Zoom
Meeting ID: 858 0995 9126 | Passcode: 6518942654
Reflections on Unsuitable Films and Video Audiences: Underage Viewing Memories in 1980s UK
Speaker: Pete Turner
🗓 Date: December 13, 2024, 12:00 PM (London)
This seminar will delve into memories and practices surrounding the underage viewing of “unsuitable” films in the UK during the 1980s, discussing how these experiences shaped audience engagement and video culture.
🔗 Join via Zoom
Meeting ID: 882 3811 0250 | Passcode: 1931887404
Children as Audience and Author in Horror Cinema
Speaker: Xanthe Pajarillo (PhD student, University of Birmingham)
🗓 Date: January 27, 2025, 12:00 PM (London)
This session will explore the role of children as both audience and contributors to the genre of horror cinema, reflecting on how young audiences engage with and reshape horror narratives.
🔗 Join via Zoom
Meeting ID: 845 5316 1717 | Passcode: 2809744214
Doing Oral History Beyond Audiences
Speakers: Daniela Treveri-Gennari and Silvia Dibeltulo
🗓 Date: February 14, 2025, 12:00 PM (London)
This seminar will investigate the process of conducting oral history, moving beyond the traditional focus on audiences to uncover broader social and cultural narratives.
🔗 Join via Zoom
Meeting ID: 859 5080 0978 | Passcode: 5753391836
Thinking about Archiving Practices from an Audience Perspective
Speaker: Hanna Klien-Thomas
🗓 Date: March 14, 2025, 12:00 PM (London)
This talk will explore how archiving practices can be rethought from the perspective of audience engagement, considering how audience participation informs the preservation of cultural and media artifacts.
🔗 Join via Zoom
Meeting ID: 880 5997 7249 | Passcode: 9288027580