Café Culture
For discussion and debate café style

Each Cafe Culture event series runs from September to July every year, with events running fortnightly, usually on the first and third Monday of each month. To view a pdf of our current flyer click here

 

 

17 September 2012 café politiique

The North-South divide: Myth or reality?

Did you know that if the North of England was a country it would be the 8th largest economy in Europe? Paul Callaghan, local business leader, former Chair of One North East and member of the Northern Economic Futures Commission, will argue that it’s time to forget old notions of it being grim up North and recognise the North of England as the key to economic recovery in the UK.

1 October 2012 café philosophique

Postmodernity and rational discourse

If truth is no longer the aim of discourse, what are the limits of what we can say and what we can choose to ignore? Do the tenets of postmodern thought make rational discourse impossible? David Rose, Newcastle University, will seek to offer an answer to these questions.

15 October 2012café scientifique

Eggs, ethics and exploitation? A study of women’s experiences of ‘egg sharing’ for research.

Should women who need in vitro fertilisation (IVF) be offered a discount for IVF treatment in exchange for some of their eggs?  Dr Ken Taylor, Newcastle University, will present some findings from a study, led by Professor Erica Haimes, that investigated women’s experiences of a unique Newcastle-based scheme which did just that. A discussion will explore exploitation, inducement, and how best to get eggs for research or treatment.

5 November 2012café culturel

Theatre of witness

In a short performance based on the actual account of a Holocaust survivor, Jane Arnfield, Northumbria University, explores how we receive testimony. The story, one of the unrelenting strength of the human spirit which the survivor wants shared as widely as possible, engages with retellings of trauma through performance derivative of eyewitness testimony.

19 November 2012café scientifique

What does genetics bring to understanding differences in childhood development?

More children who are developing differently are being referred to genetic services. Janice McLaughlin, Newcastle University, will discuss how children and their families make sense of having their DNA investigated.

3 December 2012bookgroupsummit

Twelve Minutes of Love by Kapka Kassabova

Join Kapka and the New Writing North book groups for an evening of discussion, readings, love, hate and a bit of tango.

17 December 2012 café philosophique

From Madonna to Gaga:
The cultural currency of pop postmodernism

Lee Barron, Northumbria University, will consider postmodernism in the twenty-first century as illustrated by contemporary pop music stars whose public personas are marked by fluidity, artifice and performance. Citing examples such as Madonna, Kylie Minogue and Lady Gaga, Lee will argue that although some believe postmodernism hit its peak in the 1980s, current popular culture offers evidence that its core themes are still relevant.

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