The Here and Now: Thinking the Contemporary Across Disciplines

We are surrounded by institutions, markets, values, funding bodies, students, and devices that emphasise the urgency of the contemporary. But how do different disciplines, and larger interdisciplinary groupings, such as the humanities and social sciences, understand the 'contemporary', as a concept, experience, period, or problem? What is the relationship of the contemporary to the antique, historic, future, modern, Modernist, or post-modern? And to what extent are the political, economic and other agendas underpinning current emphases upon the contemporary helpful?

With these questions in mind, the Centre for Modern Studies will host, on Tuesday April 26, between 1.30pm and 5pm, an open, interdisciplinary afternoon to think about the nature and status of the contemporary across the humanities and social sciences. The afternoon will comprise refreshments and a small number of short (15-20 minute) talks from across a number of disciplines to facilitate a more extended period of open discussion.

Confirmed speakers include:

• Dr Nick Chare (History of Art)
• Dr Jonathan Eato (Music)
• Dr. Jane Elliott (English)
• Dr Nick Gane (Sociology)