Write It, Sing It, Score It, Live It: All Hallows Symposium

In addition to participants from the Schools of English and Theology, Philosophy and Music at DCU, there were presentations from scholars working in Economics, Gaelige, American Studies, Communications, History, Creative Writing. Just as there was real interdisciplinarity in terms of contribution, there was also a noticeable range of modes of presentation, with a blend of creative and critical practices being demonstrated. Such infusions exemplify the commitment of both Schools to collaboration and invention, and Michael Hinds (English) and Roisin Blunnie (Theology, Philosophy and Music) co-organized the conference with exactly such a vivid concourse of ideas and approaches in mind.

In addition to the workshop sessions, an evening was  hosted by Will Murphy from the new Centre for Life Writing at DCU that focused directly upon how fans and performers write about music, featuring Angela Flannery, writer-in-residence at DCU and Paul Simpson, lead singer with Liverpool band The Wild Swans and author of Revolutionary Spirit: A Post-Punk Exorcism (Jawbone Press). The final session, on DJing and authorship, featured Dublin archaeologist and DJ Franc Myles in conversation with Tomas Meinecke, leader of the German band and favourite of John Peel, F.S.K (Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle, “Freewilled Self-Control”). Their conversation was punctuated with the playing of records by Meinecke on decks specially brought in for the occasion. Tomas is also a prolific writer and scholar, author of six novels and a former Professor of Poetry at the Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt am Main. His life has been one of total commitment to creative and intellectual work, adapting to technologies and modalities as they have come (and sometimes gone). In this way, his life and work practically embodied the commitment of the symposium to creative adventure. Discussions have already centred on another event around the same theme, and publication plans are in process.