Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/649887
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 6 MARCH 2016 16 PERHAPS the institution of the university will never quite shake off its ivory tower aura. To many people it will forever remain the provenance of enlightened but detached scholars, squinting away at ancient tomes and occasionally popping out to deliver a lecture and deign to submit to an – equal- ly hermetic – academic journal. The fact that this stereotypi- cal impression continues to gain traction is as sad as it is inaccu- rate. University research is often the first port of call for not just thorough and elaborate research at the highest degree; it can also have a direct bearing on tangible work that needs to be done for us to better our lives. The Cottonera Resource Centre (CRC), set up under the auspices of the University of Malta, at- tempts to short-circuit these cli- chés. It sets out to provide an ad- equate and enriching platform to discuss issues and topics pertain- ing to the Cottonera region – with the same thoroughness applied to 'conventional' academic research but at the same time, with com- plete sensitivity and awareness to the community's dynamics and needs. And Holy Week in particular provides an excellent jumping- on point for such discussions and activities, with the CRC holding a series of sessions tackling this landmark period of the Catholic calendar from various angles – as part of a lecture series by the CRC which began back in 2013. Speaking in his own capacity to MaltaToday, University lecturer and CRC board member Prof. Pe- ter Mayo said that the Cottonera region's "strong Holy Week tradi- tion" is something of a given, and that "the purpose of this project is to draw on something which captures the communities' im- agination in the area and use it as a starting point to venture into discussions on related issues con- cerning different disciplines and forms of knowledge". Having hosted a discussion led by Anna Spiteri on 'Holy Week and the Environment', the ses- sions held so far have incorpo- rated politics, visual arts, film and the role of women within the his- torical and cultural remit of Holy Week. Mayo himself led a session on Imperialism at the time of Jesus Christ and much later periods, venturing into a discussion on co- lonialism and neo-colonialism in later and present times, "includ- ing aspects such as the current in- tensification of globalisation with its colonising foundation and the plight of immigrants perceived as victims of a colonial legacy". Other sessions focused on film – with Michael Grech juxtapos- ing Pier Paolo Pasolini's 'Il Van- gelo Secondo Matteo' against Mel Gibson's 'Passion of the Christ' – and music, with Eric Montfort and Dr Albert Bell delv- ing into solemn music, marches and rock; while Nathalie Grima spoke about issues pertaining to women and gender and Dr Marco Galea delved into the theatrical dimension, while curator Sandro Debono dealt with the visual art dimension of the Holy Week ex- perience. Mayo stresses that the CRC's ac- tivities aren't limited exclusively to the religious dimension, but Holy Week proved to be an im- portant bridge to the community in question, once again highlight- ing the importance of sensitivity and engagement. "In my view, it makes no sense for one to move into a communi- ty, about which one knows little, and simply replicate lectures and courses given at the home institu- tion, in this case the University. "One needs to learn about the community and see what captures its members' imagination, avoid- ing the pitfall of divisive measures and see the connections between this and different forms of knowl- edge," Mayo said. Even though session leaders may be recognised experts in the discipline, Mayo said they should be disposed to learn from the par- ticipants who might have a lot to share and shed light on the sub- ject, through their specific experi- ences in related areas. Mayo says this "dialogical pro- cess" has been considerably suc- cessful. "The level of exchange and sharing of experiences is quite encouraging. Of course, we con- stantly monitor the situation to see how we can do things better in this project and others that fol- low. Learning is an ongoing pro- cess. This applies to any project not just this one. One never 'ar- rives' in education and this com- munity project is no exception," Mayo said. He adds that the outcome of this particular lecture series will determine the future of similar events organised around the Cot- tonera community by the CRC. "This is not a centre's holy week activity or series of activities," but part of the overall remit to "pro- vide meaningful experiences for people from the region who alas have been severely underrepre- sented at University". "The question I personally would bear in mind, as a member of the board for this centre, is: on whose terms is the engagement taking place? This explains the need to draw on motivating fac- tors such as events and issues that capture the communities' (and I stress the plural) imagination," Mayo said. "It has to be a two-way engage- ment, in terms of project choice and pedagogical approach adopt- ed". treljic@mediatoday.com.mt News Meeting to be held at The Catholic Institute On Thursday 10th March 2016 at 18:00 hours For all clients / creditors of DBR Investments Ltd and / or the late John Farrugia, Nigret Road, Zurrieq The Meeting will be addressed by the following panel of advisors Paul Bonello, Finco Treasury Management Ltd, Independent Financial Advisors Stefano Filletti, Filletti & Filletti, Advocates Frank Testa, Simon Tortell & Associates, Advocates Joe Zammit Maempel, GVTH Advocates Arthur Galea Salomone, Galea Salomone & Associates, Advocates Meeting will not be open to the public or to the press. Those attending will need to provide documentary evidence of investments and/or receipts issued by DBR Investments Ltd or John Farrugia (or his successors) and show their ID Card in order to gain admission to the Meeting. Note: It would be preferable if persons attending make a reservation by phoning on 21-22-0002 or send an e-mail to robertavassallo@fincotrust.com and if they could give brief details of the amounts involved Holy Week puts 'community education' into focus The performative and communal elements of Holy Week provide an opportunity to discuss the importance of bringing academic research into the community, according to Prof Peter Mayo, who speaks to TEODOR RELJIC about the activities currently being held at the Cottonera Resource Centre in Birgu Mel Gibson's 'The Passion of the Christ' was discussed alongside Pier Paolo Pasolini's 'Il Vangelo Secondo Matteo' during one of the Cottonera Resource Centre's Holy Week sessions Peter Mayo