Reading groups and networks

If you would like to set up a new reading group or network we can help with organising and promoting it. Please contact Lucy Stagg, lucy.stagg@ucl.ac.uk, for further advice.

Future Tense: Languages of the Future Reading Group

This reading group is part of the Research Cluster "Future Tense: Languages of the Future" and aims to provide participants with reading materials that consider the future in a multitude of different ways, and from a variety of disciplinary perspectives. Whether we excavate the past in search of the future, consider apocalyptic understandings of the absence of a future, or think through the affects which are future oriented, we aim to provide a number of readings per session, but will commit to ensuring that we use short extracts so that we can make sure that we accommodate for breadth of knowledge and disciplines, but still allow for a depth in our discussions. The reading group encompasses three main sections: ‘Past Futures’, ‘Present Futures’, and ‘Future Futures’ so that the multiple interwoven temporalities of the future can be incorporated. Please check the IAS Events feed for dates and session descriptions. Contact Flora Sagers or Peter Browning: f.sagers@ucl.ac.uk or peter.browning@ucl.ac.uk.

Marxism in Culture

The Marxism in Culture seminar series was conceived in 2002 to provide a forum for those committed to the continuing relevance of Marxism for cultural analysis. Both ‘Marxism’ and ‘culture’ are conceived here in a broad sense. We understand Marxism as an ongoing self-critical tradition, and correspondingly the critique of Marxism's own history and premises is part of the agenda. ‘Culture’ is intended to comprehend not only the traditional fine arts, but also aspects of popular culture such as film, popular music and fashion.

Migration Research Unit PhD Network

The Migration Research Unit PhD Network launched in 2019 and has, with the generous support of the IAS, expanded into a thriving research hub for postgraduate students conducting interdisciplinary research into migration at UCL. In co-ordination with the IAS Refuge in a Moving World network, the MRU PhD Network hosted a number of reading groups and training sessions on topics as varied as humanitarian assistance, refugee law, vulnerability and the politics of care. Contact: jessica.sullivan.21@ucl.ac.uk

Practice As Research

The Practice As Research network aims to bring together the many different strands of practice-led/based research across all disciplines so as to not be limited by disciplinary conventions, but instead to benefit from cross-disciplinary fertilisation.We consider Practice As Research any practice that is underpinned by scholarship and academic rigour. The network runs a seminar series, a poetic inquiry group and a social fiction writing group. Contact: Nicole Brown, nicole.brown@ucl.ac.uk

PREM

PRE-MODERN (PREM) is a new research cluster that explores the wide and varied topics of medieval and early modern studies. Contact Victoria or Sam, victoria.rasbridge.19@ucl.ac.uk, samantha.brown.18@ucl.ac.uk.

The Queer and Trans Pre-Modern Reading Group

An informal discussion group exploring queer and trans themes in medieval and early modern texts.

Racism and Racialisation PhD group

The Racism and Racialisation PhD group, hosted by the Sarah Parker Remond Centre, is comprised of UCL postgraduate research students working on issues surrounding race and racism. This student-led network welcomes postgraduate researchers from all departments and schools across UCL.

Reading for Wellbeing

This reading group warmly welcomes any UCL staff member who would like to meet and talk about how books – all kinds of books! – can help us with our sense of wellbeing. What do you go to for comfort? Inspiration? Escape? From cookery books to nature writing, crime fiction to romance novels, no matter what your preferences are, come along and join us! Contact ah-wellbeing@ucl.ac.uk