TAD Postgraduate Research Forum hosted its second external speaker Dr Bernadettle Lynch, an academic and museum professional and Honorary Research Associate at University College London (UCL). Her presentation ‘Pity porn or activism for social justice? A critical look at museums and migration’ addressed issues to do with Museums in the West and approaches taken to tackle the ‘migrant crisis’ arguing that more interrogation of museums is needed to question to what extent museums are supporting migrants and the prejudice, social injustice and dislocation felt. Her presentation was supported by examples of museum practice which she used to engage with the audience and to ask for feedback. Her ongoing research considers themes related to power, decolonisation, and organisation change in the museum amongst other topics. The issues raised were particularly relevant to TAD and the agenda of the group which engages with concepts such as transculturation, hybridity and globalisation. Her presentation provoked a variety of responses from the audience. One TAD member Massimiliano Papini commented that her presentation had highlighted questions on the ways in which colonial countries have looked at the colonised in the past and how this balance has changed over time and continues to transform the discourse in a political way. He also felt it emphasised the urgent need to find other solutions to a problem which persists. Another comment came from Kahina Lelouvier who observed that although it appears there are efforts being made to be inclusive, there is still a coloniality which unintentionally reproduces power structures which was referred to in the presentation by Bernadette Lynch as “soft bigotry”.
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Professor Timon Screech is a professor of the History of Art, writer and scholar with an expertise in early modern Japan. His presentation entitled ‘From the Gate to the Railing: Changing Iconographies of Power in Japan’ focused on the iconography of power in Japan and how it drastically changed during the Meiji Era. Prof. Screech looked specifically at the transition from the monumental gate that hid the shogun’s residence, and consequently the shogun itself, to the railing that, conversely, invited the people to see inside freely. This pivotal change was due to the decision by the Japanese ruling class to reinvent their monarchy, following European examples. Japan's attempt to be in line with the European hegemonic model articulated the common TAD subjects such as cultural difference, transculturation, and hybridity. Fascinatingly was to negotiate how all these diverse cultures perceive the same thing differently, what meanings and definitions they attribute to such visual element and how they treat [it] in terms of use, and most importantly how 'railings' constitute a 'visual marker' of different identities. The topic of the talk was particularly aligned to the TAD group agenda, in particular to concepts such as transculturation, hybridity, and globalisation; in other words, how two or more different cultures interact with each other. Quoting two of the attendees: "Although the topic was specific to Japan, I was interested in how different perspectives consider the complexity of culture and in relation to transculturation. My own research contexts relate to Zimbabwe and South Africa, in which I am using postcolonial concepts such as 'hybridity'. The intersection of our combined themes as a group engaging in critical dialogue led to some interesting and thought-provoking discussions on the challenges involved in the use of cultural references (visual and written), sources, and writing. I found the presentation and discussion that came from it really beneficial." Hayley Mardon, PhD Northumbria "Listening to Professor Timon's presentation regarding the 'railings' in ancient Japan and their developments over the course of different dynasties, in terms of structure, purpose and accordingly their significance and value, encouraged me directly relate to the railings of my own cultures which are Belarusian and Jordanian. This was certainly relevant to my own research study as it deals with T-shirt [s] from around the world, which also considered a visual object subjected to numerous interpretations and capable of negotiating, presenting, and reflecting different notions of identities." Rima Darras, PhD Northumbria The Prof. Screech arguments were clearly explained and accessible to a variegated audience, not only Japanese Studies researchers, as he was happy to give a brief overview about the history of Japan and the peculiarity of the Japanese monarchy. Moreover, his methodology can be used as an example of how to develop a visual culture research in relation to social and political aspects.
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