Material and Visual Cultures in Past and Present Workshop at Utrecht University
Colleagues from CAL’s Centre for Material Cultures and Materialities, traveled to the Netherlands to take part in a workshop with the Religious Matters network
On Monday 8 September, five colleagues from CAL’s Centre for Material Cultures and Materialities, traveled to the Netherlands to take part in a two-day workshop with colleagues in the Religious Matters network at Utrecht University. The bespoke workshop involved fourteen colleagues in total and introduced CAL colleagues to those working in History, Art History, Religious Studies and Anthropology at Utrecht.
The workshop explored what we can learn from the material aspects of human interactions – objects, food, bodies and texts – and how these tangible aspects help people to construct meaning, sustain power, express beliefs and engage in violent conflicts. Each participant in the workshop presented their research and benefited from discussion by the other participants. The conversations were insightful, illuminating and generous, seeing colleagues stretch across disciplines to make connections and pursue curiosity. It showed the possibilities for further collaboration on questions of belief, materiality, agency, the senses, conflict, ambiguity and resistance.
Huge thanks to colleagues Dr. Erik Meinema and Dr. Lucien van Liere who helped organise the event.
The visit was made possible funding from Birmingham International Engagement Fund.