When asked to write about my ‘coming out story’ shortly after taking up the position of PVC at Swansea University eight years ago, my immediate response was to ask ‘which one?’ I have perhaps been lucky, I never needed a big coming out event. Being gay is something I have always taken for granted andContinue reading “Coming Out and Coming Out Again”
Category Archives: Society
Another Tragedy for Armenia
My partner and I have been passionate about Armenia for many years. We love Armenian music, Armenian art and architecture, the romance of the Armenian church, everything about Armenia, its history and its people. It is with great sadness therefore that we have been watching the news over the last week or so and seeingContinue reading “Another Tragedy for Armenia”
Learning from the Chaos of 1919-1923
I have been reading Robert Gerwarth’s The Vanquished on the recommendation of a friend. We had been talking about some of the reading I have done recently focused on the Caucuses and Eastern Turkey and how I had come to realise that my knowledge of what was happening in this part of the world followingContinue reading “Learning from the Chaos of 1919-1923”
Walking Across Paris
Walking in Paris is a very different experience from walking in London. Above all there is less obvious difference and contrast within Paris, or at least within the centre of Paris. Normally, I would travel by Metro, but on my last trip, to visit the exhibition of a sale of some of Hélène Leloup’s collectionContinue reading “Walking Across Paris”
On Reading Dalrymple, Christians and the Middle East
I have just finished reading William Dalrymple’s From the Holy Mountain. I have to say that it was one of the most depressing books that I have read in a long time. The book outlines Dalrymple’s journey from Mount Athos through Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Egypt to the Coptic necropolis of Bagawat in theContinue reading “On Reading Dalrymple, Christians and the Middle East”
Africa, A Cry from the Heart
I am always very reluctant to treat Africa as a single space. There are too many differences and subtleties across the continent, even in so-called sub-Saharan Africa, for any generalisation to make sense. I am also very reluctant to present Africa, or Africans, as victims, or as living hard or difficulty lives. I would notContinue reading “Africa, A Cry from the Heart”
Self, Myself, and I
I had the honour recently of attending a roundtable conference hosted by an ex-PhD student at the Buddahpadipa temple in Wimbledon in recognition of his recent appointment as Abbot. It was a very inspiring event in which monks alongside lay members and visitors to the temple were all asked to reflect on four questions thatContinue reading “Self, Myself, and I”
Reflection on Some Waves of African Scholarship
I have been reading three books recently, all of which have reminded me of something I knew perfectly well, but like so many others, had actually forgotten. Alongside the independence movement across Africa there was a flourishing of confident African writing, both literature and scholarship that began to have a significant impact well beyond AfricaContinue reading “Reflection on Some Waves of African Scholarship”
Walking Across London
There is something wonderful about walking through a city. Don’t get me wrong, I love walking, full stop, rural or urban. However, there is something about walking in a city that is unique. There is also something extra special about walking in London, I am not sure what it is, but the intellectual heritage ofContinue reading “Walking Across London”
The Future of Queer
Tasmin Spargo wrote a wonderful little book, back in 1999 tracing the relationship between Michel Foucault’s work and what was then current queer theory. It is an excellent analysis, tracing the positive and negative aspects of Foucault’s work on queer theorists writing at the end of the last century. That, however, was over twenty yearsContinue reading “The Future of Queer”
Martin Stringer Quartet 