Associate Readers

Associates Reading Group, Spike Island

The Associates’ Reading Group at Spike Island was initiated in Spring 2008 by Ruth Holdsworth, (Bristol University PhD student and Arnolfini Research Fellow), as a way for people to discuss texts, theoretical and otherwise, in a non-academic context.

The idea was to have informal, relaxed gatherings that encouraged the integration of theory with practice. Ruth provided the first five texts and framework, initiating the discussion for each fortnightly gathering. These ranged from Alain Badiou’s Translating the Century to John Berger’s Ways of Seeing. In her proposal for the group Ruth wrote:

“This is about ideas and how they can be exciting. It is about how theory can be made sense of through reference to one’s own experiences and practice. It is about sharing understanding, being open and generous. It is about non-expertise and still feeling able to express an opinion.”

The group is now organised by Megan Wakefield. Texts are now selected by members on a month-by-month basis. The structure remains non-hierarchical and peer-led and the breadth of our reading continues to expand. The emphasis is on theory, but not exclusively. We’ve explored essays by social geographers, artists and philosophers and short works of fiction are always welcome.

Recently we looked at the texts by the artist Gerard Mermoz, Rebecca Solnit’s A Field Guide to Getting Lost and we spent two sessions discussing enigmatic stories by Jorge Luis Borges. We’ve read Georg Simmel on the modern metropolis, Alan Kirby on the postmodern mind and Susan Stewart on the souvenir. Discussions are stimulating, not simply because of shared or conflicting opinions, but because of the network of associations that emerge. References extend to performance, film and of course to other literary and theoretical writing. Ideally, this is a provocative, but non-intimidating space where people can explore texts on their own terms, whatever their practice or former education.