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Outputs (67)

“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.

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).

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.

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.

Theoretical considerations of compassionate education practices (2022)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2022, March). Theoretical considerations of compassionate education practices. Paper presented at Can compassionate education lead the way for equality?, Bath Spa University (Online)

Opening provocation exploring the theme of whether a compassionate led approach to education can lead the way for equality. Acknowledging that it is a shame that the question need be asked at all, looks into ways formal education spaces have become b... Read More about Theoretical considerations of compassionate education practices.

What does decolonising the curriculum mean? (2020)
Presentation / Conference
Evans, M., & Sobers, S. (2020, June). What does decolonising the curriculum mean?. Presented at UWE Festival of Learning 2020

What does decolonising the curriculum mean? What practical steps can I make to adapt my teaching? Myra Evans and Dr Shawn Sobers explore the issue and ideas and actions to make change. The session has been designed to help staff to consider how they... Read More about What does decolonising the curriculum mean?.

A Call For A Black Bristol Filmmakers Archive (2019)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2019, November). A Call For A Black Bristol Filmmakers Archive. Presented at Afrika Eye Festival 2019, Watershed, Bristol

In this introduction to the Sudanese documentary film 'Talking About Trees', Sobers brings the storyline to a Bristol context. He charts Bristol's own history of professional Black filmmakers, and argues that making films alone is no longer enough.... Read More about A Call For A Black Bristol Filmmakers Archive.

Point of View - Positioning public engagement central to your research. Case Study: Ethiopian echoes in a British Landscape AHRC Research Networks project (2019)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2019, November). Point of View - Positioning public engagement central to your research. Case Study: Ethiopian echoes in a British Landscape AHRC Research Networks project. Presented at Meet the AHRC - Delivery Plan launch, Cardiff University - School of Journalism

This key-note presentation discussed approaches to research design and methodology, and offers thoughts towards how to connect research projects closer to real world experience and impact. The three areas discussed were; 1) Public engagement as the c... Read More about Point of View - Positioning public engagement central to your research. Case Study: Ethiopian echoes in a British Landscape AHRC Research Networks project.

The politics and myth of the Untold Story: From personal liberatory practice to decolonial discourse (2019)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2019, November). The politics and myth of the Untold Story: From personal liberatory practice to decolonial discourse. Paper presented at Decolonial methodologies: Arts, Politics, Europe, Body-politics Research Unit, Aarhus University, Denmark

This talk will discussed a journey in creative practice and deconstructing motivations of making - from the personal to the political and the blurs inbetween. Sobers discussed modes of using creative culture to challenge to the colonial centre, and e... Read More about The politics and myth of the Untold Story: From personal liberatory practice to decolonial discourse.

Me and my work: Education, Photography, Filmmaking, and Rastafari philosophy (2019)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2019, October). Me and my work: Education, Photography, Filmmaking, and Rastafari philosophy

In this wide-ranging talk, Sobers discussed how he got to be where he is now with his career, shared some examples of his photography and films, and talked how Rastafari and Pan-Africanism has informed his creative practice and life choices.

TEDx - Ethiopian Echoes in the Bath landscape, and three lessons those echoes can teach us. (2019)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2019, September). TEDx - Ethiopian Echoes in the Bath landscape, and three lessons those echoes can teach us. Presented at TEDx Bath 2019 - Echoes of the City, Holborne Museum, Bath

This TEDx talk discussed how the history of the Ethiopian connection with the city of Bath can shed light on how we live today. The talk addressed three key lessons; 1) You can find sanctity in unexpected places 2) The need for calmness in times... Read More about TEDx - Ethiopian Echoes in the Bath landscape, and three lessons those echoes can teach us..

Democratising a decolonised functional and cultural heritage space (2019)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2019, September). Democratising a decolonised functional and cultural heritage space. Paper presented at CKC 2019: Rethinking, Resisting and Reimagining the Creative City Conference, Watershed, Bristol

This presentation discussed how Fairfield House in Bath, the former residence of Emperor Haile Selassie, could be considered a decolonised space - predominantly Black led, catering for predominantly (though not solely) Black audiences. Sobers discu... Read More about Democratising a decolonised functional and cultural heritage space.

Connection People and Places - Fairfield House case study (2019)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2019, September). Connection People and Places - Fairfield House case study. Presented at Stephen Lawrence 19th Annual Memorial Lecture

Fairfield House was one of the case studies for the Connection People and Places research project, led by the Stephen Lawrence Trust in partnership with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). In my opening talk I explained the history... Read More about Connection People and Places - Fairfield House case study.

When the Prophet was angry with the Emperor: On Marcus Garvey's critique of Haile Selassie I, and the aligned legacy of both their logic (2019)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2019, August). When the Prophet was angry with the Emperor: On Marcus Garvey's critique of Haile Selassie I, and the aligned legacy of both their logic. Presented at Do you Remember? Commemoration for Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Kuumba Centre, Bristol

Discussing the challenging moment in 1937 when Marcus Mosiah Garvey strongly criticised Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie for moving to Bath in the UK, to rally for support for Ethiopia's liberation from Mussolini's fascist invasion. Garvey attacked t... Read More about When the Prophet was angry with the Emperor: On Marcus Garvey's critique of Haile Selassie I, and the aligned legacy of both their logic.

Sankofa dialogues: Making things to make sense of colonial saturated embodied landscape (2018)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2018, December). Sankofa dialogues: Making things to make sense of colonial saturated embodied landscape

Sankofa is a Ghanaian symbol which represents the idea that there is no shame in going back to fetch that which you have forgotten. The symbol is of a bird looking back with a seed it its mouth. The common interpretation is that the seed represents c... Read More about Sankofa dialogues: Making things to make sense of colonial saturated embodied landscape.

What is Rastafari? History, beliefs and philosophy of the Rastafari movement (2018)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2018, October). What is Rastafari? History, beliefs and philosophy of the Rastafari movement

This talk sheds light on the core history and beliefs of the Rastafari faith, which Sobers considers to be the world's best secret. Sobers challenges some common misconceptions regarding the public perception of Rastafari culture. This talk also shed... Read More about What is Rastafari? History, beliefs and philosophy of the Rastafari movement.

Haile Selassie in exile, and life in the city of Bath (2018)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2018, October). Haile Selassie in exile, and life in the city of Bath

This talk sets the scene of the circumstances of how and why Emperor came to the UK in exile, and how he came to settle in the city of Bath.

Transatlantic slavery connections with Bath (2018)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2018, October). Transatlantic slavery connections with Bath. Presented at Transatlantic slavery connections with Bath, by Dr Shawn Sobers, Museum of Bath at Work, Bath, England

The predominant discourse relating to the South West's connections with the transatlantic slave trade tends to focus on Bristol, though Bath has got its story to tell. This public talk for Black History Month discusses the rise of Bath's economic for... Read More about Transatlantic slavery connections with Bath.

An auto-ethnographic dialogue with archive (2018)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2018, July). An auto-ethnographic dialogue with archive. Paper presented at Reframing Film Heritage, Watershed, Bristol, England

This provocation offered an analysis of a piece of photographic artwork I produced, a self-portrait inbetween two enslaved Africans. The Africans portrayed are named Jack and Delia, enslaved on a South Carolina plantation, photographed by Joseph T. Z... Read More about An auto-ethnographic dialogue with archive.

Hidden pluralities: Rastafari in the South West and the house where God lived (2018)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2018, July). Hidden pluralities: Rastafari in the South West and the house where God lived. Presented at National Conference for Religious Education Advisers, The Bristol Hotel, Bristol, England

In this keynote presentation Sobers discusses the intricacies of the Rastafari faith, how it has been underestimated as a cultural movement, and how its legacies have local, national and global significance. The paper is presented in three parts.... Read More about Hidden pluralities: Rastafari in the South West and the house where God lived.

Ethiopian echoes in the British landscape (2017)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2017, November). Ethiopian echoes in the British landscape. Paper presented at BCMCR Research Seminar, Birmingham, England

Presentation about my ongoing work and research at Fairfield House, Bath, the former residence of Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I. I discuss engagements with the site using creative media, arts and research, relationships with the local communitie... Read More about Ethiopian echoes in the British landscape.

Five corners of reggae music, and the house where Rastafari lived (2017)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2017, January). Five corners of reggae music, and the house where Rastafari lived. Paper presented at Reggae Research Network, Norwich, England

This presentation began with a personal exploration of what reggae music means to me, from the perspective of five areas of life - Cultural/ Educational, Spiritual, Political, Entrepreneurial/ Resourcefulness, and Social. It then goes on to discuss... Read More about Five corners of reggae music, and the house where Rastafari lived.

Five corners of reggae music (2016)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2016, November). Five corners of reggae music. Presented at Afrika Eye Film Festival, Watershed, Bristol

A personal exploration of what reggae music means to me, from the perspective of five areas of life - Cultural/ Educational, Spiritual, Political, Entrepreneurial/ Resourcefulness, and Social. Speech given at the Afrika Eye Film Festival, 12 Novem... Read More about Five corners of reggae music.

Hidden presence: Comparative study of visualising the presence of Black people living in Georgian era Britain – an analysis of two participatory creative history projects (2016)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2016, April). Hidden presence: Comparative study of visualising the presence of Black people living in Georgian era Britain – an analysis of two participatory creative history projects. Paper presented at What's Happening in Black British History IV, Watershed, Bristol, UK

This paper will discuss the outputs and findings of three recently completed creative history projects, which worked in participatory ways to explore and visually respond to the lives of Black people living in Georgian and Victorian era Britain. All... Read More about Hidden presence: Comparative study of visualising the presence of Black people living in Georgian era Britain – an analysis of two participatory creative history projects.

What came first, the Black or the Arts? An autoethnography (2016)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2016, March). What came first, the Black or the Arts? An autoethnography. Paper presented at Framing the Critical Decade: After the Black Arts Movement, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK

This highly personal paper will discuss what inspired me about the Black Arts Movement and the critical decade’, and how has it continued to influence my arts practice and thinking. Growing up in Bath in the 80s, leaving school in 1988 aged 16 to... Read More about What came first, the Black or the Arts? An autoethnography.

From networks to complexity - Creative Citizens project (2015)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S., & Harte, D. (2015, December). From networks to complexity - Creative Citizens project. Paper presented at DCRC Cultural Value Seminars, Pervasive Media Studio, Bristol

From Networks to Complexity: two case studies from the AHRC Creative Citizens project. From the noticeboard in the newsagent’s window to multi-layered online networks using social networking technologies, citizens are increasingly accessing networks... Read More about From networks to complexity - Creative Citizens project.

Self-portraiture and portraiture in the dialogic moment (2015)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2015, June). Self-portraiture and portraiture in the dialogic moment. Paper presented at Gender Recalled, King's College, London

This presentation will be an autoethnographic exploration of personal and public approaches to memory, reparation and reconciliation within implicit gendered contexts. Discussed will be personal art works ranging from my confessional works, activist... Read More about Self-portraiture and portraiture in the dialogic moment.

Photography and integrity - an overview (2015)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2015, June). Photography and integrity - an overview. Paper presented at Exclave 2015 and Photography and Integrity Symposium, Oxo Tower Wharf, London

To open the 'Integrity and Photography' symposium, this brief paper gives an overview of how I see integrity played out across various genres of photography. I argue that integrity is not a notion owned by documentary approaches to photography, and... Read More about Photography and integrity - an overview.

Photojournalism and ethics: In search of a peace journalism (2015)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S., & Mitchell, R. (2015, March). Photojournalism and ethics: In search of a peace journalism. Paper presented at Bristol Cable Workshop and Seminar Series, Bristol, UK

Photojournalism has long been associated with events of conflict, war and tension, and never more so than now in the age of 24 hour rolling news, and the proliferation of platforms for citizen media.  This session asks, what could Peace Photojournali... Read More about Photojournalism and ethics: In search of a peace journalism.

The suppressed majority? What does it mean to be a modern man? (2015)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2015, March). The suppressed majority? What does it mean to be a modern man?. Paper presented at Young People's Festival of Ideas, Arnolfini, Bristol, UK

Looking at critical issues affecting young people today - exploring the topic of masculinity. What is masculinity? What does it mean to be a modern man? Should gender define us? Is modern masculinity a problem? And where does masculinity fit within t... Read More about The suppressed majority? What does it mean to be a modern man?.

Walking interconnections: Case study of methods of a participatory action research project (2015)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2015, March). Walking interconnections: Case study of methods of a participatory action research project. Paper presented at Visual Social Science Network, Watershed, Bristol, UK

Discussing the methodologies and research methods of 'Walking Interconnections' - a research project that worked in the Bristol region from 2013 – 2014 using walking, conversation and creative activities as methods to trigger communication between se... Read More about Walking interconnections: Case study of methods of a participatory action research project.

Familiar ways: Vulnerable auto-ethnography in creative practice (2014)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2014, December). Familiar ways: Vulnerable auto-ethnography in creative practice. Paper presented at Family Matters, Bristol, UK

Sobers’ presentation discusses different ways the notion of family has entered his work: from the macro perspective of identity through diaspora communities through to very personal reflections relating to immediate family members and events. Showin... Read More about Familiar ways: Vulnerable auto-ethnography in creative practice.

Creative citizens: Researching the value of creative citizenship through co-creative action research (A ‘transmedia’ case study) (2014)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S., Dovey, J., Agusita, E., & Baidoo, V. (2014, December). Creative citizens: Researching the value of creative citizenship through co-creative action research (A ‘transmedia’ case study). Paper presented at Engage Conference 2014: Unlocking the Potential of Curiosity-Driven Engagement, Bristol, UK

This presentation shares the approach and findings of a case study that explored how ‘South Blessed’, an informal youth network of creative citizens in Bristol, generates value through its activities. South Blessed showcases a diversity of young, cre... Read More about Creative citizens: Researching the value of creative citizenship through co-creative action research (A ‘transmedia’ case study).

Walking interconnections: Walking in someone else's shoes (2014)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S., Porter, S., Parfitt, A., & Wheeler, A. (2014, November). Walking interconnections: Walking in someone else's shoes. Presented at Thinking Futures, MShed, Bristol, UK

'Walking Interconnections' is a research project that worked in the Bristol region from 2013 – 2014 using walking, conversation and creative activities as methods to trigger communication between self-identified disabled people and sustainability pra... Read More about Walking interconnections: Walking in someone else's shoes.

Creative citizens: Researching the value of creative citizenship through co-creative action research (A ‘transmedia’ case study) (2014)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S., Dovey, J., Agusita, E., Baidoo, V., West, T., & Chapain, C. (2014, September). Creative citizens: Researching the value of creative citizenship through co-creative action research (A ‘transmedia’ case study). Paper presented at Creative Citizens: The Conference, Royal College of Art, London, UK

This session shares the work of the Creative Citizens strand that set out to investigate the impact of informal creative networks on their communities. In Bristol we worked with the network of young people that work around the very informal South Ble... Read More about Creative citizens: Researching the value of creative citizenship through co-creative action research (A ‘transmedia’ case study).

Photography that revisits: Participatory influences in post-colonial, auto-ethnographic visual anthropology practices (2014)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2014, May). Photography that revisits: Participatory influences in post-colonial, auto-ethnographic visual anthropology practices. Paper presented at Photography and Anthropology conference - Royal Anthropology Institute, British Museum, London

My current creative practice – of a photographic discourse which revisits and moves closer into the subject after the shutter has been pressed - brings together three distinct but (for me) related areas in my educational background; BA in film & phot... Read More about Photography that revisits: Participatory influences in post-colonial, auto-ethnographic visual anthropology practices.

The bold agency of making something out of nothing (2014)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2014, May). The bold agency of making something out of nothing. Paper presented at DIY Citizenship Symposium, Bristol, UK

From slave trade tours, music videos, activist documentary and independent journalism, Bristol has a vibrant tradition of DIY culture which links creativity to civic engagement and personal and social impacts. This talk draws on a range of examples... Read More about The bold agency of making something out of nothing.

Representation of slave trade legacy in the popular culture of Bristol (2014)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2014, May). Representation of slave trade legacy in the popular culture of Bristol. Paper presented at Slave Trade Legacies - Colour of Money & Global Cotton Connections symposium, Nottingham, UK

In this talk I highlight how different people in the city of Bristol have responded to and made things in relation to the city's slave trade history. From a slavery tour, art works, animation and exhibitions, over the years Bristol citizens have soug... Read More about Representation of slave trade legacy in the popular culture of Bristol.

Cultural hybridity as the fuel of creative enterprises (2014)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S., Agusita, E., & Dovey, J. (2014, January). Cultural hybridity as the fuel of creative enterprises. Paper presented at Community Filmmaking & Cultural Diversity: Practice, Innovation and Policy, BFI Southbank London

South Blessed is a community media operation based in Bristol, specialising in Hip Hop music videos, activist documentary, and live topical debates streamed online. The editorial ethos of South Blessed is one of promotion of talent and opinion from... Read More about Cultural hybridity as the fuel of creative enterprises.

The social vocabulary of Hidden Presence: British History and the need to talk through the silence and acknowledge true stories of African presence (2013)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2013, October). The social vocabulary of Hidden Presence: British History and the need to talk through the silence and acknowledge true stories of African presence

When British spaces, rural and otherwise, are full of celebrated and re-told myths and legends – from sites such as Stonehenge through to character based fables such as Robin Hood – why do some resist to allow true stories, which are no less fantasti... Read More about The social vocabulary of Hidden Presence: British History and the need to talk through the silence and acknowledge true stories of African presence.

Hidden Presence: British history and the need to acknowledge true stories with African descendent casts (2013)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2013, September). Hidden Presence: British history and the need to acknowledge true stories with African descendent casts. Paper presented at Black History in Wiltshire Symposium, East Tytherton

British culture is full of legend and folklore, yet true stories about the Black presence in pre-20th century UK, which on the surface are even more fantastical than fiction, struggles to find a place in the historical British narrative. The functi... Read More about Hidden Presence: British history and the need to acknowledge true stories with African descendent casts.

Walking interconnections: Researching the lived experience of disabled people for a sustainable society (2013)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S., Adams, S., & Heddon, D. (2013, September). Walking interconnections: Researching the lived experience of disabled people for a sustainable society. Paper presented at Walking in the City: Mapping Borders Symposium, The Parlour Rooms, Bristol

‘Walking Interconnections’ is the name of a collaborative research project. As the name suggests, the project’s focus is on the ways in which walking, as an activity, can prompt the sharing of experiences between people. The interconnections we expl... Read More about Walking interconnections: Researching the lived experience of disabled people for a sustainable society.

Enthusiastic facilitator, reluctant anthropologist (2013)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2013, July). Enthusiastic facilitator, reluctant anthropologist. Paper presented at International Visual Sociology Association, Goldsmiths, London, UK

After 17 years of working in community media video projects as a facilitator and later as a researcher, I felt the time was right to now reconnect with my own creative practice of photography and filmmaking. As a facilitator I was ever conscious of t... Read More about Enthusiastic facilitator, reluctant anthropologist.

Re:Interpretation: The representation of perspectives on slave trade history using creative media (2013)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2013, March). Re:Interpretation: The representation of perspectives on slave trade history using creative media. Paper presented at Conservation and (Post) Colonialism Conference - Association for Studies in the Conservation of Historic Buildings (ASCHB), Museum of London, Docklands

This presentation describes the process, production and context of Re:Interpretation, a participatory media project carried out by Firstborn Creatives in partnership with the National Trust. The brief was to explore the challenging subject of transa... Read More about Re:Interpretation: The representation of perspectives on slave trade history using creative media.

Reflections on partnership working: Case Study of BBC partnership with UWE photography programme (2012)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S., Smart, D., Connolly, S., Weston, P., & McGinn, C. (2012, December). Reflections on partnership working: Case Study of BBC partnership with UWE photography programme. Paper presented at Engage 2012 - National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement Conference, Bristol Hotel

This presentation discussed the partnership that was built between BBC Bristol and the UWE photography programme, which saw students working with BBC staff on the 'More Than Words' festival, producing imagery across the city. Reflections on the succ... Read More about Reflections on partnership working: Case Study of BBC partnership with UWE photography programme.

Identity in community media (negotiating marginal positions within photographic practices) (2012)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2012, April). Identity in community media (negotiating marginal positions within photographic practices). Paper presented at Rendering the Real: Negotiating marginal positions within photographic practices, 198 Contemporary Gallery, London

Invited to discuss how notions of identity, self, and place feature for participants in community media projects, where those themes are related to the project contexts.

The business of community media: Stakeholders and sustainability (2012)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2012, March). The business of community media: Stakeholders and sustainability. Paper presented at Community Media Symposium 2012, University of Gloucestershire

I was invited to discuss the economic, ethical, pedagogic, political and other factors relating to community media activities, and their bearing on the sustainability of the businesses carrying out the work. "This interdiscplinary Symposium brough... Read More about The business of community media: Stakeholders and sustainability.

Socially engaged arts practice in the current economic climate (2010)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2010, September). Socially engaged arts practice in the current economic climate. Paper presented at Demanding Conversations, Knowle West Media Centre, Bristol

Demanding Conversations was a conference that took place at Knowle West Media Centre, Bristol on 22nd and 23rd September 2010. The conference involved practitioners, artists, policy makers, and commentators in debate about socially engaged arts pract... Read More about Socially engaged arts practice in the current economic climate.

Perspectives of slave trade history using creative digital platforms (2009)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S., & Mitchell, R. (2009, November). Perspectives of slave trade history using creative digital platforms. Paper presented at Slavery and the British Country House, London School of Economics

This presentation describes the process, production and context of Re:Interpretation, a participatory media project carried out by Firstborn Creatives in partnership with the National Trust. The brief was to explore the challenging subject of transa... Read More about Perspectives of slave trade history using creative digital platforms.

Positioning education within community media (2008)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2008, August). Positioning education within community media. Paper presented at OurMedia Conference 7, Accra, Ghana

Looking at how educational activities contribute to the broader community media sector, and discussing the impacts of involvement for young people in media arts activity.

Re-Representing rural racism through the use of community media (2008)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S., Johnson-Idan, L., Bunting, D., Rocas, V., & Watts, V. (2008, August). Re-Representing rural racism through the use of community media. Paper presented at OurMedia7 Conference, Accra, Ghana

Discussing how critical pedagogy approaches to participatory media production can enable young people co-producing the media address and negotiate complex aspects of their identities, in this instance, identities of race and culture. This paper was... Read More about Re-Representing rural racism through the use of community media.

Re-Representing rural racism through the use of Community Media (2006)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2006, July). Re-Representing rural racism through the use of Community Media. Paper presented at DIVERSE Conference, Glasgow Caledonian University

Discussing how critical pedagogy approaches to participatory media production can enable young people co-producing the media address and negotiate complex aspects of their identities, in this instance, identities of race and culture. This paper was... Read More about Re-Representing rural racism through the use of Community Media.

Young people's needs and the negotiation of community media working mainstream services (2006)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S., Thomas, H., Reid, M., Saunders, J., Mason, S., Froome, K., & Froome, D. (2006, July). Young people's needs and the negotiation of community media working mainstream services. Presented at Diverse, Glasgow Caledonian University

How young people have worked with community media projects to negotiate their life needs, working with formal and informal services.

Re-Representing rural racism through the use of community media (2006)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2006, January). Re-Representing rural racism through the use of community media. Paper presented at Politics, Race & Ethnicity Conference, Glenside Campus, University of the West of England, Bristol

Discussing how critical pedagogy approaches to participatory media production can enable young people co-producing the media address and negotiate complex aspects of their identities, in this instance, identities of race and culture. This paper was... Read More about Re-Representing rural racism through the use of community media.

Beyond Project: Working towards defining and sustaining the community media sector (2005)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S. (2005, September). Beyond Project: Working towards defining and sustaining the community media sector. Paper presented at The MacBride Report-25 Years Later A Euricom Colloquium, Piran, Slovenia

Discussing the impact of the UNESCO MacBride Report titled, 'Many Voices-One World', on the ethos and working principles of community media education, and building upon the report findings to build a sustainable community media sector.

Using digital media to enhance creative writing (2005)
Presentation / Conference
Sobers, S., Mitchell, R., & Smith, R. (2005, July). Using digital media to enhance creative writing. Paper presented at ICT Education West of England Conference, University of the West of England, Bristol

Discussing Creative Partnership case studies: 'Blueboard Creative Media Residencies' and 'Brief Consequences' as examples of embedding the use of digital media across the curriculum in primary and secondary school education to enhance creative writin... Read More about Using digital media to enhance creative writing.