archive.php

arch Inaugural Issue of Makings Journal Released

We are excited to announce the inaugural issue of the Makings Journal, Volume 2, Issue 1.  

The journal is the rebranded Creative Industries Cluster Journal (CICJ), which has previously published two issues focusing on cultural ecologies of the creative industries and practices on the margins of the cultural spaces. Although the remit of Makings has remained the same, that is, creative and cultural industries and cultures of production, we hope to broaden our base, reaching out to researchers at all levels and around the world. 

The journal is currently edited by Vincent Obia and Kateryna Sivak; two of the Centre’s postgraduate researchers.  Contributions to the new issue revolve around ‘Alternativity’, in line with the central theme for BCMCR in 2020/21. The seven articles from researchers across the UK present diverse ways how alternativity as a concept can manifest itself in varying contexts and highlight the significance of the various alternative practices for the creative and cultural industries. 

 The issue also includes a new addition to the journal, a section which we call Studio, dedicated to the publication of shorter think-pieces, observations, and experimental works in different multimedia formats. As a kick-off, in June 2021, we published the first Studio material – a video podcast that critiques the conditions of toxic/alternative masculinity in Pakistan. You can view the podcast here.

All the articles and the editorial can be found here. 

Makings would like to thank all authors for their contributions and reviewers for their time and helpful feedback. 

Ideas for the next issue are already underway. In the meantime, please enjoy Makings Volume 2 Issue 1.

archive.php

arch Recording of the launch of ‘Punk Now!! Contemporary Perspectives on Punk’ now available

archive.php

arch Recording of the ‘Craft Entrepreneurship’ book launch now available

archive.php

arch Recording of ‘Re-launch of “Makings: A Journal Researching the Creative Industries” now available

archive.php

arch Recording of Eugen Pfister’s ‘Why History in Digital Games Matters / Historical Authenticity as a Language for Ideological Myths’ now available

archive.php

arch Recording of Linda Spurdle’s Discovery, Creativity and Play now available

archive.php

arch Recording of Ellie Tomsett’s talk ‘Dr. Ellie Tomsett ( Birmingham City University) What’s the alternative – moving UK live comedy online during the pandemic’ now available

archive.php

arch Recording of Rosie White’s presentation ‘Making Fun of Feminism: As the Worm Turned’ now available

archive.php

arch Short Takes on Alternativity – BCMCR New Thinking #1 2020/21

We are pleased to announce the online publication of BCMCR New Thinking #1 for 2020/21, “Short Takes on Alternativity”, a ‘zine-style publication developed by researchers within BCMCR. “Alternativity” is our research theme for this academic year co-ordinated by Asya Draganova and Charlotte Stevens within the Birmingham Centre for Media and Media and Cultural Research (BCMCR).

As part of this ongoing project, in December 2020 we invited short written pieces that engage with the interpretation and application of the concept of alternativity in relation to a variety of media and cultural fields, experiences, research and creative practices. Involving perspectives from academics, current and former students, and media practitioners, this initiative develops and articulates the richness, breadth and critical potential of the concept of alternativity in relation to resistance, innovation, and transformation.

This edition of the BCMCR New Thinking pamphlet series presents a diverse range of topics presented through the critical yet flexible lens of alternativity. These short texts act as provocations for further exploration, capturing the work and ideas that emerge from the project.

You can download a PDF version of this pamphlet here. For more information please email Asya.Draganova@bcu.ac.uk or Charlotte.Stevens@bcu.ac.uk. For more details about the “Alternativity” BCMCR theme, to read related blog posts, to find out how to get involved, please follow this link.

Further opportunities to publish work addressing the “Alternativity” theme will be publicised on the site.

Pamphlet design work by Reuben Mount, MA Media and Cultural Studies 2020/2021.