Shades of Noir Case Study - Inclusive Resources

SHADES OF NOIR PRESENTS

THE LITTLE BOOK OF BIG CASE STUDIES.

INCLUSIVE RESOURCES

SCENARIO.

Maddie is an associate lecturer who has been teaching at the University of the Arts London for 9 years. Last year Maddie discovered an event scheduled at the UAL London College of Communication entitled Race, Religion and Free Speech.

Maddie’s tutor group had been given an assignment to make a piece of work about anti-discrimination for a charity. The work would be exhibited in a pop-up exhibition at UAL. Maddie had organised a full program of activities and group exercises to inspire student’s creative processes. In workshop spaces students had watched a number of television documentaries on aspects of discrimination such as racism, sexism and homophobia etc.

The group had made work about their peer’s countries of origins in pairs and had also brought in traditional food to share. Aside from this the students had engaged in debates and seminars about the role of advertising in society, in particular looking at Benneton’s controversial advertising campaigns regarding race and gender. The students also visited a number of spaces such as the Museum of Sugar and Slavery and the Holocaust exhibition at the Imperial War Museum. Maddie took her entire group to the networking lunch and event.

As a lecturer, I love Shades of Noir events. I love the way that the students organise them bringing in industry professionals that they are interested in. The panel are all young, talented and are making some headway in their career paths. It’s really refreshing to know how the students feel about issues. So often I am caught up in my teaching and deadlines that it is quite difficult to keep track about how my students actually feel. Until I went to an event I had no idea about the UAL is so white campaign. I was horrified when I found out as I didn’t know that the problem was that serious for students of colour! The event that I attended was so emotional with one panellist in tears. As a lecturer, I found this difficult to hear but I have thought about this since that at least I got to find out about how people are feeling!

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDENTS ATTENDING EVENTS AS A GROUP INSTEAD OF AS INDIVIDUALS?

The students felt more confident because they had already built up a certain amount of trust in their form groups.

Knowing that they knew many people in the audience made attending such events less daunting.

When the Q and A began students were more inclined to ask questions and give feedback as they had grown accustomed to doing this in their tutor groups.

For further context please also look at: shadesofnoir.org.uk/my-shades-experience-mica-schlosser

WHAT MESSAGES DO YOU THINK STUDENTS ARE SENT WHEN THEY ENGAGE IN EVENTS FEATURING PANELS OF INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS, ALUMNI CHOSEN FOR AND ORGANISED BY FELLOW STUDENTS, LIKE THE EVENTS THAT SHADES OF NOIR ORGANISE?

It empowers students understanding that they can also have a role in implementing and strategically planning what information they have access to.

It encourages students to contact and work with the industry professionals that they are interested in.

Shades of Noir collectively accesses its team of students cultural capital and shares this on a variety of different mediums. Cultural capital influences event themes and delivery of web content.

For further context please also look at: shadesofnoir.org.uk/terms-of-reference-zines

WHAT CAN BE GAINED BY LECTURERS AND SENIOR MEMBERS OF STAFF WHO ARE IN ATTENDANCE AT SUCH AN EVENT?

Lecturers and senior members of staff can engage with the cultural capital of their students in safe spaces.

Lecturers and senior members can hear about the latest issues and concerns affecting their students regarding protected characteristics.

Attendance at such events gives senior members of staff and lecturers a visibility in a different capacity to how they might normally be seen.

For further context please also look at: www.artefactmagazine.com/2016/06/21/is-ual-too-white

WHY DO YOU THINK

SAFE SPACES ARE NECESSARY WITHIN A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT PARTICULARLY ONE WITH SO MANY FACULTIES/ SITES SUCH AS UAL?

It is very easy to forget what a large institution UAL is, students can find navigating the different campuses quite daunting particularly when they do not see themselves reflected in the staff academic workforce.

Making a safe space for oppressed groups of people means that they are more likely to feel comfortable enough to contribute to discussion.

Safe spaces enable allies to gain insight into issues that other people experience.

For further context please also look at: shadesofnoir.org.uk/safe-spaces-what-are-they-and-why-they-matter

PHASE FOUR ZINES.

You can now access all of our previous Terms of Reference (ToR) Zines from Phase Three and Four on our website at:

shadesofnoir.org.uk/terms-of-reference-zines

All of our Zines are packed with informative resources that supplement our events. They are a great tool for curriculum development and/or dissertation writing! Enjoy.

Queer Bodies

Women & Non-Binary Identities

Who Am I?

Decoding Masculinity

Intersectional Film

Intersectional Film