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All Outputs (118)

“Anything you say, will be used against you!” : The necessary place for creative expression and language as an outlet for young people, and the criminal act of criminalising them (2024)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2024, March). “Anything you say, will be used against you!” : The necessary place for creative expression and language as an outlet for young people, and the criminal act of criminalising them. Presented at Violence Reduction Partnership 3rd Annual Conference: Music, Language & Social Media, Saltford

Keynote speech exploring the importance of nurturing and protecting creative spaces and opportunities for young people, and for that creativity to not become stigmatised and criminalised. Shared examples of how various forms of music, dance, film, an... Read More about “Anything you say, will be used against you!” : The necessary place for creative expression and language as an outlet for young people, and the criminal act of criminalising them.

AI and the complexity of Black photographic representation and critical analysis (2024)
Book Chapter
Sobers, S., & Edwards, Y. (in press). AI and the complexity of Black photographic representation and critical analysis. In AI and Photography. Bristol: Royal Photographic Society

In this chapter artist Yuko Edwards and academic Shawn Sobers discuss the complex dynamics of AI image making, with regards both the problems and opportunities in the cultural politics of Black and African heritage representation. The significant cha... Read More about AI and the complexity of Black photographic representation and critical analysis.

Visual anthropology of home, culture and identity (2023)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2023, October). Visual anthropology of home, culture and identity. Presented at 2GeTher Network Staff Development, Online (national meeting)

Specially commissioned staff development lecture for housing professionals at Stonewater, (one of UK's largest social housing providers). The lecture discussed different ways of thinking about the idea and importance of home and housing, through th... Read More about Visual anthropology of home, culture and identity.

Windrush reluctance (provocation) (2023)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2023, June). Windrush reluctance (provocation). Presented at Christ Church Windrush Celebration service, Christ Church. Bath

Expressing need to keep politics in the Windrush conversation, some of the unease about the label 'Windrush Generation', and questioning whether it is a history to celebrate, rather than reflect on more critically in the context of colonial exploitat... Read More about Windrush reluctance (provocation).

Navigating personal and professional pathways towards the telling of Bath’s African-connected histories (2023)
Book Chapter
Sobers, S., & Andrews, P. (in press). Navigating personal and professional pathways towards the telling of Bath’s African-connected histories. In Legacies of Slave-ownership and Enslavement: Reshaping Memoryscape in Bath and Bristol after the Fall of Colston. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press

This chapter is a transcript of a conversation between Polly Andrews - Learning Officer for Bath Abbey, and Convenor of the Bath & Colonialism Action Group; and Professor Shawn-Naphtali Sobers – trustee of Fairfield House , Bath, and Professor of Cul... Read More about Navigating personal and professional pathways towards the telling of Bath’s African-connected histories.

Black Everyday Lives, Material Culture and Narrative: Tings in de House (2023)
Book
Sobers, S. (2023). Black Everyday Lives, Material Culture and Narrative: Tings in de House. Oxon: Routledge

This book is an exploration of everyday life as experienced through the lens of Black British cultural history and creative practice. The structure of Black Everyday Life, Material Culture and Narrative: Tings In The House examines everyday life... Read More about Black Everyday Lives, Material Culture and Narrative: Tings in de House.

Candles (2022)
Book Chapter
Sobers, S. (2022). Candles. In Sway of Shadows Response: Black Men Reminiscing (42 - 43). Taunton: Black Pansophy Books

In this short auto-ethnographic essay, Sobers uses material culture as a doorway into a deeply personal reflection. Focusing on a pair of candles given to him by his late brother, the chapter leads the reader through the complexity of family dynamics... Read More about Candles.

Reflections on anti-racism and memorialisation from South West UK (2022)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2022, December). Reflections on anti-racism and memorialisation from South West UK. Presented at OHCHR in-person consultations: Advancing racial justice and equality for Africans and people of African descent in Europe, UN House, Boulevard du Régent 37-40, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium

Sobers spoke at a roundtable discussion with 20 human rights advocates from across Europe, at the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR), Brussels. Sobers talked about the King Leopold II statue in Brussels, and points of... Read More about Reflections on anti-racism and memorialisation from South West UK.

Small anthropology, and black everyday life, material culture and narrative: An overview (2022)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2022, December). Small anthropology, and black everyday life, material culture and narrative: An overview

University of Liverpool, The Centre for Culture & Everyday Life Presents Small Anthropology, Black Everyday Lives, Material Culture and Narrative: An Overview Shawn-Naphtali Sobers 3pm, Monday 12th December 2022, SoTA library, 19-23 Abercrom... Read More about Small anthropology, and black everyday life, material culture and narrative: An overview.

Dynamics of family album photography within a Black British context (2022)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2022, December). Dynamics of family album photography within a Black British context. Presented at Family and Other Ties, University for the Creative Arts, Farnham, Surrey

In his talk, Shawn explored different dynamics of family album photography within a Black British context. He explored the phenomenon of the photowall, often curated by the mother figure in the house in the 70s and 80s. He also looked at how cherish... Read More about Dynamics of family album photography within a Black British context.

In conversation with Ingrid Pollard (2022)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S., & Pollard, I. (2022, November). In conversation with Ingrid Pollard. Presented at Turner Prize 2022 - Meet the Artist, Tate Liverpool

The Turner Prize 2022 at Tate Liverpool, invited audiences to get to know each of the four Turner Prize nominees. Each artist was in conversation with a guest of their choice, to discuss the themes of their work. For the fourth and final talk in... Read More about In conversation with Ingrid Pollard.

Material culture and the echoes and legacies of transatlantic enslavement - before and after the Colston statue (2022)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2022, November). Material culture and the echoes and legacies of transatlantic enslavement - before and after the Colston statue

The Duldig Annual Lecture on Sculpture was inaugurated in 1986 to commemorate the life and work of the sculptor Karl Duldig and his wife, the artist and inventor Slawa Horowitz-Duldig.  Now in its 36th year, the Duldig Annual Lecture has continued... Read More about Material culture and the echoes and legacies of transatlantic enslavement - before and after the Colston statue.

The Message (2022)
Book Chapter
Sobers, S. (2022). The Message. In C. Leith, & P. Wrigglesworth (Eds.), Left Cultures: A Lexicon Of Stories Past And Present. Bristol: Left Cultures

How listening to 'The Message' by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five in 1982, became a life changing class-conscious moment for a 10 year old boy.

In conversation with Reginald D Hunter (2022)
Exhibition / Performance
Sobers, S., & Hunter, R. D. In conversation with Reginald D Hunter. [Glastonbury Festival 2022]. 25 June 2022 - 25 June 2022. (Unpublished)

Comedian Reginald D Hunter talks to Professor Shawn Sobers about race, politics, cancel culture, family, addressing taboos, and faith. Hosted by Glastonbury Festival's legendary Cabaret Stage, in the Theatre & Circus field.

Exploring health and well-being as a UK Black creative (2022)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2022, June). Exploring health and well-being as a UK Black creative. Presented at Black Health and the Humanities, MShed and Bristol University

In an arts career spanning 30 years, Shawn has focussed on health and wellbeing in a range of his creative works in various mediums including film, photography, fiction and non-fiction writing, and also as a workshop and events facilitator. Although... Read More about Exploring health and well-being as a UK Black creative.

#ReconstructionWork: Whose Memorials? (2022)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S., & Asante, B. (2022, May). #ReconstructionWork: Whose Memorials?. Presented at #ReconstructionWork, Online

The state backlash against the mass protests for racial justice in June 2020 is well underway. A reaction punctuated by the recent passing of the Police, Crimes and Sentencing Bill, which has increased the maximum penalty for criminal damage to a mem... Read More about #ReconstructionWork: Whose Memorials?.

Contested culture as change-maker: The collaborative approach to displaying the toppled statue of Edward Colston (2022)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S., & Barnett, R. (2022, May). Contested culture as change-maker: The collaborative approach to displaying the toppled statue of Edward Colston. Presented at Museum & Heritage Show 2022, The Olympia, London

The toppling of the statue of Edward Colston in Bristol in June 2020 made international headlines. Professor Shawn Sobers of the UWE Bristol and ‘We are Bristol History Commission’, and Ray Barnett Head of Collections & Archives at Bristol Museums,... Read More about Contested culture as change-maker: The collaborative approach to displaying the toppled statue of Edward Colston.