Martyn Hudson

Biography

Dr Martyn Hudson is Lecturer in Art and Design History. Martyn is an Applied Sociologist of Art and Cultural Landscapes and a Critical Theorist whose primary research interests lie in Sound Art, Cultural Landscapes, Classical Origins of Critical Theory and Aesthetics, Socially Engaged Practice with Communities and Design-led methodologies. His research lies in three broad streams of work. Firstly, in social and aesthetic theory and specifically Frankfurt School Critical Theory and 20th century Continental Philosophies of art and fabrication particularly as this relates to exile and the idea of refuge. Secondly, in ethnographies of arts practice including rural arts and ecological design, curatorial praxis, experimental design in studio and gallery spaces, and the social production of sculpture and sound art. Thirdly, in classical studies and the ancient world and understandings of design, sculpture and art in antiquity and their impact on contemporary making. He has over thirty peer-reviewed books, journal articles and conference papers.

Research Interest

He has written a series of books for Routledge and has previously taught or researched at the University of Surrey, Kingston University and Newcastle University. He is on the editorial board of Sociological Research Online and has worked closely with arts and human rights organisations nationally and internationally. He was the co-founder of the Merz North group dedicated to scholarly work on Kurt Schwitters in the north of England and project-managed the AHRC-funded Co-Curate North East research group at Newcastle University. He was a Research Associate in the Northumbrian Exchanges programme at Newcastle also funded by the AHRC. He was researcher in residence at the NewBridge Project from 2016-2017 funded by the Newcastle Institute for Creative Arts Practice. His new research on Arts and Craft Design and Workhouse architecture is forthcoming from Cleveland History Journal as part of the Middlesbrough History Project work on Design History in the North of England. He has published in journals such as Rethinking History, Landscapes, Organised Sound, Leonardo Music Journal, Journal of Arts and Communities, Journal of Interactive Media in Education, Online Educational Research Journal, HZ Journal, Race and Class, St Antony's International Review, Youth and Policy and Sociological Research Online.