Delving into the fields of history, archaeology, philosophy, gender and cultural studies, the Salon’s exciting program involves open discussions between researchers, students and the broader community, rather than official lectures. This creates a unique, open environment designed to enlighten and inspire.

Professor Glenda Sluga, Head of the School of Philosophical and Historical Inquiry, devised the Salon, which examines larger social questions and the increased interaction between arts and sciences.

Throughout June, the Humanities Salon explores the historical, political and cultural aspect of cities. The themed series continues in September with talks on African cities, Shanghai and Angkor while an exploration of Real Estate and the city will be held in October.

Talks begin with ‘Harlem, the black capital of the world’ on Thursday 10 June. Professor Shane White, Professor Stephen Garton and Associate Professor Stephen Robertson have produced Digital Harlem (a website and blog) and the book Playing the Numbers: Gambling in Harlem Between the Wars.

The collaborative team will discuss these projects, which ‘contribute to the exciting historiography of African American culture, offer a model of the ways in which the ‘everyday’ can be recovered and demonstrate the advantages … such a recovery can yield.’

‘Digging up Sydney’, a conversation between the disciplines of History and Archaeology on ways of researching Sydney’s past, will be held on Thursday 17 June.

Beneath the streetscapes and parklands of Sydney lie fragments of our Indigenous and Settler past that challenge and contest the city’s existing historical narratives. ‘Digging up Sydney’ looks at some of the diverse approaches used to interpret Sydney’s history, with four archaeologists and Sydney historian Dr Grace Karskens discussing their innovative research.

Speakers include Mary Casey, a Director of the archaeology and heritage consultants Casey & Lowe and research associate with the Department of Archaeology. Mary has directed numerous archaeological projects, including work at the Conservatorium of Music and Parramatta Convict Hospital, while her research interests range from cultural landscapes to early colonial lives.

Mary is joined by Dr Annie Clarke, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Archaeology. Annie carries out research on the archaeology and rock art of cross-cultural interaction in Arnhem Land, the role of Indigenous agency in the formation of ethnographic collections and the practice of community-based archaeology and heritage.

Fellow lecturer Dr Martin Gibbs is currently undertaking an ARC funded project on the 16th Century failed Spanish colonies in the Solomon Islands while the fourth speaker, Paul Irish, is looking into the archaeology and Aboriginal history of the Kurnell Peninsula.

With a regular program of events bringing the energetic field of arts to the public, the Salon, supported by the School of Philosophical Inquiry, Faculty of Arts at the University of Sydney, is putting the humanities back in the spotlight.

The Humanities Salon works with Sydney Ideas Open, Key Thinker and Alumni. To find out more visit sydney.edu.au/arts/research/humanities_salon/about/index.shtml

Article by Liz Schaffer.