An exploration of the history of Oxford's less recognised cultural landscape; Art, Party, and Protest is driven by my desire to document the city’s vibrant history in these interconnected fields, and bring largely unheard stories to public attention in a city that’s very name is synonymous with tradition, the establishment, and conformity.
The goal of my research is to look at Oxford's history through the lens of Art, Party, and Protest. I want to identify the interplay between these overlapping realms and understand how the city’s identity has been shaped by them throughout history. This research will primarily be based around a series of interviews, capturing the perspectives of people who have played a part in shaping Oxford's cultural and political identity.
I will interview key individuals connected to topics such as Sound System and Rave cultures, squatting movements, graffiti, demonstrations, vigils, protests, leafleting, poster and flyer campaigns and more. In these conversations, I hope 20th and 21st centuries participants in these cultures will share their experiences, and shed light on these expressions of cultural resistance, displays of creative talent, and occasions of togetherness and solidarity. Oral histories will be complemented by archival research, to provide an historical backdrop contextualising the evolution of Art, Party, and Protest in Oxford.
The research findings will result in a creative output that presents the findings in an accessible and engaging artistic format. I want to share the history of Oxford's Art, Party, and Protest scenes with the wider public, and provide an historic grounding for struggles which are currently ongoing in the city in the present day.
