Shades of Noir SoN is an independent set of resources created in 2009 by Aisha Richards to support: Curriculum design Pedagogies of social justice through representation Cultural currency Accessible knowledge It is intended to facilitate the design of more inclusive learning environments. The resource will provide a useful reference point for critically reviewing my teaching…

I found the section where Patel describes  the role of Religion as an alternative community for people of colour.-“ you can see why amongst people of colour it plays a significant role because there are no spaces out there where this kind of thinking can occur.” He talks about how in universities most space is…

This was an interesting discussion about the “interpretative latitude” of sacred texts, and how the mutability of religious texts is key to their survival. Appiah stresses the role of context in the interpretation of scriptures, giving the example of St. Paul’s instruction to women to cover their heads in church- when interpreting this directive, we…

-“Religion as a public good”. This made me think of how mosques and Islamic charitable institutions were to the forefront of delivering aid during the pandemic to communities beyond their congregations. In lieu of adequately funded local public services, religious institutions provide a social safety net- despite being poorly funded themselves. In the case of…

Crowley talks about a widespread perception of work with disability as ‘unskilled’; ‘this is skilled work that should go beyond compassion and empathy” She refers to the inadequacy of language to capture experience of disability The term ‘adjustment,’ for example, shifts onus onto the disabled person. Crowley says that within the context of bureaucratic institutions,…

The description of artistic production as a ‘contact sport’ resonated with me- it highlights the punishing nature of creativity within the current neoliberal context of the arts and funding structures. For disabled artists, participating in these structures require them to tolerate ‘deep searing series of pain memories.” “There is a rich complexity to the experience…

-Thompson speaks about the need to adopt an intersectional lens when talking about disability. -Disability occurs across all racial ethnic language and social groups. Disabled people from marginalised groups are more likely to face challenges accessing public services and support. -lack of reported data on intersections of disability and race leads to erasure of these…

Kim expresses attitudes to her disability as a negation, or ‘choking’ of her voice- because she couldn’t experience sound in an unmediated form, she had to allow others to define it for her. Her work reinterprets sound in a way she can experience it. By moving it into a physical form- having it animate ribbons…

It is useful to understand what the university provides in terms of support, but practically in the classroom and as a personal tutor, it is hard to implement. In my own experience as a teacher, I have felt unsupported and ill equipped to manage the needs of disabled students. The precarious nature of my contract…

I realised I have locked myself into a formulaic structure when delivering a workshop- it is very static. I begin by delivering a power point presentation with discussion points and activities to engage the students- but this is often conducted at a distance from the students near the projected images. During a teaching observation, my…