22 September 2011
'Battle-Lines: War and Conflict in Popular Texts and Images' - Saturday, 1st October
A one-day seminar exploring the representation of war and conflict in popular culture will be held at the University of Dundee next month.
The event, taking place on Saturday, 1st October, will feature contributions from academics from across the UK. Broadcaster and historian Owen Dudley Edwards will be the keynote speaker at the seminar.
A wide range of topics will be discussed, and papers covering subjects as diverse as children’s fiction and comics of the Second World War, alien invasion, propaganda, illustrated war poetry, theatre and censorship, and images of terrorism will be presented. The event coincides with an exhibition celebrating the 50th anniversary of Commando comic will open at the University that day.
‘Battle-Lines: War and Conflict in Popular Texts and Images’ is hosted by the Scottish Word and Image Group, based in the University of Dundee’s English department, and the War and Representation Network, which is based at Birkbeck in London.
Dr Keith Williams, from the Scottish Word and Image Group, said, 'The representation of war and conflict in the media is something that affects all of us and influences our understanding of both history and the world around us.
'Texts and images have been used by governments for propaganda purposes, by artists and writers seeking to further a particular view of a conflict, to inform the public of the true situation, or purely to entertain. The seminar will bring together a range of academics carrying out exciting research in various areas relating to the representation of war.
'From 'Digging for Victory' to alien landings, censorship to the highly emotive images used in connection with the War on Terror, conflict permeates the media and popular culture, and this event explores the impact this has on our lives.'
The University’s Museum Services will also be mounting a special display of artwork and writing by Dundee's Great War poet and artist, Joseph Lee. Lee played an important part in the development of popular illustrated publications in the city and beyond.
The seminar takes place at the Carnelley Building, University of Dundee from 10.20am-6.20pm on Saturday, 1st October. It will be followed by the opening of the exhibition celebrating the 50th anniversary of DC Thomson's Commando Comic, which takes place in the Tower Foyer gallery
For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277 |
