Moral Economies of Creative Labour programme announced

Programme for Moral Economies of Creative Labour announced.

My abstract:

Creative labour and higher education

Noting a range of government policy reports (e.g. Creative Britain, 2009), that identify higher education as a key site in the formation and development of labour for the ‘creative economy’, this paper explores the possibilities of how creative media practice students can relate to themselves as workers in-the-making. Specific analysis addresses how students are able to articulate their passions and career aspirations alongside a recognition and responsiveness to the unethical and amoral aspects of work in the creative and media industries.

Drawing on empirical research with creative media practice students, this paper argues that extending concepts of ‘employability’ and ‘industry learning’ present ways to locate ethical concerns as relevant for students. The aim is not to overlook or dismiss the investments and understandings that students hold, but to utilize the higher education experience to locate these alongside grounded accounts of the challenges of the their future creative work contexts.

A Manifesto for Media Education contribution

Ashton, D. (2011) ‘Media industries, education and employability’, A Manifesto for Media Education, see site.

Manifesto for Media Education symposium

This symposium is part of the wider Manifesto for Media Education project which is an attempt to develop a shared understanding, some shared reasons, for media education. See http://www.manifestoformediaeducation.co.uk/

Are we seeking to develop the media producers of tomorrow, or to nurture individuals capable of holding power to account? Are we seeking to hold a looking glass up to society in order for society itself to better understand itself, or perhaps we are hoping to develop a more media literate society capable of protecting itself from evil media conglomerates?

We hope that by the end of the project we will have a better, more sustaining understanding of the purpose of what we do and that we will be able to draw on this understanding to keep us on track in the classroom and in defending and advocating our subject in the future.


Speakers

Professor Natalie Fenton, Department of Media and Communications, Goldsmiths, University of London

Professor David Buckingham,The Centre for the Study of Youth and Media, Institute of Education, London University

Professor David Gauntlett, School of Media Arts and Design, University of Westminster

Dr Julian McDougall, Newman University College, Birmingham

Jenny Grahame, Editor Media Magazine, English and Media Centre

Dr Mark Readman, The Centre for Excellence in Media Practice, Bournemouth University

Nik Powell, National Film & Television School

Andrew Chitty, Managing Director, Illumina Digital

The symposium will be co-chaired by Jon Wardle and Pete Fraser, The Centre for Excellence in Media Practice, Bournemouth University.

Book Review of Identity Crisis

Ashton D. (2011) ‘Book review of Identity Crisis (2011) Marr, L. and Forsyth, R.’

For Art, Design, Media Subject Centre (The Higher Education Academy).