Real Life Methods ran from October 2005 to January 2009. This website is archived and no longer maintained. For up to date information, please see www.manchester.ac.uk/realities
Vital Signs: Keynote speakers - Les Back
Biography
Les Back is a Professor of Sociology at Goldsmiths, University of London. His main fields of interest are the sociology of racism, popular culture and city life. His work attempts to create a sensuous or live sociology committed to searching for new modes of sociological writing and representation. This approach is outlined in his most recent book The Art of Listening (Berg 2007). He also writes journalism and has made documentary films. He is the coordinator of the ESRC funded Live Sociology programme which offers training in the use of multi-media in qualitative research as part of Researcher Development Initiative.
His research interests include sociology of youth, ethnography, political sociology, racism and right wing extremism, music, auditory and popular culture, race and social theory, photography and urban culture and the sociology of sport. His books include: Auditory Cultures Reader with Michael Bull Berg (2003), Out of Witnesses with Vron Ware, University of Chicago (2002); The Changing Face of Football: Racism and Multiculture in the English Soccer, with Tim Crabbe and John Solomos (Berg 2001);New Ethnicities and Urban Culture: Racisms and Multiculture in Young Lives (University College Press, 1996);Race Politics and Social Change, with John Solomos (Routledge, 1995);Racism and Society, with John Solomos (Macmillan, 1995)
See Les' web page for more details of his research and publications [opens in new window].
Les is giving a plenary session on 11th September, entitled Social Research and its Futures.
