Luella Disley

A supportive environment 

When I first started at Goldsmiths, I found the transition into university life quite difficult. As someone who is autistic, navigating a new environment and way of learning came with challenges I didn’t feel prepared for at first.

However, the Department of Anthropology and the Disability Service were incredibly supportive. That made a huge difference in helping me find pathways through which I could meaningfully access and participate in academic study.

Emphasis on independent research 

One of the aspects I appreciated most about my time at Goldsmiths was the emphasis on independent research. Being able to explore my own topic in depth for my dissertation was not only the highlight of my degree, but also a turning point for me personally and creatively.

It gave me the space to develop my own ideas and build trust in my academic ability.

Local gems and creative community 

One of my favourite aspects of studying in New Cross has been the strong sense of community and creativity that characterises the area.

Canvas & Cream in Forest Hill has become a regular spot for studying; I like to get a slice of cake and sit out the front while I work.

Another favourite is The Word, which is the local bookshop. It is full of wonderful political and academic work, and they have a really good second-hand section.

Life after Goldsmiths 

I am undertaking a Masters in Museum Studies at UCL, which will provide a wonderful opportunity for me to focus on areas of personal and academic interest, particularly Queerness and Lesbianism in archival practice.

I’ve found that writing about lesbianism, whether academically or creatively, is something I keep coming back to, and being able to continue that work at postgraduate level feels incredibly fulfilling.

What I enjoy most is the chance to critically explore how Queer lives and histories are represented in institutional spaces, and how we can challenge, expand, or reimagine those narratives.

Looking ahead, I hope to continue researching and writing in this field, and to collaborate with museums in ways that advocate for more reflective approaches to the preservation and presentation of Queer histories.

Advice for future students

It’s okay if it doesn’t feel easy at first – that doesn’t mean you’re not meant to be there. Starting university can be overwhelming in all kinds of ways, especially if you’re coming from a background where academic spaces haven’t always felt accessible or welcoming.

The most important thing is finding what works for you and trusting your instincts and ideas. Your perspective is valuable!

Dissertation: Existing Otherwise: Queer Memory, Archival Desire and The Politics of Structural Illegibility 

My dissertation work emerged out of an embodied need to reckon with the complexities of Queer memory, its fractures and its resonances.

It is a response to the tension between what is recorded and what is left unsaid, between the archival impulse to document and the Queer desire to evade such confinement.

As I engaged with the archive, my aim was not to resolve the discomforts that inevitably arise when we confront the limitations of memory and of representation.

Instead, my paper sought to inhabit the space between what is known and what is forgotten, to trace the affective currents that move through archives and to imagine new ways of being in relation to a Queered past. To embrace the inherent Queerness of archival practice is to affirm that history is not whole, not done.

We do not search for ourselves in the past to be confirmed, but to be transformed. In that search, we learn to exist otherwise.