Across Covid times, the world found itself frequently turning to the online world as a means of continuing a version of normality. The Economy and Society Summer School, an annual in-personal, residential retreat found itself turning to new means, operating across the online world and within hybrid spaces to continue sharing and progressing. You can visit some of the past recorded ESSS sessions from these events here.
The Economy and Society Summer School 2023 was a welcome revival to in-person delivery, taking place across University College Cork from April 11-13th 2023. Under the theme of “Theorising at the Edge of the World”, the Summer School welcomed thinkers from near and far, all eager to rethink our shared world, through in-person togetherness.
The Summer School 2023 welcomed academics, scholars and students alike across the 3 days, sharing on topics such as “Cinematic Theology at the Edge of the World”, “The Rise and Fall of the Caring Organisation” and “Eating Capitalism”.
Thinking far and beyond, we were treated to a wonderfully musical exploration of Irish Lullabies in a talk on Disqualified Knowledge, Singing, Subjectives and Power by Tríona Ní Shíochain and were further awed with a display of traditional Sean Nós dancing from Nada ní Chuirrín.
A firm favourite activity, reading groups pondered topics including The Subject of Critique, The Architectures of Life and Mechanical Care allowing all the freedom to re-think and re-conceptualise in a friendly space. Such opportunities to discuss openly within discipline-non-specific spaces feel almost a rarity in modern academics and as such, these groups provided a refreshing space for new ground to emerge.
When the rain did disperse, the cohort took to the side streets of Cork, returning to the fundamental academic activity of Socratic walks. This allowed theory to flourish beyond four walls and brought true thinking into the streets and beyond. The beautiful Nano Nagle Centre provided additional respite from the confines of the traditional classroom, as we conversed over lunch in the wonderful garden space.
The ESSS team would like to thank all those who took the time to attend and contribute to the Summer School this year. We are especially grateful to our organisers and hosts, UCC and the most hospitable teams who made our visit possible. To learn more about ESSS and previous events, please click here.