Ruth Rikowski's 47th News Update

Hope everyone had a good summer.

We spent time in both Suffolk and Bangor, which was all very lovely! Then, the rest of the summer was spent doing lots and lots of sorting!

Anyway, my newsletter this quarter consists entirely of new entries to our ‘Flow of Ideas’ website, apart from one item about my ‘Serendipitous Moments’ blog.

So, happy reading!!


1. ‘CAPITORG: EDUCATION AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE HUMAN IN CAPITALIST SOCIETY’ – PAPER GIVEN BY GLENN RIKOWSKI AT THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF CREATIVE ARTS AND MEDIA IN DUBLIN IN MAY 2011, AND NOW AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE
‘Capitorg’ by Glenn Rikowski is now on our website, and here is what Glenn says about it:

“This paper is my first writing, relating to my first public appearance (apart from seminars / lectures with my own students), for three years – apart from the eulogy for my father’s funeral (written on 21st February 2009).

Furthermore, Dublin was only my second trip outside the UK in 32 years; so in many respects it was something special for me. It felt a bit like the first leg of a ‘comeback’ tour!

I would like to thank the people in the Praxis & Pedagogy group at The Graduate School of Creative Arts and Media (GradCam) in Dublin for inviting me (especially Glenn Loughran). They were wonderful hosts.

The paper was completed in London at breakneck speed (during the ‘marking madness’ season) on 23rd May 2011, and was delivered to an audience at The Graduate School of Creative Arts and Media, in Dublin, on 25th May. It was revised on 27th May, went through further editing and proof reading on 6-7th September, and was finally posted to The Flow of Ideas on 8th September 2011.

The full reference and link to the paper is:
Rikowski, G. (2011) Capitorg: Education and the Constitution of the Human in Contemporary Society, A paper prepared for the Praxis & Pedagogy Research Seminar, The Graduate School of Creative Arts and Media (GradCAM), Dublin, Ireland, 25th May 2011, available online at ‘The Flow of Ideas’: http://www.flowideas.co.uk/?page=articles&sub=Capitorg

Note: the paper reads better if you click onto the ‘Print Friendly’ option at the end of the page.

The tremendous flyer for the event can be viewed at:http://www.gradcam.ie/glenn_rikowski.pdf

Praxis & Pedagogy
The group is convened by Glenn Loughran, artist, activist, and PhD Scholar at the NCAD and GradCAM. Other members include John Buckley (NCAD/GradCAM), Edia Connole (NCAD/GradCAM), Susan Gill (DIT/GradCAM) and Thomas McGraw-Lewis (DIT/GradCAM).
The group convenes Wednesdays bi-weekly.

For more information on joining the Praxis & Pedagogy seminar series, and/or related activities see http://www.gradcam.ie or email the group at praxis@gradcam.ie
Praxis & Pedagogy is at: http://praxispamphlet.wordpress.com/”
Written by Glenn Rikowski

2. ‘REPORT ON MONTESSORI’ BY JONATHAN FRANCE

This report on the Montessori Method was written by Jonathan France, one of Glenn’s students, in his final year in Education Studies at the University of Northampton. Jon France graduated with a First in Education Studies and Politics in summer 2011. He also came to my book launch for ‘Digitisation Perspectives’ earlier in the year, which was very nice. This report is now in the ‘Contributions’ section of our website.

The report was written as a short assignment for the Adventures in Educational Theory & Practice module (EDU3028) that Jon studied during the 2010-2011 academic year.

France, J. (2010) Report on Montessori, 30th November, Education Studies, School of Education, University of Northampton, online at ‘The Flow of Ideas’:http://www.flowideas.co.uk/index.php?page=contributions&sub=Report%20on%20Montessori%20-%20Jonathan%20France

3. 'SCHOOL CULTURE AND 'FEAR OF A BLANK PLANET' ' BY DISHI PHILLIPS

This essay was written by another of Glenn’s students - Dishi Phillips. Dishi also got a 1st in summer 2011 in Education Studies and Psychology, and she wrote this when she was a final year student in Education Studies at the University of Northampton. This essay is now in the ‘Contributions’ section of our website.

It was written as an assignment for the Education, Culture & Society module (EDU3004) that Dishi studied during the 2010-2011 academic year.

Phillips, D. (2011) School Culture and Fear of a Blank Planet, an essay written for EDU3004 ‘Education, Culture and Society’, Education Studies, School of Education, University of Northampton, 10th January, online at ‘The Flow of Ideas’: http://www.flowideas.co.uk/?page=contributions&sub=School%20Culture%20and%20Fear%20of%20a%20Blank%20Planet%20-%20Dishi%20Phillips

4. 'EDUCATION AND BONUS CULTURE' - BY BRIANNA HABERMAN-LAWSON

Here is an essay written by another of Glenn’s students - Brianna Haberman-Lawson, who also got a 1st in summer 2011. She wrote this when she was a final year student in Education Studies at the University of Northampton. This essay is now in the Contributions section of our website.

It was written as an assignment for the Education, Culture & Society module (EDU3004) that Brianna studied during the 2010-2011 academic year.

Haberman-Lawson, B. (2011) Education and Bonus Culture, an essay written for EDU3004 ‘Education, Culture and Society’ module, Education Studies, School of Education, University of Northampton, 10th January, online at ‘The Flow of Ideas’:
http://www.flowideas.co.uk/index.php?page=contributions&sub=Education%20and%20Bonus%20Culture

5. ‘COMPETITION AND MARKETS IN EDUCATION’ – BY BRAD DYMOND

This is an essay written by Brad Dymond (another of Glenn’s students) when he was a final year student in Education Studies at the University of Northampton. He also got a 1st in summer 2011, in Education Studies and Economics. This essay is now in the Contributions section of our website.

It was written as an assignment for the Education, Culture & Society module (EDU3004) that Brad studied during the 2010-2011 academic year.



Dymond, B. (2011) Competition and Markets in Education, an essay written for EDU3004 ‘Education, Culture and Society’ module, Education Studies, School of Education, University of Northampton, 10th January, online at ‘The Flow of Ideas’:http://www.flowideas.co.uk/index.php?page=contributions&sub=Competition%20and%20Markets%20in%20Education%20-%20Brad%20Dymond

6. ‘RAGE: WRITERS CHANGE THE WORLD’ BY VICTOR RIKOWSKI
http://www.flowideas.co.uk/print.php?page=396&slink=yes

An essay that our middle son, Victor Rikowski wrote during his final year at Bangor University is now available on our website. It is entitled ‘Rage: writers change the world’(leading on from the original question which was ‘Do certain theatrical productions challenge social injustice? Of so, then how?’). The essay (written for an English Literature module) looks at various political plays and the effect that these can have or not have on society. As Victor says in his opening sentence of this essay:

“The six theatrical productions that this essay shall explore are those which use a wide variety of dramatic techniques to challenge various social injustices.”

And Victor concludes his essay powerfully in the following way

“ ..there is little doubt that all of the plays cited in this essay have posed some kind of challenge against social injustice. The social and political end to which these challenges are aiming for or could even be capable of within the sphere or radical social and political change is something that, perhaps, remains to be realized. However, it is a solid fact that no work of art has ever created or inspired any kind of lasting and substantial political change and it is likely that it never will. Of course, there is always the argument that raising political and social awareness is a political and social means to an end in itself. However, sometimes this argument of ‘cultural change’ is simply not enough. After all, cultural change is a temporary and fleeting decoration upon the giant scale of corruption involved with elements like capitalism, war, poverty, power and exploitation. In the face of these demons that cover the globe, what significant threat can a relatively small theatrical production with a moral conscience pose? As seen at the end of Ravenhill’s S & F when the characters feed each other ready-meals, the only thing we truly have is each other. In the face of the modern world and all of its problems, whether the issues are the financial crisis, war, poverty or whatever concerns us, there is one thing that unites us all which political theatre gives inspiration to and helps to resurrect: the hope for better days. You only get one life after all, and this hope is one of our strongest weapons against social injustice. All that remains now is to use it.”

Victor really enjoyed this ‘Rage’ course and obtained a 1st for this essay.









7. REVIEW OF ‘LIBRARIES AND SOCIETY’ by RUTH RIKOWSKI
I recently reviewed ‘Libraries and Society’, edited by David Baker and Wendy Evans and this is now on our website, at:
http://www.flowideas.co.uk/print.php?page=395&slink=yes

This is another Chandos book, published earlier this year (2011). I also went to the book launch for the book that was held at CILIP HQ.
Further details about ‘Libraries and Society’, along with information about how to order the book, can be found on the Woodhead/Chandos Publishing website at:
http://www.woodheadpublishing.com/en/book.aspx?bookID=2030&ChandosTitle=1

8. ‘SERENDIPITOUS MOMENTS’ BLOG – ‘The Moment’, ‘15 Female Professors’ and ‘Learn to Sing’
http://ruthrikowskiim.blogspot.com/

There are 3 new items up on my ‘Serendipitous Moments’ blog. A blog about Douglas Kennedy’s latest book, ‘The Moment’ – a great read. Also, a link to an article entitled ’15 of the First Female Professors in History’, and an entry about singing lessons.



Best wishes


Ruth


30th September 2011


N.B. Thanks to Jasmine Hall for informing me about the article ’15 of the First Female Professors in History’ (see item 8 above) and many thanks to all those that contributed to our website.