Blackout Party, 26th February 2010

26 February 2010, 7.30pm – 1am, ‘The Tunnels’. Looks like a fun event, don’t think I can go, but it’s in aid of a good cause, so hopefully this gives a bit wider publicity to the event.  You can also follow them on Twitter.

Book Launch: Oluyinka Esan: Nigerian Television: Fifty Years of Television in Africa

On the evening of Wednesday 16th December, I attended the Nigerian High Commission for the launch of Dr Oluyinka Esan’s book Nigerian Television: Fifty Years of Television in Africa, which places a small segment of her doctoral thesis within easier reach of the public. Oluyinka doesn’t have particular contacts within the Embassy, she stressed, but felt that her work was not just her story to tell, but was very much a social history of Nigeria. Those in the Embassy were so keen that they jumped upon the chance to host the event, and invited many dignitaries, with the appropriate protocol followed throughout the ceremony (it was very much a ceremony, with the National Anthem played twice). After were some African inspired nibbles, and a chance for book-signings and networking!

Oluyinka Esan is a Lecturer in Media and Film at the University of Winchester.

“Past efforts at documenting the general history of television have tended to focus mainly on Western examples, often superficially aggregating the African experiences, when they are featured at all. A search for literature on the subject yields sparse results thus creating the impression of a void in this vast continent. This ebook offers invaluably detailed information on Nigerian television as an example of the industry in Africa. The focus on Nigeria is justified as the nation boasts the first TV station in Africa, and the largest TV network on the continent. Nigerian Television: Fifty Years of Television in Africa is both timely and strategic as Nigeria celebrates the golden jubilee of its television industry (1959 to 2009). Appreciating the challenges, role and prospects of the industry was at the very core of the author’s raison d’être for writing the text. The research effort informing the ebook has sought to capture factors shaping the encoding practices of Nigerian television in its five decades of operations.

The ebook is primarily an account collated from a range of organisational sources using ethnographic techniques. It examines the pioneering efforts, offering an insight into the use of television as a tool of governance. It shows how central television has been in this process thus revising previous views which, in their celebration of radio as the medium for social mobilisation at the grassroots, have understated the profile of television.

This is an account of a significant aspect of cultural life which should facilitate an understanding of the role of television as an important medium in the politics of a nation; especially one with such diverse identity groups and cultures as Nigeria” (Lybrary)

Forum Entry on 50 Years in Nigerian Television, by one who was there.

Journal Article by Dr Esan

Sweaters and Swimsuits: Knitting patterns as historical sources

“Old knitting patterns are easy to see as ephemeral, disposable items, artefacts of everyday life that we can see in our memory on our mothers’ laps, but that we don’t readily picture in an archive. They are produced for a very specific purpose, and are not designed to become historians’ or biographical researchers’ sources. However, cultural historians and historians of everyday life can learn from them, and can use them as windows on to their time of production. Using sport-related knitting patterns from Winchester School of Art’s Knitting Reference Library as a case study, this paper will look at what historians and biographical researchers can get from this type of evidence: both empirical evidence about disposable income, materials, technology, and household economics, and more subjective, cultural evidence about class, identity, and gender.”

Sweaters and Swimsuits: Knitting patterns as historical sources
Dr Martin Polley, University of Southampton
Friday 11th December 2009: Building 32, room 2097, 2.o0 p.m.

See Martin Polley’s blog. Martin was my PhD supervisor, and he’s written a couple of entries which reflect on the joint interest we have in posters: “In the Frame“, “Olympic Posters“

Make Do and Mend (with Oxfam)

Oxfam Chelsea invites you to “Make Do And Mend”, an all day event being held at St Mary’s Church on Saturday 28th November.

Inspired by the WW2 campaign, this event is taking the “credit crunch” head on an offering visitors an alternative way to get their fashion fix. A selection of many fantastic Oxfam pieces will be strutted up the catwalk and then auctioned off.

Expect a fun filled day with a whole host of stalls selling everything from vintage accessories to wedding dresses, as well as the “Customisation Corner” where visitors can take pieces to be customised, swap shops, an exhibition area, and live bands and DJs.

And, to top it off we have a fabulous catwalk show created from pieces kindly donated and all available for you to get your hands on in our super auction to follow.

But there is, of course, a very serious point to all of this fun and frolics. Due to the current poor economy, The Chelsea Oxfam feel as though it’s more crucial now than ever that people start taking notice of charities, who are even more in need at this time. This is a fantastic chance for you to get involved see what we do, what we believe in and how we plan to achieve our goals: How to be Humankind.

We hope that the event will raise awareness of the fashion world and how our culture engorges on disposable fashion. Long gone are the days when you would save up in order to afford a piece of good quality clothing. Now, it’s so much easier to pop into a high street discount store and purchase a cheap knock off version in exchange for a couple of pounds. And, the result is: people constantly buying and throwing away every time a new trend jumps into the spotlight.

‘Make Do and Mend’ is all about breathing life into old existing garments. Whether it be swapping them with a friend (it will feel brand new to you), cutting up an old pair of jeans you haven’t dug out the back of your wardrobe, or purchasing a garment from a charity shop – where your money will be going to a worth cause.

For more information on the event (where you can get tickets etc), ideas on how to “Make Do and Mend” and much more, make sure you keep coming back to this page, where we will be posting regularly!

Saturday 28th November, St Mary’s Church, Marylebone

Doors open: 2.pm
Catwalk show: 6.pm
Auction: 7.15.pm
Live Music 8.30 – 10.pm

** If you would like to get involved, and to volunteer your services, for this event then we’d love to hear from you. Please contact Philippa Hall (philippa_hall[at]hotmail.co.uk) or Carys Rolley (carysrolley[at]hotmail.co.uk) **

****TICKETS: AVAILABLE FROM: THE OXFAM STORE: 432 KING’S ROAD, CHELSEA OR ON THE DOOR AT THE EVENT! ****

Oxfam is a registered charity in England and Wales (no 202918) and Scotland (SCO 039042).
Oxfam GB is a member of Oxfam International

(Take from information on Facebook Event)

Birthday Boogie in the Bunker!

“The Churchill Museum and Cabinet War rooms in association with the London Swing Dance Society is proud to host the 10th anniversary celebrations of the incomparable South London Jazz Orchestra with an evening of song and dance ‘Birthday Boogie in the Bunker!’

The Cabinet War Rooms, the historic site where Churchill led Britain to victory during the Second World War, commemorates its 70th anniverary this year from becoming operational in 1939.  In November we also commemorate Churchill’s 135 birthday. Come on out on 20 November for a night of song and dance, our birthday boogie in the bunker.”

Find out more on the Imperial War Museum site.

Royal British Legion

As we approach November 11th, it seems an appropriate time to add The Royal British Legion “Twibbon” to my Twitter account avatar (for @drbexl).

The Royal British Legion safeguards the welfare, interests and memory of those who are serving or who have served in the Armed Forces. They are one of the UK’s largest membership organisations and recognised as custodians of Remembrance. They also run the annual Poppy Appeal.

The following video doesn’t want to embed, but I thought was interesting, from GMTV.