The Supernatural in Literature and Film Conference

Il prossimo 29-31 Marzo 2014, a Shetland, UK, si svolgerà la conferenza

The Supernatural in Literature and Film

Objects of fascination and horror

Ever since the dawn of literature, the supernatural has played a role in the stories humanity tells about itself. But how can we compare Medieval historical writing – with its naturalistic narratives of fairies, demons, and monsters – with present-day written and film fiction concerning vampires, aliens, and ghosts? What are today’s readers to make of Medieval texts of a consciously fictional nature? Even in 12th Century Britain, the serious author Gerald of Wales could criticise his earlier contemporary Geoffrey of Monmouth for writing lies, yet Gerald himself delights in tales of demons and enchantment. Film and literature’s fascination with the supernatural is no less complex today: Whether ‘weird fiction’, Hollywood’s fairy tale reboots, ancient evils of Lovecraftian horror, literary mysticism, the vampires and werewolves of the Twilight books and movies, or the vengeful ghosts and giant monsters that wreak habitual destruction in Japanese cinema, popular culture has never been more magical.

The conference will be based on the windswept island of Unst, Shetland. 29-30 March will feature presentations by academics and practitioners on the subject of the supernatural in literature and film. It will also be possible to hear talks from the conference Folk Belief and Traditions of the Supernatural.

Il programma provvisorio si preannuncia molto interessante!