Published 10.11.08

The sphere of the arbitrary

A Professor of Literature and Cultural History in the 21st century is caught between two propositions about her field.

Is she working within a definition of culture as Matthew Arnold proposed it: "to make the best that has been thought and known in the world current everywhere; to make all men live in an atmosphere of sweetness and light", or is Raymond Williams correct to say that "Culture is ordinary"?

The current political context is one in which discussions around culture, education and arts policy are caught between an apparently egalitarian appeal to widening access and a cultural discourse of 'excellence' - these are two competing and conflicting aims.

Balanchine and the Elephants provide a case study from which to address the opposition between populism and élite culture. Balanchine is a figure of modernist dance who belongs to the realms of high art - but as he, Stravinsky and a troupe of dancing elephants demonstrated in 1942 - the opposition is one that cannot easily be sustained, but which can cheerfully be collapsed.

Deborah Philips is Professor of Literature and Cultural History in the School of Language, Literature and Communications at the university. Her work is engaged with the relationship between literary categories and everyday life and has focussed on feminist theory and popular culture. She was a founding member of Women's Revie and is the author of Writing Romance:  Post-war Women's fiction 1945-2005 (Continuum, 2006), and with Ian Haywood of Brave New Causes: Post war Popular Fictions for Women, (Continuum,1998). She has also written Writing Well: Creative Writing and Mental Health (Jessica Kingsley, 1999), with Liz Linington and Debra Penman. She is currently completing a monograph on the genres of carnivals and pleasure grounds and is developing research into world fairs and tourism.

Balanchine and the Elephants: the sphere of the arbitrary
Thursday 11 December 2008 at 6.30pm
Sallis Benney Theatre
University of Brighton
Grand Parade
Brighton BN2 0JY

Light refreshments will be served after the lecture.

All welcome - if you would like to attend please email events@brighton.ac.uk.