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new free-to-view article by Oliver Davis: 'Neoliberal capitalism's bureaucracies of "governance"'

The account of bureaucracy under neoliberal capitalism which I present in this article, under the innocuous heading it prefers to use to describe itself (‘governance’), draws together recent critical work by the late David Graeber, Wendy Brown, William Davies and Pierre Dardot and Christian Laval, which it repositions in relation to Jacques Rancière’s conception of the ‘police order’. I suggest that the massive production of insecurity by proliferating bureaucracies which structure neoliberalism’s project of competitive hierarchisation creates the ideal conditions for a vicious circle of securitarian inflation. To read the full article click here


New article: Kate Astbury and Diane Tisdall, ‘Sonorising « La Forteresse du Danube » : Functions of music in Parisian and provincial melodrama of the early nineteenth century’

The combination of spectacle and elaborate scenery, orchestra and obligatory dance number made early nineteenth-century French melodrama expensive to produce and, consequently, the genre is strongly associated with the Parisian boulevard theatres. Provincial performances required creative solutions, not least because the music composed for – and central to – the Paris performances remained in manuscript form and was not, therefore, distributed automatically to regional theatres, whereas the play text was printed and widely available. This means that different scores existed for the same play, opening up the possibility that provincial audiences were presented with a different concept of melodrama to Parisians. Using as a case study La Forteresse du Danube (1805) by self-proclaimed leading exponent of the genre, Guilbert de Pixerécourt, this article will explore how comparing scores through performance-led research can further our understanding of the changes needed to make a Paris hit performable in the provinces.

For more, see Studi francesi, 191 (autumn 2020), pp. 248-360.


Jim Shields discusses France’s elections and government reshuffle

Professor Jim Shields discussed Macron’s government reshuffle and presidential reset in the France 24 Debate and News; he gave interviews to the Colombian daily Portafolio and online news site The Local (here and here) and had columns published in the Spanish daily La Razón on France’s municipal elections, rounds one and two.



New LinkedIn page for languages students and alumni

We've now got an SMLC LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13877964

The hope is that it will allow languages alumni to share their experiences of professional life after Warwick with fellow alumni and to offer advice and tips to current students. Join now!


video message for finalists

Head of School Kate Astbury has an end of term message for finalists. You can listen to it here: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/modernlanguages/news/img_5704.mp4

We'll provide details of a virtual celebration of the end of term and of degree results in due course.

Stay safe, stay in touch and have a good summer.


video message for intermediate students

Head of School Kate Astbury has an end of term message for intermediate-year students. You can listen to it here: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/modernlanguages/news/img_5703.mp4

We gathered together some ideas for keeping up language learning for our offer holders but many work for more advanced linguists too - take a look: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/modernlanguages/applying/offerholder

Stay safe and have a good summer.


video message for first years

Head of School Kate Astbury has an end of term message for first years. You can listen to it here: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/modernlanguages/news/img_5702.mp4

We gathered together some ideas for keeping up language learning for our offer holders but many work for more advanced linguists too - take a look: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/modernlanguages/applying/offerholder

We'll provide more suggestions of preparatory reading for year 2 in due course.

Stay safe and have a good summer.


Jim Shields discusses Brexit and political events in France

Professor Jim Shields gave interviews to the Colombian daily Portafolio and to France 24 on Brexit, Rachida Dati’s Paris mayoral bid and the Fillon fraud trial.

Fri 28 Feb 2020, 14:35 | Tags: French - News

Jim Shields discusses the latest in France’s pension reform impasse

Professor Jim Shields made appearances on France 24 television to discuss President Macron’s strategy and moves to resolve the pension reform impasse in France.

Wed 22 Jan 2020, 14:03 | Tags: French - News

Jim Shields discusses the pension reform battle in France

Professor Jim Shields made appearances on France 24 television to discuss President Macron’s pension reform plan, the nationwide strikes in protest and the battle for public opinion over these contentious reforms. 

Wed 18 Dec 2019, 14:18 | Tags: French - News SMLC News

French Society: LWS Night Shelter appeal

The French Soc is supporting the Leamington Night Shelter (LWS) this Christmas. there will be a box in the TRC where you can put items. For information about what to give, please see: https://www.lwsnightshelter.org/shopping-list

Thu 28 Nov 2019, 10:20 | Tags: French - News SMLC News Arts Faculty


Professor Ingrid De Smet has been admitted as a member of the Academia Europaea

Professor Ingrid De Smet has been admitted as a member of the Academia Europaea (Section of Literary and Theatrical Studies). The Academia Europaea (formed in 1988) is the pan-European academy of science, humanities and letters, with a membership of over 3800 eminent scholars, drawn from all countries of Europe, and all disciplines, nationalities and geographical locations.


Multiple awards success for SMLC students and staff

Students and staff from across Warwick SMLC completed a clean sweep of Warwick awards.


Jim Shields discusses political developments in France

Jim Shields discusses political developments in France

Professor Jim Shields published a comment article on the LSE’s EUROPP site and was interviewed by France 24 and Bloomberg News on recent elections and political developments in France.

Mon 10 Jun 2019, 10:37 | Tags: French - News SMLC News Arts Faculty

Jim Shields discusses the political crisis in France

Professor Jim Shields appeared twice on France 24 and on Radio France Internationale to discuss Macron’s response to the Gilets Jaunes protests, May Day demonstrations and the current crisis in France.

Fri 03 May 2019, 14:15 | Tags: French - News Modern Languages - News SMLC News

Jim Shields discusses the EU, Brexit and political events in France

Professor Jim Shields has had analysis columns on France and Brexit published in the Spanish national daily La Razón. He also appeared in the Colombian financial newspaper Portafolio, Mexican daily El Universal, Slovenian daily Večer and Sunday Express.

Fri 29 Mar 2019, 10:14 | Tags: French - News SMLC News Arts Faculty

Professor Kate Astbury will be on the BBC World Service Thursday 28th March at 9.06am

Professor Kate Astbury will be on the BBC World Service programme The Forum talking about Napoleon Bonaparte this Thursday 28th March at 9.06am UK time. Hosted by Bridget Kendall, the programme also includes contributions from Annie Jourdan (University of Amsterdam) and Rafe Blaufarb (Florida State University).


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