IN MEMORIA: Wales Mourns the Untimely Loss of Important Media Scholar Dr. James Thomas

PICTURED ABOVE: DR. JAMES THOMAS

According to the Cardiff University School of Journalism Media and Cultural Studies web site:

"James Thomas died suddenly last weekend."

"He is, and will be, sadly missed by all his present and past students and by all of those who have worked with him over the years."

"The school offers its sincere condolences to James's family and friends during this difficult time."

"Terry Threadgold, Head of School"

Visit the James Thomas memorial site here.

James's is well known for his pivotal role in the development of the Welsh Media Journal Cyfrwng.

His research interests included Media History, History in the Media, Public and Media Mourning, British Politics and the Media, Welsh Media, Media and Monarchy, Media Power.

His articles and books spanned from explorations of anti-Welsh attitudes in the media to 'The Case for a Bi-lingual S4C'.

Many of his dear friends and students and colleagues are in a state of shock.

A special memorial page has been setup on Face Book and has this recent news:

FaceBook Group Info Name: Remembering James Thomas

Description: A group to remember the wonderful James Thomas, who has passed away much too early. We wanted to create an informal place where his friends, colleagues and students can remember him -- please post your memories, pictures, thoughts or anything else...

Recent News:

Dr James Thomas just passed away. He died suddenly, in his sleep, from a massive cerebral hemorrhage. The funeral will be this Friday, 24th August, at 10.15 am in St. Andrew's Church, Tonypandy and the burial will follow at 11am at Treorchy Cemetery.

Any cards can be given to Mr Huw Thomas in the JOMEC main office. He will ensure that they are passed on to the family.

JOMEC has set up a memorial website:

Chttp://journalism.cf.ac.uk/JamesThomas/index.php

I thought James was especially kind and helpful to patiently give me advice last year about completing my dissertation.

He went out of his way to encourage me and to offer some guidance, even though I was from a different institution.

This is certainly tragic and sad news, and our hearts go out to his family, students, colleagues and friends.

He will be missed.

mwoods[at]glam[dot]ac[dot]uk

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Welsh-American Family Genealogy, on the World Wide Web.

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Visit the UK Film Studies and World Cinema and Music Import Showcase

© 2007 Mark Leslie Woods

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© 2007 Mark Leslie Woods

CCI Atrium Artist Headlines this Weekend's Rock Benefit Bash at Millenium Centre in Cardiff Bay

Can any good thing come out of Pontypridd? Well, when it comes to music, just ask music icon Sir Tom Jones. Or maybe ask the Pontypridd band, BenSem . . .

Totally Lost Control is a music event at the Cardiff Bay Millenium Centre this weekend, one of the last 'end-of-summer' events you don't want to miss.

My University of Glamorgan colleague Chris Hughes is not only a band member, but he's mostly responsible for throwing this enormous rock and popular music event.

The event will benefit the Toby Lloyd Cockbain Foundation, which helps children with cancer in Wales. The bands will play from noon until midnight, and not surprisingly, Cardiff School of Creative Industries music students are among the band members.

For example, don't miss the headliner BenSem. The BBC Music website says this:

"Friends since the age of 11, Pontypridd's Semmens and Rawbone have been playing music together since 2000, and have now got together a band they feel they can take out on the road."

"Cook and Jones joined in 2006, and their soft indie rock (think the likes of Del Amitri or Crowded House as starting points) came together quickly."

"We're a family," they say. "We're not concerned with today's stylised music industry, BenSem want to concentrate on bringing back what matters most: great music and strong songs played with heart and soul.

Please see BBC Music web page on BenSem

The event includes a raffle to benefit Kids with Cancer, so if you want to get a £2 discount at the door, bring something to donate to the raffle.

It's an affordable event with £2 pints, free mixers with spirits, BBQ, quizzes, raffles and auctions of artwork. Don't miss it!

Find out what bands are appearing at www.myspace.com/totallylostcontrol

www.myspace.com/totallylostcontrol

Cardiff School of Creative & Cultural Industries

mwoods[at]glam[dot]ac[dot]uk

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Welsh-American Family Genealogy, on the World Wide Web.

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Welsh Music, Film, and Books Symposium, on the World Wide Web.

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Celtic Cult Cinema on the World Wide Web.

Visit the UK Film Studies and World Cinema and Music Import Showcase

© 2007 Mark Leslie Woods

Smart & Sexy? Your Queer Advantage is waiting!

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Queer Advantage, on the World Wide Web.

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Mordechai Razing Ziggurats, on the World Wide Web.

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Mordechai's Post-Evangelical-Granola on the World Wide Web.

© 2007 Mark Leslie Woods

Come See a Sexy Late Summer Welsh Valleys Arts Blast: Pontypridd Comes Alive As Artists Fill Five Venues Next Week

All Over the Shop:

15 artists in 5 venues for 1 week only!!!

25th August -1st September 2007

A thriving community of artists have recently established a network, based in the town of Pontypridd, with a large number of new sculpture, painting, films and new media works to show, the artists have seized the opportunity to transform a number of vacant shop units in the Taff Vale Shopping Centre and the Muni Arts Centre into multi-media gallery spaces for this first ever ‘All Over the Shop’ festival of visual art.

Preview opening:

25th August 12 noon at Muni Arts Centre Gelliwasted Rd., Pontypridd

25th August 1 pm at Taff Vale Shopping Centre, Taff Street, Pontypridd

mwoods[at]glam[dot]ac[dot]uk

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Welsh-American Family Genealogy, on the World Wide Web.

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Welsh Music, Film, and Books Symposium, on the World Wide Web.

Click here to go directly to my personal blog page called Celtic Cult Cinema on the World Wide Web.

Visit the UK Film Studies and World Cinema and Music Import Showcase

© 2007 Mark Leslie Woods

Smart & Sexy? Your Queer Advantage is waiting!