Inequalities and Alternativity in the Creative Industries

Dr. Dave O’Brien (University of Edinburgh) Covid culture is bad for you

This talk presents research on inequalities in cultural and creative industries, in the context of the ongoing Coronvirus pandemic. Building on analysis discussed in Culture is bad for you, the paper updates key themes of inequality In the workforce and in the audience for culture, along with the most recent analysis of social mobility into key cultural and creative industries. Whilst long term impacts are uncertain, the continuities within patterns of inequality are striking. Despite government rhetoric of ‘building back better’, and sector and practitioner hopes for a rejection of pre-pandemic ‘business as usual’ in our unequal creative occupations, the likelihood is of continued, and perhaps accelerating inequalities at the centre of contemporary culture.

Dr. Francesca Sobande (Cardiff University) By Us, For Us? Past and Present Black Feminist Publishing Narratives and Routes

From zine-making to creating independent publishing houses, throughout history, Black women have found routes that enable them to autonomously communicate their perspectives and share their Black feminist creative and campaigning work. The ascent of social media and online content-sharing platforms in recent decades has generated publishing avenues that are often deemed to be more democratic than traditional press and print pathways. The rich history of Black feminist publishing has led to present-day digital forms of ‘do it yourself (DIY)’ and ‘do it together (DIT)’ publishing, including the proliferation of first-person online essays and video blogs (vlogs). This session maps parts of the legacy of Black feminist publishing in Britain and the broader Black press history that it is part of. There is exploration of opportunities and challenges involved in Black women’s contemporary publishing via digital terrains, such as tensions between how independent Black feminist writing and cultural production can gain recognition online, yet, in ways that can result in the harassment of Black feminists and the fueling of mainstream media activity which lacks a Black feminist position. Considering past and present examples of Black feminist publishing in Britain, this session examines how and why such approaches have changed.