This Body, this Earth: the Human Landscape of Mining in Narrative and Visual Culture (1850-1900) - MScR in Global Environmental Challenges

About the Project
This interdisciplinary project explores how nineteenth-century literature and visual culture in France, in the age of ‘carboniferous capitalism’ (Asa Briggs), can help us understand the capacity and the agency of the human body. How do bodies respond to environmental pressures, and how do bodies leave their traces on things and on landscape. Exploring Realist and Impressionist art and Emile Zola’s landmark novel Germinal (1885), through a range of critical thought on cultural and material modernisation, this project will ask how textual and visual culture of the past can help us understand more deeply our global present and, perhaps, our future.

Why Choose this Opportunity
You will develop a keener sense of how the past shapes our values, consciousness, and behaviours today. You will acquire fluency in the exploration of text and image. You will have the opportunity to work across the boundaries between text, image, and ’real world’ instances.

About You
A desire to engage with pictures and with narrative texts; enthusiasm for exploring industrial landscape contexts and cultures.

About the programme
The Cabot Institute Masters by Research is a unique opportunity to work with a leading supervisor to deliver a one-year research project that you are passionate about. The programme will bring together exceptional students from all backgrounds with a common mission – protecting the planet and securing our future. As well as learning from your supervisor, you will learn from your fellow students; coming together to share your ideas and developing your problem-solving skills as part of an interdisciplinary team over the year. As well as being hosted within the Cabot Institute you will have a direct relationship within the relevant School for your research area, allowing you to fully take advantage of a wide-ranging research community.
Alongside your research project, you will benefit from a unique personal development and transferable skills training schedule. These unaccredited, optional events will give you the opportunity to come together with your peers to improve your research skills and develop an innovative approach to the global challenges we face today. You will also be encouraged to propose your own interests for a seminar series, giving you a unique platform to mould your studies and get involved directly with the programme. The training schedule will focus on:
• Interdisciplinarity & Collaboration
• Innovation & Enterprise
• Making your research a success
• Research communications
• Ignite your interests (your chance to propose ideas for a seminar series)
You will also gain access to the Cabot Institute’s network of experts across academia, government, business and industry via networking events. These opportunities will not only support your research, but give you the edge in your future career, whatever that may be.