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 Contribution

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

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 Contribution

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 Contribution

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

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

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

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 Contribution

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 Contribution

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 Contribution

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 Contribution

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 Contribution

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.

In conversation with Dr Julius Garvey MD (2022)
Presentation / Conference Contribution

On Friday 21st October, Fairfield House was honoured to have Dr Julius Garvey MD, son of Jamaican national hero and Pan African visionary Marcus Garvey, visited Bath city.

Dr Garvey, is a Human rights activist, vascular surgeon and Medical Profes... Read More about In conversation with Dr Julius Garvey MD.

Photography and the representation of Black lives (2022)
Presentation / Conference Contribution

This half-day workshop explored the role of photography in the representation and exploration of Black cultural ideas, from history to the present day.

Led by Professor Shawn-Naphtali Sobers, the session included a lecture in three parts, looking... Read More about Photography and the representation of Black lives.

The Message (2022)
Book Chapter

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

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.

Representing Rastafari and Ethiopian culture in life, creative practice, and research (2022)
Presentation / Conference Contribution

Exploring health and well-being as a UK Black creative (2022)
Presentation / Conference Contribution

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 Contribution

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 Contribution

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.