I’ve not updated this blog for a while, as my time is being poured into school work, grant applications and various projects (The DC Mic Check, the Free School–an exciting project, so more to come on that). However, I sorely miss journalistic writing since stepping back from a few publications (see drop down menu above), so I plan to start publishing more on here and for a broader audience. So, watch this space.

As of now, I’m preparing to give papers at two conferences:

Title: “God Loves You and It Gets Better!” Ideology, deixis and agency in an anti-homophobic bullying viral campaign
Conference: Lavender Languages, American University, Washington DC, 15-17 February.

Title: “Why Does This Happen?” Mash-ups, militarism and anthropology
Conference: Society for Anthropology of North America (SANA), Uncertain Futures, Durham, N. Carolina, 14-16 March.

I may well publish the papers online, depending on what my supervisors believe is wise, but will certainly feedback on them here.

I was part of the “Open Media” team running documentary nights at Manchester University 2006-08. They provided a great social / educational atmosphere for local activists to get together. Over the summer, I’m starting up a DC branch of the group (it’s still going strong in Manchester!)

With The DC Learning Collective, I’m now running a fortnightly screening and discussion, hosted by Peace House. We’re bringing in guest speakers and directors, and hopefully will work towards documentary production sessions in the future.

Click on image to the left for the full July schedule.

Latest short film, a mix of experimental and documentary work in response to incidences of brutal and bloody acts of war, committed by so-called “rogue soldiers”… Hmm.

Click here for the full version (5 mins).

 

Since November, I’ve been part of the team that set up a local, independent, activism-focused newspaper in Washington D.C. born out of the Occupy DC encampment. We’re still going strong after seven months, and have received printing support from unions. Issue seven is on the way…as soon as we can
reach our funding target (donations are always welcome!).
The website is ticking over though, and you can follow us here.

I’m now contributing to the independent film streaming site BuskFilms as a columnist. The film content there is of an impressive quality and the site was set up to promote lesbian / feminist filmmaking that is not widely available in the mainstream. In an effort to build a community around the content and themes addressed in the films, I’m blogging once a fortnight on a variety of themes. I’m enjoying the chance to be lighthearted (well, to an extent). Here’s the content so far:

- On Rick Santorum and the Republican Presidential Candidate selections
- On the Academy Awards
- Interview with an Egyptian lesbian film fan

Further posts will be linked to on the Writings page.

I first worked with Lydia for my MA dissertation research and later had the pleasure to work with her to bring her first play, How I Became An Asylum Seeker to stage, and later to screen.

She and her husband, Bernard Batey, both fled Cameroon in 2006 after being imprisoned and tortured for their outspoken opposition to the government. They have been tireless and inspiring activists for asylum seekers and refugees in the UK since their arrival. Their home was raided this week and though an injunction has been put in place so that Bernard will not be deported immanently, he remains in detention.

The fight for their safety goes on. Please follow their case and support where you can, just by registering your opposition: http://www.rapar.org.uk/