About this blog

Welcome to this site.  I hope you find it of interest.  Please leave a comment.

You can email me at; shawn [dot] sobers [at] uwe [dot] ac [dot] uk

or connect with me on Twitter – Follow @shawnsobers

My website of photography, films, artwork and writing is at: www.shawnsobers.com

A bit about me…..

I’m Associate Profressor of Lens Based Media at the University of the West of England and an active practitioner in the Community Media sector.  My 2010 completed PhD explored the motivations, impacts and cultural sustainability of stakeholder’s involvement in community media education.  I regularly write about my research interests of community media, education and society on this blog.

External to academia I co-run Firstborn Creatives media production company with Rob Mitchell and Nzingha Bowen.  We have been running since 1999 and specialise in social interest media production, community media, tv documentary and educational projects.

My television credits include:

– ‘Unfinished Business’, 2007, BBC, 30 mins, (Director) – Following the debates surrounding Bristol’s recognition of Abolition 2007 , the acknowledgment of the 200th anniversary of “abolition” of the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

– ‘Under the Bridge’, 2000, ITV, 30 mins, (Director) – Exploring the feelings surrounding Bristol and its history of the slave trade. Presented by Rob Mitchell.

– ‘Footsteps of the Emperor’, 1999, 60 mins, ITV (Producer/Director) – Documentary about Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I and the time He spent living in the city of Bath, England.  Presented by Benjamin Zephaniah.

– ‘No Change’, 1997, 30 mins, ITV (Director) – Documentary about youth homelessness. Presented by Eleni Kyriacou.

Community Media clients include the National Trust, Bristol City Council, St Pauls Unlimited, Channel 4, BBC Bristol, Real Ideas Organisation, Creative Partnerships, Primary Care Trust, and many other agencies with interests in education, social regeneration and civil society.

I have spoken at various conferences and synposia on the theme of community media, and am increasingly writing papers for journals and publications.  These include;

Selected WRITING / CONFERENCES / RESEARCH

• Sobers, S. (2019) Post-colonial connections with the British Landscape: An African-centric auto-ethnography. In: De Nardi, S., Orange, H., Koskinen-Koivisto, E. and Drozdzewski, D., eds. (2019) Landscape and Memory. London: Routledge. [Submitted] Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/34857 ‘
• Sobers, S. (2018) An auto-ethnographic dialogue with archive. In: Reframing Film Heritage, Watershed, Bristol, England, 26 July 2018. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/37241 ‘
• Sobers, S. (2018) Hidden pluralities: Rastafari in the South West and the house where God lived. In: National Conference for Religious Education Advisers, The Bristol Hotel, Bristol, England, 2-3 July 2018. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/36939 ‘
• Sobers, S. and Hursthouse, K., eds. (2017) Photographic Dialogues: Moving Stills. (1) 1. Bristol: Community Media South West. ISBN 9780955501838 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/34926 ‘
• Sobers, S. (2017) Five corners of reggae music, and the house where Rastafari lived. In: Reggae Research Network, Norwich, England, 24-25 January 2017. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/34861 ‘
• Sobers, S. (2017) Ethiopian echoes in the British landscape. In: BCMCR Research Seminar, Birmingham, England, 15 November 2017. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/34860 ‘
• Sobers, S., Dovey, J. and Agusita, E. (2017) View over Bristol – Tryers, creativity and a civic imaginary. In: Atay, A. and Brower, J., eds. (2017) Communication, Culture, and Making Meaning in the City: Ethnographic Engagements in Urban Environments. Lexington Books. ISBN 9781498531931 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/29162 ‘
• Sobers, S. (2017) Ethiopian stories in an English landscape. In: Roued-Cunliffe, H. and Copeland, A., eds. (2017) Participatory Heritage. Facet Publishing. ISBN 9781783301232 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/29163 ‘
• Dovey, J., Sobers, S. and Agusita, E. (2017) Community media as social innovation: Transformation, agency and value. In: Malik, S., Chapain, C. and Comunian, R., eds. (2017) Community Filmmaking: Diversity, Innovation, Policy and Practice. Routledge. ISBN 9781138188068 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/29161 ‘
• Sobers, S. (2016) Five corners of reggae music. In: Afrika Eye Film Festival – Screening of ‘Roots, Reggae, Rebellion’., Watershed, Bristol, 11 – 13 November 2016. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/30353 ‘
• Sobers, S., Alevizou, G., Alexiou, K., Harte, D., Zamenopoulos, T. and Turner, J. (2016) Civic cultures and modalities of place-making. In: Hargreaves, I. and Hartley, J., eds. (2016) The Creative Citizen Unbound: How Social Media and DIY Culture Contribute to Democracy, Communities and the Creative Economy. Policy Press. ISBN 9781447324942 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/27543 ‘
• Sobers, S., Greene, C., Zamenopoulos, T., Chapain, C. and Turner, J. (2016) Conversations about co-production. In: Hargreaves, I. and Hartley, J., eds. (2016) The Creative Citizen Unbound: How Social Media and DIY Culture Contribute to Democracy, Communities and the Creative Economy. Policy Press. ISBN 9781447324942 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/27542 ‘
• Sobers, S., Zamenopoulos, T., Alexiou, K., Alevizou, G., Chapain, C. and Williams, A. (2016) Varieties of creative citizenship. In: Hargreaves, I. and Hartley, J., eds. (2016) The Creative Citizen Unbound: How Social Media and DIY Culture Contribute to Democracy, Communities and the Creative Economy. Policy Press. ISBN 9781447324942 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/27541 ‘
• Sobers, S. (2016) Language and resistance: Memories of transatlantic slavery, and its continuing afterlives in the use of Rastafari language and terminology. In: Gill, J. and O’Connell Davidson, J., eds. (2016) Slavery: Memory and Afterlives. Open Democracy, pp. 60-63. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/29731 ‘
• Sobers, S. (2016) Hidden presence: Comparative study of visualising the presence of Black people living in Georgian era Britain – an analysis of two participatory creative history projects. In: What’s Happening in Black British History IV, Watershed, Bristol, UK, 7 April 2016. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/28651 ‘
• Sobers, S. (2016) What came first, the Black or the Arts? An autoethnography. In: Framing the Critical Decade: After the Black Arts Movement, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK, 21-22 March 2016. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/28632 ‘
• Sobers, S. and Harte, D. (2015) From networks to complexity – Creative Citizens project. In: DCRC Cultural Value Seminars – #6, Pervasive Media Studio, Bristol, 10 December 2015. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/27698 ‘
• Sobers, S. (2015) Out of the mouth of babes: 6-11 years olds reflect on learning Black historical narratives. [Creative work: general category] Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/27721 ‘
• Sobers, S. (2015) Self-portraiture and portraiture in the dialogic moment. In: Gender Recalled, King’s College, London, 30th June 2015. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/25890 ‘
• Sobers, S. (2015) Photography and integrity – an overview. In: Exclave 2015 and Photography and Integrity Symposium, Oxo Tower Wharf, London, 25th – 28th June 2015. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/25892 ‘
• Sobers, S. and Ujima Radio, Old Vic Theatre (2015) Names I once owned. [Performance] Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/25893 ‘
• Sobers, S. (2015) One bridge, two Williams: Photographic integrity in the age of ubiquity. Exclave, 4000. pp. 5-8. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/25891 ‘
• Sobers, S. (2015) The suppressed majority? What does it mean to be a modern man? In: Young People’s Festival of Ideas, Arnolfini, Bristol, UK, 11 March 2015. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/25231 ‘
• Sobers, S. (2015) Walking interconnections: Case study of methods of a participatory action research project. In: Visual Social Science Network, Watershed, Bristol, UK, 4 March 2015. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/25232 ‘
• Sobers, S. and Mitchell, R. (2015) Photojournalism and ethics: In search of a peace journalism. In: Bristol Cable Seminar Workshop, Bristol, UK, 17 March 2015. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/25230 ‘
• Sobers, S. (2014) Familiar ways: Vulnerable auto-ethnography in creative practice. In: Family Matters, Bristol, UK, 5 December 2014. Bristol: Family Ties Network Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/24479 ‘
• Sobers, S., Dovey, J., Agusita, E. and Baidoo, V. (2014) Creative citizens: Researching the value of creative citizenship through co-creative action research (A ‘transmedia’ case study). In: Engage Conference 2014: Unlocking the Potential of Curiosity-Driven Engagement, Bristol, UK, 3-4 December 2014. Bristol: National Co-cordinating Centre for Public Engagement Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/24478 ‘
• Sobers, S., Porter, S., Parfitt, A. and Wheeler, A. (2014) Walking interconnections: Walking in someone else’s shoes. In: Thinking Futures, MShed, Bristol, UK, 1-11 November 2014. Bristol, MShed: Bristol University Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/24480 ‘
• Sobers, S., Dovey, J., Agusita, E., Baidoo, V., West, T. and Chapain, C. (2014) Creative citizens: Researching the value of creative citizenship through co-creative action research (A ‘transmedia’ case study). In: Creative Citizens: The Conference, Royal College of Art, London, UK, 18-19 September 2014. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/24477 ‘
• Sobers, S. and Mitchell, R. (2014) African Kinship Systems: Emotional Science – Case Study: The Fate of the SS Mendi. [Video] Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/25895 ‘
• Sobers, S. and Townson, S. and School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol (2014) Being a man. [Video] Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/25894 ‘
• Sobers, S. (2014) Photography that revisits: Participatory influences in post-colonial, auto-ethnographic visual anthropology practices. In: Photography and Anthropology Conference – Royal Anthropology Institute, British Museum, London, 29 – 31 May 2014. British Museum: British Museum Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/23152 ‘
• Sobers, S. (2014) The bold agency of making something out of nothing. In: DIY Citizenship Symposium, Bristol, UK, 28 May 2014. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/23151 ‘
• Sobers, S. (2014) Representation of slave trade legacy in the popular culture of Bristol. In: Slave Trade Legacies – Colour of Money & Global Cotton Connections symposium, Nottingham, UK, 12 May 2014. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/23150 ‘
• Sobers, S., Agusita, E. and Dovey, J. (2014) Cultural hybridity as the fuel of creative enterprises. In: Community Filmmaking & Cultural Diversity: Practice, Innovation and Policy, BFI Southbank London, 22nd – 23rd January 2014. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/22912 ‘
• Sobers, S. (2013) The social vocabulary of Hidden Presence: British History and the need to talk through the silence and acknowledge true stories of African presence. In: Historicising & Re-connecting Communities: Black Presences and the Legacies of Slavery and Colonialism in Rural Britain, University of Nottingham, 15 October 2013. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/21893 ‘
• Sobers, S. (2013) Hidden Presence: British history and the need to acknowledge true stories with African descendent casts. In: Black History in Wiltshire Symposium, East Tytherton, 14th September 2013. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/21526 ‘
• Sobers, S., Adams, S. and Heddon, D. (2013) Walking interconnections: Researching the lived experience of disabled people for a sustainable society. In: Walking in the City: Mapping Borders Symposium, The Parlour Rooms, Bristol, 13th September 2013. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/21525 ‘
• Sobers, S. (2013) Nothing Matters Everything Matters. [Video] Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/21390 ‘
• Sobers, S. (2013) Enthusiastic facilitator, reluctant anthropologist. In: Conference for the International Visual Sociology Association, Goldsmiths, London, UK, 8-10 July 2013. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/21385 ‘
• Sobers, S. and Mitchell, R. (2013) Re:Interpretation: the representation of perspectives on slave trade history using creative media. In: Dresser, M. and Hann, A., eds. (2013) Slavery and the British Country House. English Heritage, pp. 132-139. ISBN 9781848020641 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/21386 ‘
• Sobers, S. (2013) Re:Interpretation: The representation of perspectives on slave trade history using creative media. In: Conservation and (Post) Colonialism Conference – Association for Studies in the Conservation of Historic Buildings (ASCHB), Museum of London, Docklands, 1st March 2013. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/21387 ‘
• Sobers, S., Smart, D., Connolly, S., Weston, P. and McGinn, C. (2012) Reflections on partnership working: Case Study of BBC partnership with UWE photography programme. In: Engage 2012 – National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement Conference, Bristol Hotel, 6th December 2012. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/21451 ‘
• Sobers, S. and Mitchell, R. (2012) Adinkra Poster Series. [Show/Exhibition] Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/21399 ‘
• Sobers, S. (2012) Real and Imagined Lives. [Show/Exhibition] Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/21398 ‘
• Sobers, S. (2012) Words Inside. [Show/Exhibition] Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/21397 ‘
• Sobers, S. (2012) Identity in community media (negotiating marginal positions within photographic practices). In: Rendering the Real: Negotiating Marginal Positions within Photographic Practices, 198 Contemporary Gallery, London, 21st April 2012. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/21401 ‘
• Sobers, S. (2012) The business of community media: Stakeholders and sustainability. In: Community Media Symposium, University of Gloucestershire, 15th March 2012. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/21400 ‘
• Sobers, S. (2012) Roots & Wings. [Show/Exhibition] Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/21396 ‘
• Sobers, S. (2011) 15 autobiographical moments in perpiTubeity. [Show/Exhibition] Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/21411 ‘
• Sobers, S. (2010) Socially engaged arts practice in the current economic climate. In: Demanding Conversations, Knowle West Media Centre, Bristol, 22nd and 23rd September 2010. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/21402 ‘
• Sobers, S., Mitchell, R., Lynas, L., Burton, E. and Cavannah, K., eds. (2010) Myths, facts and feelings: Bristol and transatlantic slavery. Community Media South West. ISBN 9780955501821 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/16460 ‘
• Sobers, S. (2010) Positioning education within community media. In: Howley, K., ed. (2010) Understanding Community Media. Sage Publications, Inc, p. 188. ISBN 978-1412959056 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/10653 ‘
• Sobers, S. and Mitchell, R. (2009) Perspectives of slave trade history using creative digital platforms. In: Slavery and the British Country House, London School of Economics, 21st November 2009. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/21403 ‘
• Sobers, S. (2009) Plan China. [Video] Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/21395 ‘
• Sobers, S. and Wicks, R. (2008) Lafrance’s Story: Inside Out. [Video] Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/21413 ‘
• Sobers, S. (2008) Positioning education within community media. In: OurMedia Conference 7, Accra, Ghana, 15 August 2008. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/10654 ‘
• Sobers, S., Johnson-Idan, L., Bunting, D., Rocas, V. and Watts, V. (2008) Re-Representing rural racism through the use of community media. In: OurMedia7 conference, Accra, Ghana, 11th – 15th August 2008. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/21406 ‘
• Sobers , S. (2008) Consequences and coincidences: A case study of experimental play in media literacy. Journal of Media Practice, 9 (1). pp. 53-66. ISSN 1468-2753 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/10661 ‘
• Thomson, S., ed. (2008) Blueboard: Story of a creative media residency project: 4 companies / 11 schools. Community Media South West (CMSW). ISBN 978-0955501814 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/10655 ‘
• Sobers, S. and Mitchell, R. and Firstborn Creatives, BBC Bristol, Little Gem (2007) Unfinished Business. [Video] Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/21393 ‘
• Sobers, S. and Mitchell, R. (2007) Barbados to Bath. [Video] Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/21412 ‘
• Sobers, S. and Gear, S., eds. (2007) Making it work: An enquiry into how companies in the community media sector recruit and retain skilled freelancers. Bristol: Community Media South West. ISBN 9780955501807 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/21392 ‘
• Sobers, S. (2006) Re-Representing rural racism through the use of Community Media. In: DIVERSE Conference, Glasgow Caledonian University, 5th – 7th July 2006. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/21405 ‘
• Sobers, S., Thomas, H., Reid, M., Saunders, J., Mason, S., Froome, K. and Froome, D. (2006) Young people’s needs and the negotiation of community media working mainstream services. In: DIVERSE Conference, Glasgow Caledonian University, 5th – 7th July 2006. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/21404 ‘
• Sobers, S. (2006) Re-Representing rural racism through the use of community media. In: Politics, Race & Ethnicity Conference, Glenside Campus, University of the West of England, Bristol, 16th January 2006. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/21407 ‘
• Sobers, S. (2005) Beyond Project: Working towards defining and sustaining the community media sector. In: The MacBride Report-25 Years Later A Euricom Colloquium, Piran, Slovenia, 15th – 17th September 2005. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/21408 ‘
• Sobers, S., Mitchell, R. and Smith, R. (2005) Using digital media to enhance creative writing. In: ICT Education West of England Conference, University of the West of England, Bristol, 5th July 2005. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/21409 ‘
• Sobers, S., Mitchell, R. and Davies, A. and Firstborn Creatives, ITV West (2000) Under the Bridge. [Video] Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/21394 ‘
• Sobers, S. and Davies, A. and HTV West (1999) Footsteps of the Emperor. [Video] Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/21391 ‘
• Sobers, S., James, M., Burton, C. and Seargent, I. (1998) Eazy Riderz: A short film about boys, bikes, inner city life and crime. [Video] Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/21414 ‘
• Sobers, S. (1998) No Change? Youth homelessness in Bristol – an undercurrents documentary. [Video] Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/21410 ‘

 

Many thanks,

Hope you enjoy the blog!

Dr Shawn Sobers