Porridge

Interdisciplinarity: A Brief Introduction – Dr Matt Hayler

Dr Matt Hayler is a lecturer in post-1945 Literature in the Department of English Literature at the University of Birmingham. His research interests focus on e-reading, materially experimental writing, digital humanities, critical theory, technology, and embodiment. He can be found on twitter @cryurchin. Interdisciplinarity: A Brief Introduction Interdisciplinarity is a long word for a good thing….

Interview with Sophia Mann: Jewellery as Art

Words by Juliette Mann My interest in the presentation of the female form dictated my studies while reading English Literature at university. From Paradise Lost, to the war poetry of Richard Aldington, the transgressive potential of the female form as a force of solace, or as disaster, bewitched me. But how does a similar interest…

A domain focused interpretation of the Doux-commerce thesis: is commerce universally beneficial or does it, as Marx argues, just lead to exploitation? – Sam Altmann

Sam Altmann is a former philosophy student, now an economics student at Oxford interested in the economics of healthcare. London Stock Exchange via flickr. A domain focused interpretation of the Doux-commerce thesis: is commerce universally beneficial or does it, as Marx argues, just lead to exploitation? Introduction The Doux-commerce thesis is the notion that commerce,…

Does Tarantino’s use of Django, a lone, vengeful hero, offer a productive discourse in thinking about slavery in the contemporary moment? – Caitlin Stanway-Williams

Caitlin Stanway-Williams has an undergraduate degree in English Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Birmingham and is about to begin her MA in Creative Writing. So far she has specialised in surreal poetry, focusing on reworking Greek mythology in her dissertation, but is planning on developing into novel writing during her masters year. Image credit:…

‘The clankless chain hath bound thee’: An exploration of metaphysical paradox and internal opposition in Lord Byron’s Manfred, A Dramatic Poem – Sadia Pineda Hameed

Sadia Pineda Hameed is a third year English Literature student at Cardiff University whose interests include Existentialism and exploring subjectivity in film and literature. Gustave Doré, Manfred and the Chamois Hunter, 1853 ‘The clankless chain hath bound thee’: An exploration of metaphysical paradox and internal opposition in Lord Byron’s Manfred, A Dramatic Poem Much of Lord…

The relationship of astrology with Roman state religion and practices – Kathryn Shaw

Kathryn Shaw studied Drama and Classical Literature and Civilization at the University of Birmingham, and is currently following a masters programme at KU Leuven university in Belgium. She has submitted her thesis on Brussels’ Toone marionette theatre, and has an interest in popular performance. An astrological clock in Prague. The Relationship of Astrology with Roman…

An exploration of camp aesthetics in Thomas Middleton’s The Revenger’s Tragedy and Alex Cox’s 2002 film adaptation, Revengers Tragedy – Georgia Tindale

Georgia Tindale is an Assistant Editor working in Amsterdam and recently graduated with an MPhil in Renaissance literature from Cambridge. Prior to Cambridge, she studied English with Creative Writing at the University of Birmingham where she founded Porridge in her final year. She is interested in a wide range of subjects including poetry, science writing, health…

Exploring the potential for historical graphic narratives to challenge hegemony and empower the afflicted: subaltern affliction in Maus and Delhi Calm – Jessica Syposz

Jessica Syposz is a final year English with Creative Writing student at the University of Birmingham. Her interests include graphic novels, the collapse of the USSR in fiction and the relationship between history and nostalgia. She can sometimes be found writing and performing poetry and short stories. Exploring the potential for historical graphic…

How many Machiavellis? Rhetoric and dual-motivation in The Prince – Chris Rouse

Chris Rouse is a final year History and Politics student at the University of Birmingham, and starts an MA in Medieval Studies at York in September. He enjoys writing about the premodern history of politics, religion, ideas and globalism. Michael Gove has recently been dubbed ‘Machiavellian’ by many after announcing that he is running to…

Underwater Photography – Lily Rayson

Lily Rayson is an American and Canadian Studies student at the University of Birmingham. She born and bred in Birmingham and has always had a passion for art and the arts. She enjoys writing for herself, and for The Tab UK, where she has a platform to appeal to young women. She enjoys reading books that…

A discussion of time and the tragicomic experience in the works of Anton Chekhov and Samuel Beckett – Amelie Marron

Amelie Marron is a second year Drama and Theatre Arts student from the University of Birmingham whose interests include travelling, reading, films, theatre and pretty much anything art and culture related. She also runs her own personal blog (http://ameliemarron.blogspot.co.uk/) Image from Waiting for Godot, Guildburys Theatre Company, at The Electric Theatre, Guildford. April 2016. Credit: Mike…

‘A vague, uncharted nebula’: disentangling the relationship between language and thought – Greg Woodin

Greg Woodin is a second year English Language student at the University of Birmingham. His interests include psycholinguistics, phonology and pretty much anything to do with words. Howler monkeys, credit: Wikipedia ‘A vague, uncharted nebula’: disentangling the relationship between language and thought I A Divisive Issue The relationship between language and thought and the extent to…