Cultural and Media Policy Studies News and Events

Edited by Jeremy Ahearne and Oliver Bennett, a special issue of the International Journal of Cultural Policy, on the subject of religion and cultural policy, has now been published. Building on their earlier work on 'implicit' cultural policies, this issue follows three broad approaches. First, it looks at the cultural polices of religious bodies themselves; secondly, it examines the interplay and conflicts between the polices of modern states and those of religious bodies; and thirdly, it considers the relations between certain arts, heritage and media organisations and questions of religion. The issue brings together contributors from Turkey, Egypt, Australia, the US and the UK. As well as including articles by Jeremy and Oliver, the issue also publishes a contribution from Jane Woddis, one of the Centre's Associate Fellows. Oliver's article is the second publication arising from his ongoing enquiry into the institutional promotion of optimism.

Oliver Bennett's article 'Cultures of Optimism' has now been published in Cultural Sociology (OnlineFirst, April 2011). Drawing on material from a broad range of fields, the article identifies an ‘optimism of everyday life’ and proposes that it performs significant psychological, social and cultural functions. These functions are reviewed, with particular reference to psychological and physical health, family and social relationships and the achievement of goals in different contexts. The article argues that the necessity of optimism has given rise to a complex of optimism promoters, which function as agents of implicit cultural policy. The family, religious institutions, the medical profession, psychotherapists and counsellors, businesses and political leaders are, amongst others, all seen to be part of this complex.

This is the first publication arising from an ongoing enquiry that Oliver is undertaking into the institutional promotion of optimism.

We are delighted to announce that from the start of April the Centre will be welcoming Clive Gray to the team. Clive will be taking responsibility for the development of the Centre’s MA in International Cultural Policy and will be contributing to teaching and research activities within the University. Clive has published widely on the politics of cultural policy with articles in The International Journal of Cultural Policy and Cultural Trends, as well as in such politics journals as Parliamentary Affairs and Public Administration. He is currently researching issues of structure and agency in the museums and galleries sector, as well as the role of professional organisations in influencing cultural policy.