The Generalitat de Catalunya prize, totalling more than €4,000, was awarded to Richard Huddleson, a recent PhD graduate from Queen Mary’s Centre for Catalan Studies.
Based in Barcelona, Institut d'Estudis Catalans (Institute for Catalan Studies) is an academic institution that undertakes research into all elements of Catalan language and culture. The funding will enable research to be undertaken which focuses on Early Modern plays from Mallorca.
The project, Infidelitat, transvestisme, i escàndol nupcial a Mallorca (Infidelity, cross-dressing, and marital scandal in Mallorca) will explore how transgressive characters challenged the power structures of their day. It builds on Richard Huddleson’s own doctoral research carried out in the Centre for Catalan Studies at Queen Mary University of London.
Richard Huddleson’s PhD on Queer Catalan Theatre, which was funded by the Institut Ramon Llull, had looked at more contemporary plays that emerged in Barcelona, but during his research he came across a variety of older plays, including these Mallorcan works, that have largely been forgotten.
Queen Mary’s Centre for Catalan Studies is the only university centre in the United Kingdom dedicated to research into the culture of areas where Catalan is spoken. It promotes scholarship relating to Catalan art, history, literature, theatre, film, music and popular culture.
Richard Huddleson said: “I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity. The award proves that our Centre for Catalan Studies, the only one of its kind in the UK, is doing its job by promoting Catalan language and culture, as it is creating worthwhile research which is, in turn, being recognised by Catalan institutions. Given that we are working with a minority language, which is still carving out a space in UK academia, this is a real victory for both Queen Mary and the Centre.”
Professor John London, Director of the Centre for Catalan Studies at Queen Mary said: “This is great news. Richard was able to undertake his PhD research thanks to the Balearic Islands Doctoral Studentship awarded by the Centre for Catalan Studies and now his work has been recognised with a grant from Barcelona. It is confirmation of the continuing value derived from our funder, the Institut Ramon Llull.”
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