Coastal Cultures
A recurrent theme throughout my research is an examination of the cultural meanings, politics and economics of coastal environments. This is not a discrete project but a collection of projects, case studies, consultancies and interventions which have focused on various dimensions of people's relationship to coastal and seaside environments.
To study coastal cultures take in many areas of intellectual concern. As a political scientist by background you would find it unsurprising that I see the coast as political - but think, for example, about Britain's island identity, national psyche and national character in the repeated imagery of the coast next to invasion threats. The economics of the coast are also crucial. One needs to take into account transformations from fishing and maritime industries to new forms of economic activity around culture and tourism. Environment is crucially important. The coast possesses natural and scenic qualities. It is a space for physical recuperation and spirital uplift, a place for individuals and communities to enjoy. Historical studies can reveal the taming, development and urbanisation of the 'wild' coast and its various transformations into sites for new economic and commercial potential. Finally, the coast plays a part in our cultural heritage - various coastal landscapes have been depicted in poetry, visual arts, music and writing and continue to stimulate reflection and meditation. For all these reasons one thing is certain: coast matters.
Below is a list of research activity that has addressed these concerns:
Publications
'The emergent working society of leisure' (with N. Ravenscroft), Journal of Leisure Research, 41(1), 2009, pp.23-40.
'Reality TV on the rockface - climbing the Old Man of Hoy', Sport in History, 27(1), 2007, pp.44-63.
'Coast, cultures and the creative class', paper in preparation.
'Beyond the brink: Beachy Head as a climbing landscape', paper in review.
Reports
Defra (2008) Water Framework Directive: Valuation of recreational benefits of improvements in water quality - potential benefits and data requirements (with A. Church, N. Ravenscroft, B. Taylor et al.)
Sport England (2005) Lifestyle Sports and National Sport Policy: An Agenda for Research (London: Sport England) (with N. Ravenscroft, A. Tomlinson and B. Wheaton)
Sea Space (2007) Tourism, culture and creativity: preparing Hastings and Bexhill for economic regeneration through education and workforce development in the creative and cultural sectors of the local economy(with A. Church, N. Ravenscroft, J. Watson, C. Palmer, G. Sharp, G. Rogers)
Presentations
'Coast, cultures and the creative class' (with A. Church and N. Ravenscroft), 'Theorising the Coast', Hastings/St Leonards-on-Sea, 4-5 June 2009
‘The revitalisation of public space? Leisure and the cultural industries in Hastings’’, British Sociological Association annual conference, University of East London, 13 April 2007
‘Tourism, cultural and creative industries’ (with A. Church and N. Ravenscroft), On the Edge – Seaside towns and coastal areas, the community solution, British Urban Regeneration Association, Brighton, 24-25 May 2007
‘The emerging working society of leisure’ (with N. Ravenscroft), ‘Whatever happened to the leisure society? Critical and multidisciplinary (retro)spectives’, Leisure Studies Association annual conference, University of Brighton, July 2007
'Towards a working society of leisure' (with N. Ravenscroft), Presentation to the Sport and Leisure Cultures Research Seminar series, University of Brighton, November 2007
Grants
'Coastal Cultures: Towards a Network of Academic Expertise', University of Brighton Research Award, 2009 (£5,000)