About this Event
For December we thought it would be interesting to delve back into the history of nature documentaries, and take a look at two films that focus in on marine fauna and subaquatic exploration during the 1960s.
Firstly, 'World Without Sun' (1964) by Jacques Cousteau. In this film, the French director and diver, who co-invented modern-day scuba diving equipment, observes his team as they attempt to set up the world's first underwater base camp and use a yellow "diving saucer" to plunge down 300 metres into the ocean's depths.
And, secondly, we will look at Jean Painlevé's short 'The Love Life of The Octopus' (1965). Identifiying as an anarchist, and influenced by the Surrealist movements of the time, the French photographer and scientist made hundreds of short films during his lifetime, often employing innovatory new magnification lenses that allowed the microscopic details of sea creatures to be filmed in ways that many had never seen before.
Both directors are considered founding fathers of "divulgationism", a new genre of cinema that populised science by communicating academic information in new simplified forms that made it accessible to a far broader audience.
We will meet in person in the Barbican library from 2.15pm and the discussion will run from 2.30-3.30pm with an option of continuing more informal conversations over tea in the cafe afterwards.
Like a traditional book club, we will go around the group and each share our thoughts about the films in turn before engaging in a gently-guided group discussion. Please aim to watch both the films before you attend (it should take around 1 hour, 45 minutes in total), but if you don't have time to watch them all, don't worry and do come along anyway. We find there is always plenty to discuss!
How to Access the Films
Unfortunately the films are not currently unavailable on streaming services and are difficult to buy online (though a very few vintage copies do exist) but you can view the films freely online here:
World Without Sun:
(You can auto-translate the French narration through youtube's settings link in the bottom right-hand-side of the screen, it's not word perfect but we felt it added to the surreal viewing experience!)
The Love Life of the Octopus:
More about The Book Club
The More-Than-Human Book Club is a group that meets monthly both at The Barbican Library and online to talk about more-than-human experiences, wildness and nature writing in its broadest sense. Each month we choose a different book, film, artwork, poem or essay to discuss, including a mix of classic and contemporary works. We hope the space will provide a place of sanctuary, exploration and discovery, and be a place where community and connections are forged and inspiration is found. If you are interested in nature, literature, wildness, ecology, science, art and/or ideas, please do join us. We would love to have you there!
Its co-founders, hosts and curators are:
Olivia “Lilly” Edward. Lilly is a writer who specialises in nature and the environment. For the last two years she has been running nature writing events and panel discussions at the Royal Geographical Society, and she continues to review and write regularly for their magazine. She volunteers as a ranger in Richmond Park and is endlessly enthralled by the natural world and its web of ecological relationships.
Rhona Eve Clews. Rhona is an Artist, Healer and Ecologist. Rhona has a background in Psychology and Photography, holds an MFA in Fine Art from Slade School of Fine Art and teaches independently and for Slade Summer School. Drawing upon her past of growing up a hippie she works across writing, photography, performance and filmmaking, aiming to expand them into somatic, eco-feminist practices and contribute to wider ecological ethics of care.
Any questions please email us at [email protected]
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Barbican Library, Silk Street, London, United Kingdom
GBP 5.00
