Age of Self? LATE

What makes you ‘you’?

Immerse yourself in an evening of talks, exhibits, and live performances exploring how our interconnected identities are formed. From our physical bodies to expressions of gender and sexuality, to religion, moral belief systems, community, and everything in between, we’ll explore and celebrate the diverse experiences and values that shape our communities today.

More to be announced soon

Professor Chakravarthi Ram-Prasad FBA and Professor Lucy O'Brien FBA

Explore how ideas of the self - both as individuals and as part of a community - have shifted across time and culture. From ancient traditions to modern trends, leading researchers will trace how concepts of “me” and “we” continue to shape the world we live in today.

Emma Dabiri, Professor Viren Swami, and Professor Heather Widdows

What role do beauty ideals play in society - and who decides? In the age of filters, photoshop and plastic surgery, how can we build healthier relationships with our bodies? Uncover the social history of aesthetic ideals and explore how we might redefine what “beauty” truly means.

Professor Katherine Brickell

What does it mean to parent without a home in a society obsessed with self-sufficiency? Drawing on her acclaimed book, Debt Trapped Nation, Professor Katherine Brickell shines a light on how homeless families navigate identity and selfhood -and why welfare systems often fail to provide the support they need.

Dr Fatima Rajina

How do our religious beliefs impact the way we dress and present ourselves? Join Dr Fatima Rajina as she examines the intersection of masculinity, gendered beauty, religious expression, and bias through the sartorial practices of Muslim men in London’s East End.

Dr Josephine Ross

How does our memory shape our sense of self? And what happens when it begins to fade? Join Dr Josephine Ross to unpack the language we use to define ourselves - and how our identity can become fractured if this narrative is lost.

Join artist Fiona Quadri for a creative drop-in workshop exploring how we understand and express “the self” in a world shaped by community, technology, and beauty ideals. Reflect on questions such as 'Who am I? ' and 'How do I want to be seen? and 'How do others shape my identity?'. Bring your ideas to life by illustrating or collaging your own self-portrait.

Discover the extensive art collection and historic architecture of 10-11 Carlton House Terrace on a guided tour with the British Academy’s curator or explore the building at your own pace with a self-guided tour.

Dr Fatima Rajina and Rehan Jamil

This digital exhibition features 25 photographs of British Muslim men and their Jummah (Friday prayers) attire - revealing how clothing shapes their identity and self-expression. Taken at Spitalfields and Whitechapel mosques, these photographs aim to challenge perceptions of Muslim men and broaden the conversation about Muslim sartorial choices beyond the usual focus on women.

Professor Julian Henriques and Linett Kamala

Step inside a specially curated listening space for a live DJ performance by Professor Julian Henriques and Linett Kamala, who will take us on a journey through selected vinyl tracks, accompanied by thoughts and ideas about how sound system culture cultivates and celebrates community identity, togetherness, and expression, all played on a custom hand-built sound system.

Professor Patrick Haggard FBA, Dr Sally Holloway and Dr Pamela Odih

In this interactive event, three speakers will explore the role of self through interwoven topics before curated discussions with attendees. We will examine how the physical self is viewed through visual identities in relation to Afro-Caribbean hair before then exploring Georgian love tokens and what giving away part of your physical self to another can mean. The final talk shifts to explore how the brain’s connection to the physical body shapes our personal idea of self internally.

Please note:

You will need to register for a separate 'Salon' ticket from the 'Add-on' section of the booking page.

This workshop requires audience participation and collaboration. If you have any access requirements that may impact your ability participate in the group discussion section of the workshop, please let the Events Team know so we may accommodate you.

Spaces for this event are limited, so please cancel your ticket if you can no longer attend to free up space for other people. Last entry to the Salon will be at 18:35. After this time, the events team reserves the right to offer your space to other people.

Event schedule:

• Doors open: 17:45
• Event starts: 18:00
• Salon: 18:30-19:30 (Last entry 18:35)
• Event ends: 21:30

Further information

Free event, donations welcome, booking required.

As tickets are free, people sometimes book and don't attend, so we have to issue more tickets than there are seats available to allow for this. Entry into this event is on a first-come, first-served basis, and we recommend arriving in good time to avoid any disappointment.

Registering for a ticket does not guarantee you entrance to the SHAPE Room. If the SHAPE Room reaches capacity, you will be directed to the Wohl Gallery next door to watch a live stream of the event.

This event has live subtitles delivered by 121 Captions.

See information about the accessibility of the venue.

If you have any questions about this event, please refer to our Public Events FAQs. If your question is not answered, please email [email protected]

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Event Venue & Nearby Stays

The British Academy, 10-11 Carlton House Terrace, London, United Kingdom

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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