Tag: History
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Beyond the Beads and Feathers: Unpacking the Subversive Potential of Carnival in the Atlantic World
Beyond the colour and conviviality, Carnivals have served as a means for participants to challenge oppression through performance. Angela Davis explores the history of this tradition and the sociocultural changes it has driven.
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The History of Sex, Scandal and Society: Betwixt the Sheets with Kate Lister
In “Betwixt the Sheets”, historian Dr Kate Lister takes listeners on a journey of sex, scandal, and society throughout history, whilst tackling themes that are incredibly pertinent today. Naomi Wallace shares her review of the podcast.
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On John Berger’s Ways of Seeing
John Berger’s seminal text, “Ways of Seeing”, remains a critical work in the study of art, five decades after its publication. Georgia Smith provides an insightful discussion of his discourse on the “male gaze” and the spectator-subject relationship.
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Stories From St Conall Cael’s Handbell
How many stories can one object hold? Verity Limond reveals what a medieval Irish handbell can tell us about everything from monastic life to international trade connections.
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A Dark Comedy: The History of Blackface in Minstrel Shows
‘The Black and White Minstrel Show’ was a popular BBC series that featured performers in blackface singing American minstrel songs. Sam Marks explores the racist origins and history of minstrel shows and explains how and why these traditions ended up in the UK.
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Making Good Use of Bad Rubbish: What Studying the Past Teaches us About Sustainability
From mudlarks to rag-and-bone men, jobs which involve the collecting of discarded materials have been commonplace through British history. Verity Limond discusses how the practice of re-use might be adapted to help us live more sustainably in the present-day.
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The Ancient Roman Origins of Pizza
The pizza we know and love today has come a long way from the vegetable-topped meal cakes enjoyed by Aeneas. Fiona MacRae discusses the ancient origins of this popular dish.
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Changing Altitudes: The Impact of the Tobacco Industry on the Prohibition of In-Flight Smoking in the US
Prior to 1988, smoking was permitted on all commercial aircrafts. Kat Jivkova discusses the health studies which led to its ban and the pro-tobacco campaigners who sought to delay it.