MANCHESTER INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL

July is time again for the Manchester International Festival, a festival of art, music and performance that is unique in that everything on show is being performed for the first time in public. There's lost of great stuff to see. Especially interesting for you is It Felt Like a Kiss by Punchdrunk, Adam Curtis and Damon Albarn. According to the programme it "... tells the story of America’s rise to power in the golden age of pop, and the unforeseen consequences it had on the world and in our minds. Beginning in 1959, the show spotlights the dreams and desires that America inspired during the ’60s, when the world began to embrace the country and its culture as never before. But as this daring production unfolds across five floors, blending music with documentary and the disorientating whirl of a fairground ghost train, the audience is forced to face the dark forces that were veiled by the American dream – a dream that ultimately returns to haunt us all." Got to be worth a look!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS?

Now your exams are over you are probably wondering what to do with all your spare time. What about visiting the Imperial War Museum North? Not only is it an amazing building, it has great exhibitions that will get you thinking about the topic of war ready for your coursework. Entry is free and it's just across from the Lowry so when you have had enough you can go and shop!

EXAM TIME

Crunch time is now here. The exams have started in earnest and you are well into your revision. There are revision sessions at College; lots of information on Shared Areas; and don't forget the exam board web sites for A2 and AS. There are also hundreds of web sites giving advice on revision and exam technique from the BBC to the Daily Telegraph and even the government. And if all else fails you could even ask your teacher. Just remember to reward yourself occasionally.

At the Urbis museum in central Manchester you have a chance to see the very latest contemporary art coming out of one of the world’s most exciting cities – New York – the capital of the contemporary art scene and a place we will be going next Spring. The exhibition features painting, performance, video and installation. Highlights include Manchester’s statue of Abraham Lincoln dressed as a Hip Hop Fan and an animated take-off of the recent US presidential election process. The exhibition runs until September so you can take a day to visit in the holidays.

THE FULBRIGHT COMMISSION

The Fulbright Commission was set up in 1948 by Senator Willaim Fulbright in 1948 'to promote leadership, learning and empathy between nations through educational exchange'. The US-UK Fulbright Commission offers all kinds of exchanges, advice and grants to those interested in studying in the US. Check out the web site for more information.

HISTORY IS BUNK

Actually what Henry Ford said was that 'History is more or less bunk'. History students are well used to people asking what use the subject is. In some ways that is a question that does not even deserve a response, but if one had to, one could quote David McCulloch: 'History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. History is who we are and why we are the way we are.' One cannot fully understand the present without reference to the past. George Mason University, (where our old friend Roger Wilkins lectured, see March 12th blog), hosts one of many web sites that look at current issues with an historical eye through their History News Network.

REEL HISTORY

It is not just certain members of the history department obsessed by film. (See first blog post.) The Guardian has a series on historical films and their accuracy. Have a look, see if one of your favourites is there.