In response to the Ashmolean Museum’s Love Bites exhibition, Dr Naomi Wolf, author of among other books The Beauty Myth and Give Me Liberty: A Handbook for American Revolutionaries, and a graduate of Yale University and New College, Oxford, will be discussing how censorship and homophobia in early Victorian society had a tremendous impact on literature and art, including the development of subversive cartoonists such as James Gillray.

SURREALISM, noun, masc., Pure psychic automatism by which it is intended to express, either verbally or in writing, the true function of thought. Thought dictated in the absence of all control exerted by reason, and outside all aesthetic or moral preoccupations.

An extract from Les Champs magnétiques (1920):

It was the end of sorrow lies. The rail stations were dead, flowing like bees stung from honeysuckle. The people hung back and watched the ocean, animals flew in and out of focus. The time had come. Yet king dogs never grow old – they stay young and fit, and someday they might come to the beach and have a few drinks, a few laughs, and get on with it. But not now. The time had come; we all knew it. But who would go first?

Join us for something a little bit different. Tonight, we will play games using techniques pioneered or popularised by the surrealists, creating collaborative poetry and other works where we will try and free ourselves from imaginative constraints and habits. Leave your rational (and sane) mind at the door.

Twenty minute talk, one hour discussion. Free entry, no need to book, all welcome.

Blackwell’s are thrilled to be welcoming Deborah Harkness to celebrate her All Souls Trilogy. Beginning in the present with A Discovery of Witches, and then travelling through time in Shadow of Night, historian and witch Diana Bishop and vampire scientist Matthew Clairmont return to the present in The Book of Life to face new crises and old enemies. At Matthew’s ancestral home in France they reunite with their families – with one heart-breaking exception. But the real threat to their future is yet to be revealed, and when it is, the search for the elusive manuscript Ashmole 782 and its missing pages takes on a terrifying urgency. Using ancient knowledge and modern science, from the palaces of Venice and beyond, Diana and Matthew will finally learn what the witches discovered so many years ago.

Join DEBORAH HARKNESS author of the hugely successful ALL SOULS TRILOGY, as she launches the paperback of the No 1 Sunday Times and No 1 New York Times bestseller and third book in the series, THE BOOK OF LIFE. Deborah returns to Oxford where the books also begin and will talk about and answer questions on all things All Souls. Come and meet her for a lovely evening of wine and conversation.

In conjunction with The Angus Library and Archive’s exhibition ‘Virtue and Vice and All Things Nice,’ Prof. Anne Dunan-Page will be joining us to speak about the representation and legend of English writer and preacher, John Bunyan from the 17th century onward.

Anne Dunan-Page is Professor of Early-Modern Studies at Aix-Marseille University (France) and President of the International John Bunyan Society.

Join us for a talk and book signing given by Simon Wroe, author of the Costa Award nominated Chop Chop. Simon will be talking his book and his experiences, as well as offering help and advice to anyone wishing to become a published writer themselves.

Simon’s talk will kick-off at 7:30pm, but please come along earlier (we have the room booked from 6pm) if you’d like to grab some food and pre-talk drinks. There is a small entry fee of £3 to help cover expenses.

Simon Wroe is a freelance journalist and former chef. He writes about food for Prospect magazine, art and culture for The Economist and has contributed articles and features to a wide range of publications including Private Eye, Intelligent Life, The Times, The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Independent and The Evening Standard. Simon is 30 and lives in London. CHOP CHOP is his first novel and was shortlisted for the 2014 Costa First Novel Award.

This event is being hosted by The Oxford Writers’ Circle. You don’t need to join the group to come along, but please check us out on Meetup for access to many more writing and literary themed events. http://www.meetup.com/The-Oxford-Writers-Circle/.

About Chop Chop

Outrageously funny and completely original, Chop Chop by Simon Wroe is the story of a hapless young chef in the crazed world of the professional kitchen, featuring lust, revenge, neurosis and haute cuisine.

Two months behind on his rent, young graduate Monocle swallows his dreams and takes the only job he can find: the lowest-rung chef in a gastropub in Camden. Here he finds himself surrounded by a group of deranged hoodlums (his co-workers) and at the mercy of an ingenious sadist (the head chef, Bob). What follows is a furiously-paced, ribald, raucous and unexpectedly touching tale of loyalty and revenge, dark appetites and fading dreams, and a young man finding his way in the world as he is plunged into the fat and the frying pan and everything else besides.

Praise for Chop Chop

* * * SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2014 COSTA FIRST NOVEL AWARD * * *

‘Wroe depicts the literal underworld of a restaurant kitchen with wit, vigor and gleeful, necessary profanity’ The New York Times

‘A greasy, hilarious tale of loyalty, revenge and dark appetites. A gripping look behind the kitchen wall’ Shortlist

‘Perfectly baked [with] a rich, gooey pool of dark comedy hiding beneath the surface’ Independent

‘Lively, amusing and alarmingly informative’ Daily Mail

‘Arch comedy … Dave Eggers channels Anthony Bourdain’ Kirkus

‘Twisted, surprising and above all genuinely funny’ William Sutcliffe

‘Raucous and inventive, peopled with technicolour characters and savagely funny’ A D Miller

‘A complete page-turner. Reminiscent of Kitchen Confidential but with an entirely fresh voice’ Thomasina Miers

‘A brutally funny look at the world of professional cooking’ Gary Shteyngart

‘Furiously funny, fast, surreal’ Anya von Bremzen

In conjunction with The Angus Library and Archive’s exhibition ‘Virtue and Vice and All Things Nice,’ Dr Hannah Field will be presenting a talk on early children’s literature.

Dr Field is a lecturer in English at the University of Lincoln and completed her DPhil at the University of Oxford in 2014. Her research interests are the literature and material culture of the nineteenth century, book history, and children’s literature.

For more information visit http://theangus.ox.ac.uk

Co-hosted with the Oxford Finance Society and the Oxford University Engineering Society.

Technology has changed rapidly in the last 30 years; in order to survive businesses have had to evolve or otherwise face extinction. As technology has moved from fax machine to smart phone, businesses are constantly forced to adapt in order to take advantage of the latest technological advancements. Here to discuss the changing nature of technology and its impact on business, The Oxford Forum has invited four experienced and qualified speakers on the issue to debate the subject; Zahid Khan will chair a panel consisting of Mitchel Lenson (Non-Executive Director of Nationwide Building Society), Vikram Nair (President of Europe for Tech Mahindra) and Haydn Jones (Account Managing Director of Fujitsu UK and Ireland). For further information on all of the speakers please visit the link below:

http://www.oxfordforum.org/termcard/2015/4/29/the-oxford-forums-technology-in-business-panel-debate

After the panel debate, you will have the chance to converse and dine with all four of the speakers in a more private setting. Dining tickets are limited to 30, and include a three course meal with wine in Pizza Express’ private dining room at the Golden Cross. This is an exclusive networking opportunity. Dinner will start at 8:00 p.m. and finish at 10:00 p.m.

To purchase the dining ticket, please visit the link below:
http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-oxford-forums-technology-in-business-panel-debate-dinner-tickets-16533731837

Unlocking Archives, a series of lunchtime talks about current research in Balliol College’s special collections

‘A Medieval Coursebook? Diagrammatic annotations in Balliol College MS 272’

Balliol’s manuscript no. 272, a copy of the pseudo-Ciceronian Rhetorica ad Herennium, contains layers of diagrammatic annotations, added at various points during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. This paper will outline what we can learn about medieval educational methods from such diagrams, as well as illustrating how these diagrams relate to the broader traditions of rhetorical study in the Middle Ages.

Irene O’Daly is a Research Associate at the John Rylands Research Institute, University of Manchester. Predominantly interested in the intellectual history of the central Middle Ages, she is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin and the University of Cambridge, and has recently finished a postdoctoral fellowship at Leiden University, where her research focussed on the use of diagrams in the study of medieval rhetoric.

All welcome! Feel free to bring your lunch.

The talk will last about half an hour, to allow time for questions and discussion afterwards and a closer look at some of the Balliol books discussed.
All Unlocking Archives talks take place at Balliol’s Historic Collections Centre, St Cross Church, Manor Road OX1 3UH (next door to Holywell Manor).
Map & directions: http://archives.balliol.ox.ac.uk/Services/visit.asp#f

The speakers (OCLW visiting scholars) will present their current life-writing projects, and discuss the use of archives and memoirs in life-writing, and alternative methods of writing biographies.
John Bak: ‘Editing Tennessee Williams’ Ur-Memoirs’
Lorraine Paterson, ‘Global Exile: Tracing a Life of Deportation from French Indochina.’
Jennifer Cooke, ‘The New Audacity: Contemporary Women’s Life Writing and the Politics of Intimacy’

During a speech in 1957, Prime Minister Harold MacMillan declared “our people have never had it so good”. Now, more than half a century later, are we fundamentally any better off? Through discussion of technological advances, social changes, political reforms, and economic shocks and recessions, this panel will seek to question whether the world we currently live in is indeed a better place than it was in the 1950s.

Chaired by Professor Brian Nolan, Professor of Social Policy, the panel will consist of:

*Dr Max Roser, James Martin Fellow at The Institute for New Economic Thinking at the Oxford Martin School
*Dr Anders Sandberg, James Martin Fellow at the Future of Humanity Institute
*Professor Robert Walker, Professor of Social Policy

A drinks reception will follow, all welcome.

Do you want to learn something new?

The Knowledge Project offers affordable evening courses in exciting subjects. Our classes are taught by specialists in small, friendly groups and open to all. The coming term is set to be our busiest schedule yet, packed with new courses and some old favourites. All courses will be held in the comfortable setting of Oxford International College, taught by passionate and talented postgraduate students. As always, our proceeds will be donated to local children’s charity Jacari. You can find out more about our relationship with Jacari here.

Introduction to Novel Writing. Mondays 6-7.30, 11th May – 29th June. £80

Our flagship course covering all the key aspects of novel writing: voice, world-making, perspective and of course endings and beginnings. No experience necessary!

We are also offering courses in:

Introduction to Contemporary Art. Thursdays 6-7.30, 14th May – 2nd July. £80

This course is for anyone who loves art (or would simply like to understand what the new Tate Modern exhibition is all about. You’ll cover: performance, feminism, land art, conceptual art, appropriation and globalisation. The course is discussion led so come with questions and opinions!

What is Feminism? Tuesdays 6.30-8pm, 12th May – 30th June. £80

This fantastic new course – developed by the talented Monique Ma-Velous of Sydney University (Gender Studies) and University of Oxford (Creative Writing) – explores what it means to be a feminist in today’s world.

Creativity. Tuesdays 7-8.30, 12th May – 30th June. £80

This new and innovative course explores how creativity makes us happy, even replacing the job of therapy, and what the right creative medium is for each individual person.

Positive Psychology. Saturdays 10-11.30, 16th May – 4th July. £80

This new course looks into the popular topics of positivity and resilience. Why are some people more resilient than others and how can we increase our resilience? Why are some people more optimistic and is it possible to make ourselves happier?

Premium: Introduction to Shakespeare. Fridays 7-8.30, 14th May – 2nd July. £150
This premium course will help you to discover the world of the Bard in six discussion based classes and two outings to local plays. With the aid of a passionate postgraduate student, discover the double meanings within Shakespeare’s plays and why this playwright is still so loved today.

To enrol simply visit our website, select the course you would like to follow and fill in an enrolment form. Your space will be confirmed upon payment. Be sure to stay up to date with all of our goings on by visiting our Facebook page and feel free to contact us with any further questions.

Javier Cercas, novelist and essayist, is one of Europe’s most distinguished contemporary writers. His works, which have been translated into more than twenty languages, include the acclaimed, Soldados de Salamina (Soldiers of Salamis, 2001), which was made into a film by David Trueba in 2003, La Velocidad de la Luz (The Speed of Light, 2005), Anatomia de un Instante (The Anatomy of a Moment, 2009) and Las Leyes de la Frontera (Outlaws, 2012). He has won numerous literary awards, including the Independent’s Foreign Fiction Prize, and Spain’s National Narrative award. He is currently a Professor of Spanish Literature at the University of Girona, and a columnist for El Pais. His work, which is highly politically engaged, troubles the borders of history and fiction, as it explores the Spanish civil war, or the legacies of fascism. In this sequence of lectures Javier Cercas will reflect on the nature of the novel as a genre, including discussions of The Anatomy of a Moment, as well as works by Vargas Llosa, Cervantes, Melville, James and Kafka. The final lecture will address the question of whether it makes sense to talk about intellectuals nowadays.

‘The Third Truth: Parts 1 and 2’ will cover the nature of the novel as a genre, both from a historical and theoretical point of view, and include a discussion of The Anatomy of a Moment.

Javier Cercas, novelist and essayist, is one of Europe’s most distinguished contemporary writers. His works, which have been translated into more than twenty languages, include the acclaimed, Soldados de Salamina (Soldiers of Salamis, 2001), which was made into a film by David Trueba in 2003, La Velocidad de la Luz (The Speed of Light, 2005), Anatomia de un Instante (The Anatomy of a Moment, 2009) and Las Leyes de la Frontera (Outlaws, 2012). He has won numerous literary awards, including the Independent’s Foreign Fiction Prize, and Spain’s National Narrative award. He is currently a Professor of Spanish Literature at the University of Girona, and a columnist for El Pais. His work, which is highly politically engaged, troubles the borders of history and fiction, as it explores the Spanish civil war, or the legacies of fascism. In this sequence of lectures Javier Cercas will reflect on the nature of the novel as a genre, including discussions of The Anatomy of a Moment, as well as works by Vargas Llosa, Cervantes, Melville, James and Kafka. The final lecture will address the question of whether it makes sense to talk about intellectuals nowadays.

‘The Third Truth: Parts 1 and 2’ will cover the nature of the novel as a genre, both from a historical and theoretical point of view, and include a discussion of The Anatomy of a Moment.

Siddhartha will be reading from his books of poetry, Kalagora and Digital Monsoon, showing clips from his theatre work and film, as a way into exploring the relationship between memory, imagination and globalised environments. He will reflect on how the very idea of writing lives in the 21st century, of creatively using memory and imagination, are being renegotiated in radical ways in contemporary thought and aesthetic practice.

Catherine Gallagher from Berkeley will give a talk on A Tale of Two Cities and the History of Modern Revenge as part of the Victorian Research Seminar series at the Faculty of English Language & Literature

Led by Hermione Lee, Elleke Boehmer, Rebecca Abrams, Kate McLoughlin and Jacob Dahl, this full-day workshop will focus on the challenges contradictory accounts about their subjects’ lives pose to life-writers. £70 (£55 unwaged). For more details & to register please visit http://www.oxforduniversitystores.co.uk select ‘Oxford Centre for Life-Writing’ under Product Catalogue, & ‘Workshops’.

Maarten De Pourcq (Radboud University Nijmegen) will present a paper on the links between Classics, the First World War, and the Rise of Flemish Culture.
Followed by Q & A and refreshments.
Free, all welcome. no booking required.

Having seen the election results unfold, the topic of political strategy and communication is as relevant as ever in highlighting the ways in which politicians and organisations seek to influence public opinion and shape political debate. The Oxford Forum welcomes you to the Political Strategy Panel Debate to discuss the challenges faced, and the solutions provided, in devising an effective communication strategy.
This event will be co-hosted with the PPE society and the Journal of Political and Constitutional Studies.
Following the debate, we will be having dinner with the speakers in the private dining room of Christ Church. Tickets are available to purchase at
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/oxford-forums-political-strategy-speaker-dinner-tickets-16819258856
It is an unmissable opportunity to engage more directly with the speakers!

Javier Cercas, novelist and essayist, is one of Europe’s most distinguished contemporary writers. His works, which have been translated into more than twenty languages, include the acclaimed, Soldados de Salamina (Soldiers of Salamis, 2001), which was made into a film by David Trueba in 2003, La Velocidad de la Luz (The Speed of Light, 2005), Anatomia de un Instante (The Anatomy of a Moment, 2009) and Las Leyes de la Frontera (Outlaws, 2012). He has won numerous literary awards, including the Independent’s Foreign Fiction Prize, and Spain’s National Narrative award. He is currently a Professor of Spanish Literature at the University of Girona, and a columnist for El Pais. His work, which is highly politically engaged, troubles the borders of history and fiction, as it explores the Spanish civil war, or the legacies of fascism. In this sequence of lectures Javier Cercas will reflect on the nature of the novel as a genre, including discussions of The Anatomy of a Moment, as well as works by Vargas Llosa, Cervantes, Melville, James and Kafka. The final lecture will address the question of whether it makes sense to talk about intellectuals nowadays

‘Vargas Llosa’s Question’ will discuss reflections on Vargas Llosa’s masterpiece, The Time of the Hero, and the core of his literary, moral and political thinking.

Javier Cercas, novelist and essayist, is one of Europe’s most distinguished contemporary writers. His works, which have been translated into more than twenty languages, include the acclaimed, Soldados de Salamina (Soldiers of Salamis, 2001), which was made into a film by David Trueba in 2003, La Velocidad de la Luz (The Speed of Light, 2005), Anatomia de un Instante (The Anatomy of a Moment, 2009) and Las Leyes de la Frontera (Outlaws, 2012). He has won numerous literary awards, including the Independent’s Foreign Fiction Prize, and Spain’s National Narrative award. He is currently a Professor of Spanish Literature at the University of Girona, and a columnist for El Pais. His work, which is highly politically engaged, troubles the borders of history and fiction, as it explores the Spanish civil war, or the legacies of fascism. In this sequence of lectures Javier Cercas will reflect on the nature of the novel as a genre, including discussions of The Anatomy of a Moment, as well as works by Vargas Llosa, Cervantes, Melville, James and Kafka. The final lecture will address the question of whether it makes sense to talk about intellectuals nowadays

‘The Blind Spot’ will be a discussion of novels and short stories that put irony and ambiguity in their centre and constitute a tradition of the novel, ranging from Don Quixote to Moby Dick, The Trial and The Leopard.

New College Chapel presents Paradise Lost: a staged reading of Milton’s epic poem in 3 parts, directed by Professor Elisabeth Dutton (Fribourg), featuring new settings of Milton’s hymns by the Organist, Robert Quinney, and anthems by Byrd, Weelkes and Purcell. There will be a pre-performance talk by Dr Will Poole on Friday 22nd May, 7.15, in the Conduit Room.

Wed 20 May: Books 1-4, The Parliament in Hell
Thurs 21 May: Books 5-8, The War in Heaven
Fri 22 May: Books 9-12, The Fall
Each part can be viewed individually.

Tickets on the door: £10/£5 students; £25/10 for all 3 nights. All proceeds will go to Sight Savers, who work to treat and prevent blindness in the developing world.

This symposium offers an innovative and exciting ‘coming together’ of language teachers and teachers of the creative arts, asking the questions:
What does creativity mean to me? What do I do about it as a teacher? Why does it matter?
It will offer exciting new ideas for teaching language through dance, poetry, art and play; and will give participants opportunities to share and try out creative teaching ideas that connect language with other ‘intelligences’.
The plenary speakers are world-class creative educators both within and beyond the TESOL profession, including Jean Clark (dance educator), John Daniel (poet), Charlie Hadfield, Jill Hadfield, Chris Lima, Alan Maley, Amos Paran, Rachel Payne (art educator), Rob Pope, Jane Spiro and Nick Swarbrick (specialist in children’s play).

Fees include gourmet Friday evening meal & Saturday tapas lunch for all delegates.

New College Chapel presents Paradise Lost: a staged reading of Milton’s epic poem in 3 parts, directed by Professor Elisabeth Dutton (Fribourg), featuring new settings of Milton’s hymns by the Organist, Robert Quinney, and anthems by Byrd, Weelkes and Purcell. There will be a pre-performance talk by Dr Will Poole on Friday 22nd May, 7.15, in the Conduit Room.

Wed 20 May: Books 1-4, The Parliament in Hell
Thurs 21 May: Books 5-8, The War in Heaven
Fri 22 May: Books 9-12, The Fall
Each part can be viewed individually.

Tickets on the door: £10/£5 students; £25/10 for all 3 nights. All proceeds will go to Sight Savers, who work to treat and prevent blindness in the developing world.

Javier Cercas, novelist and essayist, is one of Europe’s most distinguished contemporary writers. His works, which have been translated into more than twenty languages, include the acclaimed, Soldados de Salamina (Soldiers of Salamis, 2001), which was made into a film by David Trueba in 2003, La Velocidad de la Luz (The Speed of Light, 2005), Anatomia de un Instante (The Anatomy of a Moment, 2009) and Las Leyes de la Frontera (Outlaws, 2012). He has won numerous literary awards, including the Independent’s Foreign Fiction Prize, and Spain’s National Narrative award. He is currently a Professor of Spanish Literature at the University of Girona, and a columnist for El Pais. His work, which is highly politically engaged, troubles the borders of history and fiction, as it explores the Spanish civil war, or the legacies of fascism. In this sequence of lectures Javier Cercas will reflect on the nature of the novel as a genre, including discussions of The Anatomy of a Moment, as well as works by Vargas Llosa, Cervantes, Melville, James and Kafka. The final lecture will address the question of whether it makes sense to talk about intellectuals nowadays

‘The Man Who Says No’ will discuss reflections on the public role of the intellectual nowadays.

Cyclox and the Oxford Pedestrians Association (OxPA) will be welcoming representatives of the bus companies that serve Oxford to a meeting to discuss the relationship between bikes, buses and pedestrians on the city’s busy streets.

Richard Mann, an Oxford-based transport and liveable cities consultant, will open the meeting with a presentation on how to make an excellent bus network and lead a discussion with contributions from Phil Southall of the Oxford Bus Company and Martin Sutton of Stagecoach.

There will be plenty of opportunities for questions and discussion from the floor, which will make for a very interesting event for anyone interested in how we move around our city. This is a public meeting so please come and add your voice to the debate.

C.S. Lewis is best-known for his Narnia Chronicles and works of Christian apologetics such as Mere Christianity and The Problem of Pain, but he was professionally a literary critic and literary historian with carefully thought out ideas about the imagination and its function. Dr Michael Ward will give two talks, looking at Lewis’s understanding of imaginative creativity, first in theory and then in practice. Metropolitan Kallistos, who has spoken and written on Lewis in relation to Orthodoxy’, will reflect on Lewis’s Christian faith.

Amy Hollywood (Harvard) delivers a series of lectures on “The real, the true, and the mystical” in Oxford.

Amy Hollywood : The Unspeakability of Trauma, the Unspeakability of Joy: The Pursuit of the Real at the Turn of the Twenty-first Century