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Informationsansvarig:
Martin Fredriksson
Senast uppdaterad: 2009-10-23
LiU - ISAK - ACSIS - English - Firstpage
Presentation
Meaning, identity and power form a dynamic hub in the lively research field known as cultural studies. It focuses on the interplay between cultural forms, social practices and institutionalised structures of domination, in order to understand how texts, subjects and contexts interact to reinforce or challenge relations of meaning, identity and power. Cultural studies exist within all areas, not as a sharply delimited and exclusionary discipline but rather as a interdisciplinary field where new phenomena, methods and theories are tried out in the borderlands between established disciplines and traditions. What unites the field is the wish to investigate urgent issues of meaning, identity and power through contextualizing interpretations, transgressive dialogues and reflexive critiques.
ACSIS was established early in 2002 as an independent unit within Linköping University. The centre is administratively connected to the Department for Studies of Social Change and Culture (ISAK). Its linking, driving and quality rising tasks are realized through programmes for visiting scholars, research, publications, seminars, conferences, PhD courses and various forms of networking. The national character of ACSIS is guaranteed by a board with members chosen by all Swedish universities and a chair appointed by the rector of Linköping University. Activities are headed by a director and administrative staff.
NEWS:
- Very soon a number of papers from the conference "Kultur~Natur" that was held in Norrköping last spring will be published on Linköping University Electronic Press. You can read and download them at: http://www.ep.liu.se/ecp/040/.
- ACSIS' new academic e-Journal Culture Unbound: Journal of Current Cultural Research has just published three new articles by Colin Mercer, Andreas Henriksson and Sheenagh Pietrobruno. Within short it will also publish its second thematic section which is entitled Signs of the City - City of Signs and edited by Geoff Stahl.
ACSIS New Perspectives
Starting in the summer of 2009 different associates of ACSIS will write short reflections on subjects of special concern for ACSIS under the heading NEW Perspectives. This section will be updated regularly and the first contributor is Johan Fornäs.
Cultural studies is no abstract institutional mechanism. It is made alive by real people who combine interpretations, interactions and interventions, identifying the frames and potentials of this research field. The ACSIS web-site tells about ongoing activities but will now also give voice to scholars involved in these activities, starting with ourselves but also inviting others to contribute. Under the heading “New Perspectives”, a short personal chronicle will welcome our website visitors. The chronicles are continuously renewed but old ones are archived as well.
It was in the late 1990s that the ACSIS plans took form, in a conference and a planning group with great visions. We started in a relatively small scale in 2002, but activities grow and have proven useful and inspiring. The forth-coming 15-17 June conference on Culture~Nature is just one example of how interdisciplinary and interuniversity linkages can help cultural research respond to upcoming challenges. The ACSIS board with one distinguished representative of each Swedish university is another unique feature that generates productive synergies.
27-29 April this year, ACSIS sent six board and staff members to visit relevant research sites in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Leuven. We got lots of inspiration from what is done there, and found a series of opportunities to intensify mutual exchange and cooperation, but also experienced the usefulness of having access to the resource a national networking centre like ACSIS can provide. This makes me proud of having had the honour to direct this gem of a centre for so many good years. I wish it continued success, not only for its own sake, but for cultural studies and other cultural research in general, in the many interlaced networks to which we are linked.
Johan Fornäs
Professor, Linköping University
Director, ACSIS
