2021-22 SotA Anthology 2021-22 | Page 3

FOREWORD

Professor Peter Buse , the Dean of the School of the Arts welcomes readers to this year ' s anthology . Peter joined the University in this role in September 2018 following a distinguished career teaching and publishing in the fields of critical and cultural theory , modern drama , film and photography studies .
The School of the Arts is the creative and cultural hub of the University of Liverpool , its research and teaching ranging from the built environment to the performing arts , by way of English , media and philosophy . This Anthology collects together some of the best student work from the School , produced by students on undergraduate and postgraduate degrees across the School ’ s five Departments : Architecture , Communication and Media , English , Music and Philosophy .
In it you will find inventive architectural schemes , with special attention paid to sustainability ; incisive analysis of the mediated world in which we live ; thoughtful and perceptive readings of literary and musical texts ; and rigorous philosophical investigations . Especially notable in this year ’ s Anthology is the variety and quality of creative work being produced by students in all of our Departments . This includes architectural design and music production and recording , but also creative writing , game design , and brilliant graphic and photographic work . Every contributor to this Anthology has had their education and their lives severely disrupted by the pandemic , but it is incredibly heartening to see that it has not quenched their imagination – quite the opposite !
Students in the subjects in the School of the Arts have learnt how to critique the world around them , but in their creative outputs they are also showing a great appetite for shaping that world . Some of the great talent nurtured by the School was on display in June in the first ever School of the Arts Show , held in the stunning new Tung Auditorium in the Yoko Ono Lennon Centre . It is also on show in this Anthology , attractively and professionally designed by its skillful editors , Liam , Heather , Hannah , and Oliver . Among their many excellent innovations , the editors have included this year some of the feedback from lecturers on the work you are reading – an important reminder of the academic staff who have supported and encouraged students throughout their degrees .
For her support of the editors , and for her vision in setting up the SOTA Show , I ’ d also like to thank here Dr Kerry Traynor .
SCHOOL OF THE ARTS 2021 / 2022
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