*** Thought this might be of interested to some Magnetic Ideals followers and members!

Since its description by Hans Asperger in 1944, it has often been suggested that individuals on the autistic spectrum lack, or have an impaired, sense of humour.  This alleged humourlessness has been challenged in recent decades within the academic literature (e.g. Lyons & Fitzgerald 2004, Samson 2013) but it is still a pervasive myth.  Moreover, the work of people such as the U.S. comedy troupe Aspergers Are Us and the UK based performer Cian Binchy suggests a strong and distinctive comic voice within the autistic/aspie community. Importantly, these performers use comedy as a mode of self-representation, and thus contrast strikingly with other representations of autism in popular comedy. Both The Big Bang Theory and Derek have been criticised by some for their representation of autistic characters (Sheldon and Derek, respectively) despite the writers’ firm assertions that those characters do not have the condition. In this way, such representations are implicated in questions of authorial intention and the ethics of, to use Kaite O’Reilly’s term, ‘cripping up’.  Further questions arise when looking at the use of humour in applied theatre contexts – many drama interventions for autistic children use humour, but there is little research on how much this component contributes to the positive effect of the work.

The organisers of this conference welcome papers on any of the symposium themes with possible topics including, but not limited to, the following:

• Autism and humour comprehension/appreciation/production
• The ethics of the representation of autistic people in comedy (e.g. The Big Bang Theory, Derek, Community)
• Relaxed performances as a method of opening up comic theatre
• Disabling humour vs. disability humour and autism
• The use of humour in interventions for autistic children
• Political humour and the claims of the neurodiversity movement

Please send an abstract of around 300 words, along with a short biography, to Shaun May ats.r.may@kent.ac.uk by Tuesday 1st November 2015

Confirmed invited speakers include Prof. Michael Fitzgerald (TCD), Kelly Hunter (Author of Shakespeare’s Heartbeat: Drama Games for Children with Autism) and Cian Binchy (performer and writer of The Misfit Analysis) with more to be announced.

This symposium is part of BA/Leverhulme funded project, Comedy on the Spectrum: Exploring Humour Production with Adolescents with Autism. For more information about the project visit www.autismandcomedy.com.

We are extending our deadline to the 13^th October for submissions to the (in)Visibility Issue of ‘Critical Studies’.

Critical Studies is an interdisciplinary journal of the humanities, dedicated to critical studies broadly construed. It is an annual, open access, peer-reviewed print and digital publication, and functions both as a traditional academic journal and as an annual report of the activity of the Critical Studies Research Group, a postgraduate community based in University of Brighton’s School of Humanities.

Access all articles and the full journal online here: http://www.criticalstudies.org.uk/journal.html

Call for Papers Issue 2: (in)Visibility

Politics has been diversely theorised as the making visible what is invisible, as the uncovering what is covered up, as the giving voice to the mute, as the inclusion of those excluded into the regime of the perceptible. Secrecy is typically connected to the state and its agencies operating in the shadows, or to the police order and its suppression of the voices of the marginalised and abjected. Valuable, powerful, and potent though such theorisation may be, it leaves unanswered the question of the value that may lie in remaining, precisely, invisible, of keeping off the radar, of staying underground, for radical activism, artistic performance, and alternative politics.

Critical Studies welcomes papers on these and related topics from a broad range of disciplines, both research papers and non-conventional forms of presentation related to the issue topic. We encourage transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary contributions.

Deadline for submission 13^th October 2015

Full Call for Papers, style and submission guides available here: http://www.criticalstudies.org.uk/call-for-papers.html

All enquiries to: CriticalStudiesResearch@brighton.ac.uk

Kind regards,

Heather McKnight

Critical Studies Research Group

University of Brighton

https://uk.linedin.com/in/hmcknight

Grub ‘n’ Mushroom Tandem Talk @ Onca, September 9, 6pm. Free admission, donations welcome.

As part of Lost & Found, two artists and freecyclists are cycling around the Sussex Downs to discuss neonicitinoids with farmers and local food producers. Hear about their journey!

Pollination, Pesticides and Politics: a public debate with Professor Dave Goulson and PAN-UK @ The Brighthelm Centre, September 11, 7-9pm. Book your place here.

Join Onca and Pale Blue Dot for a controversial and lively discussion on the agro-chemical industry, farming and the changing landscape.

Lost & Found Printmaking Workshop with Primitive Print artist Stephen Fowler @ Onca, September 12. Book your place here.

Fancy making cool bee-themed fast art? Onca is hosting 2 printmaking workshops with Stephen Fowler and scientists from The Buzz Club, Sussex University. Morning session (10am) for families and children; afternoon session (2pm) for adults. Don’t miss out!

Digi-Fears Part II: Help! Evil Digital Forces Are Trying To Control My Messy Body! @ Onca, September 26, 2-4.30pm. Free admission, limited places. Book here.

Join artists Lorenza Ippolito and CiCi Blumstein plus guest speakers and artists to explore gaming, SeriousPlay, binary thinking, performative embodiment, 3-D printing, the digitisation of nature and the body, and whatever else might spill out of the OH-ONE box…

For more information visit www.onca.org.uk or call 01273607101

Critical Studies is an interdisciplinary journal of the humanities, dedicated to critical studies broadly construed. It is an annual, open access, peer-reviewed print and digital publication, and functions both as a traditional academic journal and as an annual report of the activity of the Critical Studies Research Group, a postgraduate community based in University of Brighton’s School of Humanities.

Access all articles and the full journal online here: http://www.criticalstudies.org.uk/journal.html

Call for Papers Issue 2: (in)Visibility

Politics has been diversely theorised as the making visible what is invisible, as the uncovering what is covered up, as the giving voice to the mute, as the inclusion of those excluded into the regime of the perceptible. Secrecy is typically connected to the state and its agencies operating in the shadows, or to the police order and its suppression of the voices of the marginalised and abjected. Valuable, powerful, and potent though such theorisation may be, it leaves unanswered the question of the value that may lie in remaining, precisely, invisible, of keeping off the radar, of staying underground, for radical activism, artistic performance, and alternative politics.

Critical Studies welcomes papers on these and related topics from a broad range of disciplines, both research papers and non-conventional forms of presentation related to the issue topic. We encourage transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary contributions.

Deadline for submission 1^st September 2015

Full Call for Papers, style and submission guides available here: http://www.criticalstudies.org.uk/call-for-papers.html

All enquiries to: CriticalStudiesResearch@brighton.ac.uk

Human Rights – What would you change: a participatory installation with sound and chalk.

11:00 – 17:00 tues – fri
10:00 – 18:00 sat – sun

Come to the ‘it is what it is’ Pop up shop and explore our current bill of Human Rights through chatting, writing and sound making. What would you change? What new rights might you add or what rights would take away? This is your chance to have your say!

We will be running 2 workshops for young people in the Rights Room at 4.30-6.30 Tues 21st and Weds 22nd of July. Work with professional sound and inclusive artists to collaborate on a new bill of rights and soundscape, which will form the exhibition that will run for the rest of the week.
 
Pop in any time to see the installation as it evolves.

Book your place for the workshops now, as they are limited:
BYC 01273 681368 – Office open 10:30 – 18:00 office@brightonyouthcentre.org.uk info@distantanimals.com

Facebook Events Page

It Is What It Is Venue Page for Updated Photos and Info

What is the Course?

The course is ideal for individuals working in or for the community interest who are just starting out as trainers, or those with some experience who would like to learn more and refine their practice and become reflective pratitioners.

The course runs over two full days, during which time attendees will get practical experience in delivering training and get feedback on how to develop in practice.  It will focus on how people learn in training sessions, how reflective practice as a trainer, how to evaluate your sessions, creating a positive environment for training, and dealing with challenges that may occur in training sessions.  There will also be a brief introduction to training resources for designing your own training programmes.

The course is assessed on day two when attendees give a short training session and get feedback from the rest of the group, a certificate of completion will be issued to each attendee.  Attendees will also be signed up as members of the Magnetic Ideals Training Network where they can share best practice with other developing trainers and receive invites to skills sharing sessions.

When is the course?

The course runs over two days on the 5th and 6th March from 9.30am – 4.30pm at the Bridge Community Education Centre, Brighton.  Lunch and refreshments will be provided.  To book a place please email heather@magneticideals.org

Pricing

While may local courses charge £400 – 500 or upwards for a Train the Trainer courses we have kept the prices as low as we can.  If you have multiple people wanting to attend from your organisation please get in touch to see if we can offer a discounted rate.

To book your place please email Heather McKnight: heather@magneticideals.org

If you are unsure of which rates apply please contact heather@magneticideals.org payment must be received before booking can be confirmed.

* Magnetic Ideals does not provide training for corporations

** As well as keeping our prices low we reserve two free slots per training session for community groups with no paid staff as part of our ongoing commitment as a social enterprise to build capacity in smaller organisations, who may not always be able to access training.  These are allocated on a first come first serve basis.