The Department of Philosophy has recently established a Centre for Research into Imagination, Creativity and Knowledge (CRICK). Led by Dr Mike Beaney, its aim is to stimulate innovative research in the Philosophy of Mind, Epistemology and Aesthetics by bringing together philosophers, researchers in other disciplines and members of the wider community. It will focus on understanding the nature of creativity and innovation, their relation to the imagination, and their role in developing and extending the frontiers of human knowledge in the arts and humanities, the sciences, and business.
The Centre has received funding from the WRCETLE for a project entitled ‘Promoting Innovation and Creativity Across Sectors and Organisations’ (PICASSO) to develop a portfolio of materials to support courses on creativity and innovation. The plan is to offer a core module exploring different conceptions and theories of creativity and innovation, with a further project module that can be adapted to the needs of different departments and outside users, allowing those taking the module to look at innovation and creativity in their own subject area or workplace.
Mike Beaney has had an interest in creativity for a number of years. He is the author of Imagination and Creativity, a course book he prepared for the Open University which was published in 2005. He has taught topics concerning imagination and creativity at both undergraduate and postgraduate level since he arrived at York in October 2005.
Anyone who is interested in the project is encouraged to contact Mike Beaney at mab505@york.ac.uk.
Students learned first hand about the rare book industry
How is literature marketed? Who controls its value? To what extent do authors cater for an audience? These are just some of the questions posed by ‘The Culture Business’, Prof Jane Moody’s module for second year English and Related Literature students. Providing an academic approach to the publishing, bookselling and print media industries, the module offers students a chance to gain an insight into one of the most popular yet competitive industries around. Looking at works from the Romantic period to the present day, students are invited to study the ways in which authors have interacted with the contemporary literary marketplace.
As a result of York WRCETLE sponsorship, students taking the module in the summer term had the opportunity to meet key industry players and find out how they achieved success. The literary—or culture—industry is notoriously difficult to break into and thus the chance to learn from people directly involved was invaluable. Isobel Dixon, from Blake Friedman, provided an insight into the importance of the literary agent in today’s publishing industry. Lisa Chaney, a successful biographer, inspired potential authors in the group when she talked through the research and creative processes that go into the creation of a successful biography.
The module countered the notoriously metropolitan nature of the literary industry through trips to some of York’s culture businesses. Of particular note was a visit to Spelman’s, the renowned rare and second-hand book shop on Micklegate. Students gained an insight into independent book selling and were treated to anecdotes about literary finds by the owner. A visit to the York branch of Borders provided a more modern example of bookselling. Students learnt about the marketing of books, and were given a sneak peak at the Amazon Kindle e-reader before it hit the shop floor.
The module proved a huge success.
Hear from the students and their tutor first hand:
Article written by Helen Citron, originally published in Enterprise focus.
Posted by yorkcetle 
Posted by yorkcetle 
