Day-long conference entitled ‘The Object of Poetry’
Discipline: History
Who: Professor Chris Whatley, with Professors Murdo Macdonald (Duncan of Jordanstone) and Murray Pittock (Glasgow)
On 26th March 2011 Dundee welcomed interdisciplinary researchers to a one-day conference. This event was the culmination of an innovative year-long AHRC-funded project, ‘Robert Burns: Inventing Tradition and Securing Memory, 1796-1909’, let at Dundee by Professor Chris Whatley. This conference aimed to widen the field of investigation by examining previously unexplored interactions between literary and material culture throughout the nineteenth century. The invited speakers presented papers relating to the commemoration of Burns, Jane Austen and even the famous engineer James Watt, allowing the multi-disciplinary project to end on a high note and with plans for future research. The project team also curated an exhibition in the new National Trust Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Ayr.
Literary Dundee
A range of events aimed at the writing community within Dundee
Discipline: Creative Writing
Who: Professor Kirsty Gunn (with Dr James Stewart and Dr Nicole Devarenne)
The creative writing team are part of the wider ‘Literary Dundee’ incentive and work to ensure engagement with the city’s writing community in a number of ways. Literary salons held throughout the year are hugely successful and draw big names in the writing world to engage, advise and discuss ideas with the wider public. The high profile Dundee Literary Festival is an annual activity bringing Dundee’s residents and visitors together with internationally renowned writers through a series of events including writing workshops and talks. The creative writing team is involved in the publication of New Writing Dundee and Dundee Writes which provide the opportunity for aspiring writers to showcase their work and encouraging new writing opportunities.