AHC Professor to deliver prestigious lecture addressing class inequalities in UK film and TV industries
The lecture will take place at FACT in Liverpool on 30 October
A Professor in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures will deliver a prestigious lecture at the end of this month, addressing the persistent and deep-rooted class inequalities that shape the film and television industries in the UK.
Professor Beth Johnson, Lecturer in the School of Media and Communication, will give this year’s John Hamilton Lifelong Learning Lecture at FACT in Liverpool on 30 October at 6pm.
John Hamilton (1922-2006) was a significant figure in the political life of the city of Liverpool. He had been a teacher in Liverpool schools and remained deeply committed to education for working class children and adults throughout his life. He bequeathed a fund to the University of Liverpool which came to the University’s Centre for lifelong Learning in 2007, following his death the previous year. The trust was intended to be used to support and promote the education of working-class people.
In her lecture, 'Class Dismissed? Work and Inequalities Behind the Scenes of British TV and Film', Professor Johnson will explore the persistent socio-economic inequalities that shape the British TV and film industries, focusing on the barriers faced by individuals from working-class backgrounds. By examining workforce demographics, the talk will highlight the underrepresentation of diverse socio-economic groups in key behind-the-scenes roles.
Focusing on the structures and practices through which class has been overlooked under broad creative diversity remits, the talk will also address the intersection of class with race, region, and gender. It will demonstrate how compounded inequalities further hinder access and progression within the industry, while proposing recommendations to enhance equitable hiring practices and envision a future where a diverse workforce leads to richer, more varied storytelling.
Professor Beth Johnson said:
“I'm really honoured to have been invited by the University of Liverpool to give the John Hamilton 2024 Lecture. My lecture invites attendees to explore the importance of social class as it plays out in the UK television and film industries. In the lecture we'll look at how persistent socio-economic inequalities shape these industries, structing what stories get told, how, and by whom. We'll also consider the class related barriers to 'getting in' and 'getting on', as well as looking toward movements and initiatives designed to support much needed structural change.”
The lecture will draw on research connected to an AHRC-funded project, led by Professor Johnson, titled 'What's on? Rethinking Class in the Television Industry (2023-2026)’. This research is being undertaken in partnership with the BBC, Channel 4, and Candour Productions.
The John Hamilton Lecture will take place at FACT in Liverpool on 30 October at 6pm. Attendance is free and booking information can be found here.
