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Research & Expertise

Research in the Department of Interdisciplinary Humanities brings together internationally recognised scholars working across the arts, humanities and social sciences to address some of the most pressing cultural, political and intellectual questions of our time.

Our research is distinguished by its collaborative, cross-disciplinary character and by a commitment to developing new approaches to current global challenges. By bringing diverse areas into conversation, we generate new frameworks for understanding contemporary social and cultural change.

Research in the Department explores how identities, communities and cultural forms are produced, contested and transformed across different historical periods and geographical contexts. We investigate the relationships between power, knowledge and representation, examining how cultural practices shape public life and how they are shaped in turn by economic, political and technological change. Our scholars engage with issues ranging from urbanisation, inequality and climate change to media transformation, cultural memory and social justice.

Research excellence is closely integrated with our teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Students benefit from exposure to cutting-edge scholarship and participate in intellectually vibrant research communities through seminars, workshops, public events and collaborative projects. Our postgraduate researchers play a vital role in departmental life, contributing to an interdisciplinary environment that encourages innovation, critical thinking and engagement beyond the academy.

Expertise

Expertise

We are a hub for ground-breaking interdisciplinary work in and around the humanities.

Penelope's Web: myths for the modern age

Dr Emily Pillinger explores how contemporary music can transform our understanding of mythology by giving voice to Penelope, a character from Homer's Odyssey. Informed by Margaret Atwood's retelling, the Penelope's Web project developed operatic scenes through workshops with school pupils, university students, singers and a weaver, breathing new life into a story that has been told for thousands of years. This research shows the value of cultural exchange and shows why the best tales last the test of time.

penelope statue (shutterstock) feature

Propaganda in action: recognising political messaging

Dr Daniel Mandur Thomaz traces the impact of US Cold War propaganda in Brazil, showing how the delivery method is just as powerful as the message. This notion of 'propaganda-spectacle' informed workshops for Brazilian teachers, which aimed to enhance their understanding of how 20th century propaganda influences political messaging today. These workshops supported teachers to design classroom activities that help pupils to engage critically with historical materials and stay alert to propaganda in the digital age.

brazil propaganda (alan fisher) feature

Discover more research in the Department of Interdisciplinary Humanities

Projects

Projects

Discover current and past research projects in the Department of Interdisciplinary Humanities.

Publications

Publications

Browse publications from our academics from across the arts, humanities, and social sciences.

Events

Events

Come along to our lectures, seminars and workshops to learn more about our research and expertise.