The University of Brighton’s Material History Research Excellence Group brings innovative scholarship and practice from across disciplines in the arts, design and media to consider ways in which engagement with cultures and their artefacts can elucidate, vocalise and respond to a range of contemporary social and environmental challenges.
Drawing on a broad membership to include students, archivists, practice-led researchers and cultural-historical analysts, the Material History REG has formed with the overarching intent to defy easy binaries at every level. Besides reassessing items traditionally prized and assigned cultural importance, such as art works and archives, our work also urges the re-evaluation of ephemeral items, those made with less thought for value or longevity, including magazines, printed adverts, personal documents, embroidery, film slides, and garments.
Our researchers’ distinctive approaches include innovative and creative engagement with historic and contemporary artefacts and the media cultures that drive their acceptance and popularity. This generates fresh research perspectives, underpinning and complementing work with historian and archivist colleagues across the university.
If you are interested in working with us, please contact the lead: Professor Tamar Jeffers Mcdonald [email protected]