Debut for degree show

16/07/04

Debut for degree show

The doors have opened on the University’s first ever Humanities Degree Show. Hundreds of University staff and students headed for the week-long exhibition last month, keen to see the best work produced by students during the year.

Subjects showcased at a series of events organised by Dr Meg Jensen and Anna Kiernan ranged from creative writing and journalism to English literature and languages. Highlights included the joint presentation of short dramas and documentaries made by film studies students alongside digital media projections from the media and cultural studies field. Elsewhere, the Reg Bailey Theatre was filled to capacity for three consecutive nights as second year drama students performed their latest play, Shakers. Posters, poetry, websites and weblogs created by students from each area were also on display throughout the week.

Creative writing student Jonathan Willock, who read his work publicly for the first time, said it had been exciting to be given the opportunity to have one of his stories interpreted by people other than his coursemates. “It was really rewarding to be able to show students from other parts of the University what we have been doing,” he added. “I enjoyed meeting people from different courses and finding out about their degrees too.”

Dr Jensen said the show, which is set to become an annual event, had raised the School of Humanities’ profile around the University. “It demonstrated just how much effort is put in by staff and students during the course of the year,” she said. Co-organiser Ms Kiernan believed knowing their work was going to be exhibited had given the students added incentive to excel. “The show also increased their appreciation of their peers’ efforts in other fields,” she added.