Our ‘Spotlight On’ series showcases the world-leading work of our academics. Dr Alistair Brown is using 21st century technology to transform how people can experience classic literature.
While literature has proved a remarkably resilient form even amid the rise of digital technologies, some people can find it a challenge to initially understand classic works.
Alistair is on a mission to change this. He uses immersive technology like Virtual Reality (VR) and gaming to make material like Shakespeare accessible, exciting and relevant to young audiences.
Shakespeare’s plays, with their challenging language but powerful imaginative worlds, prove an ideal testing ground for this approach.
Alistair uses VR to help students step into Shakespeare's world as participants rather than passive observers. This builds enthusiasm, engagement and understanding for material that might otherwise seem daunting.
Alistair’s own career reflects the rapid transformation of technology itself. He began by studying how artificial intelligence and virtual reality were represented in science fiction as technologies of the future. But after working in a series of distance learning institutions both in the UK and internationally, Alistair recognised the ways in which new digital methods can help to bring literary education to life.
As things like AI and VR have become technologies of the present, Alistair’s work has moved from theory to practice. He has pioneered the development of VR resources for the classroom and demonstrated how the diverse skills students gain by studying English can apply to digital careers and lifestyles.
Alistair’s research has been cited in parliamentary reports examining how learning technology can shape the future of universities. He has also recently been conducting research and development with Durham-based Elysium theatre company so that they can add 360 filmography and virtual reality content to their existing education and outreach resources.
Alistair is passionate about challenging perceptions of English as a subject of the past. He is central to the national ‘English Creates’ campaign which is shaping policy discussions around the value of English by demonstrating its relevance to contemporary themes, ethics, issues and technologies.
Alistair’s work shows how English studies can support cutting-edge technologies and creative industries that are growth areas in our economy.
Skills of understanding language and storytelling, which Alistair’s work aims to build, translate directly into careers in immersive sectors such as video game design.
This is exemplified in modules like “Reading Games, Playing Books” or “Games as Culture” which Alistair teaches as part of our English Studies undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. Within these modules, Alistair helps literature students understand how classical texts or cultural theories can be incorporated into video games, preparing them for careers in the games industry.
For Alistair, Durham provides the ideal environment for this work, enabling him to collaborate with experts in language, writing and performance, along with learning technologists and access to equipment.
By blending classic literature with cutting-edge technology, Alistair is helping us redefine what it means to study English in the digital age.
Find out more:
/prod01/prodbucket01/media/durham-university/research-/new-research-and-business/Research-and-Business-Partnerships.png)