Alumni with dangerous ideas
Academics return to the Fringe to debate and discuss controversial research.
Why do we succumb to pressure to present an image of ourselves to the world? Do deaf people experience hearing loss or deaf gain? Are smart lights the future of data communications? Can the arts be used to build peace? Do you think the criminal justice system is a soft touch?
These are just some of the questions that academics present for discussion and debate as part of the Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas 2015.
Courting controversy
The first Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas programme was performed at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2013. It has since grown in scope and popularity and now includes researchers from across Scotland who tackle a range of controversial subjects in 24 interactive shows. The Cabaret takes place between the 7th and 30th August at the Stand in the Square.
Curated by the Beltane Public Engagement Network, produced by Fair Pley, and compered by the comedienne Susan Morrison; the Cabaret aims to encourage citizen participation and understanding of academic research.
View the Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas programme
The Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas doesn’t just push academics out from behind the lectern and onto the stage, but thrusts them into spotlight at the largest arts festival in the world. This offers a fantastically informal setting for a fringe-goer to debate, discuss and challenge controversial research with some of Scotland’s fiercest intellectuals.
Self portrait
The 2015 production features 14 alumni from the University of Edinburgh including a number whose careers and life experiences have informed current research and potentially dangerous thinking.
After graduating in fashion from Edinburgh College of Art in 1997 Mal Burkinshaw, worked in Italy as a designer for United Colours of Benetton before returning to Edinburgh to establish the design label, MalandLeigh, in partnership with knitwear designer Leigh Bagley. Now ECA Programme Director for Fashion, Mal’s current research explores and challenges the relationship between fashion design and body image.
In ‘Fashion and the selfie culture’ Mal discusses and debates the role that fashion plays in stereotyping ideals of beauty and asks whether empathy can ever change the strict doctrines of current beauty codes.
'Fashion and the selfie culture' on the Fringe website
War and peace
Professor Jolyon Mitchell, who completed his PhD in divinity at Edinburgh, worked as a producer and journalist for BBC World Service and BBC Radio 4 before moving into academia. Now Professor of Communications, Arts and Religion at the University of Edinburgh, Jolyon’s research is driven by the relationship between religion and the media.
In the show 'Swords into ploughshares', Professor Mitchell is joined by another graduate, feminist historian, theologian, writer and activist, Dr Lesley Orr.
Lesley’s career and thinking has been concerned with challenging domestic abuse and all forms of gender based violence and injustice including working on the Scottish Government’s National Strategy to address violence against women.
In their show Jolyon and Lesley discuss whether dangerous memories, toxic religion, intractable conflicts and gender violence be transformed by different media and arts. Drawing on a range of international, national and domestic examples they explore both whether and how ‘swords can become ploughshares’ and weapons can be transformed into art.
Weapons tell stories of harm and oppression, and our world is saturated with images of violence. In the face of conflict and suffering, the memories people carry are so often traumatic and disempowering - and sadly, so often enshrined in misbegotten myths or symbols which entrench and incite more harm. But is it possible to imagine a world not framed and defined by violence?
'Swords into ploughshares' on the Fringe website
Alumni with ideas
- Professor Heather Cubie, Bacteriology MSc, Medicine MSc. Cervical Cancer – You’re history! Aug 10.
- Yunlu Wang, Digital Communications and Signal Processing. Let’s Turn On the Smart Light. Aug 14.
- Professor Antonella Sorace, Linguistics PhD. Not so native now. Aug 15.
- Mal Burkinshaw, Fashion. Fashion and the selfie culture. Aug 17.
- Dr Jon Stone, Clinical Neurosciences PhD. The hidden world of functional disorders. Aug 19.
- Dr Lorna Street, Biological Sciences BSc, PhD. Skating on thin ice. Aug 21.
- Dr Jolyon Mitchell, Christian Ethics and Practical Theology PhD. Swords into ploughshares. Aug 22.
- Dr Lesley Orr, Philosophy and Politics MA, Divinity BD(H), Divinity PhD. Swords into ploughshares. Aug 22.
- Dr Stephen Lawrie, Psychiatry MPHIL, Medicine MD. The war on drugs is harmful. Aug 24.
- Professor Lesley McAra, Politics MA . Hug a Thug. Aug 25.
- Professor Susan McVie, Legal Studies MSc - Hug a Thug. Aug 25.
- Nicola Osborne, BSc and E-Learning - Back to the statistical future! Aug 26.
- Dr Noel O’Connell, Literature and Cultural Politics MSc - Hearing loss or deaf gain? Aug 8.
- Dr Alan Gow, Biological Sciences: Psychology BSc, MSc by Research (Psychology), PhD - The Great British Brain Off. Aug 27.
Book tickets
Tickets can be purchased on the Fringe website and cost £8, £7 concession. For more information please visit the Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas website.