About this Event
What can 3,000 years of female water beings tell us about femininity? Humans have imagined powerful women of the water for millennia, from the bloodthirsty sirens of Homer’s Odyssey to the disturbing nineteenth-century phenomenon of the ‘Feejee Mermaid’. Trace the transformation of the siren from winged bird-woman into the fish-tailed seductress we recognise today.
In this talk, Dr Billie Gavurin explores mermaids and other female water-beings across literature and art, from ancient Mesopotamia to the Caribbean. Examine myths of women who transform from human to aquatic forms, and explore how these figures have been associated over time with male fantasies of feminine evil, colonialism, and contemporary environmental crisis. Discover why the mermaid remains such a potent cultural symbol, and what her enduring presence can reveal about our shifting perceptions of femininity.
Doors open at 7, talk starts at 7.30pm - come down early to grab a good seat!
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Speaker Bio:
Dr Billie Gavurin is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Birmingham whose work explores myth, folklore, and evolutionary theory. Her PhD at the University of Bristol focused on animal-human hybrids and Darwinism in Victorian culture, where she subsequently lectured for two years. She has published articles on writers including Algernon Blackwood and H. G. Wells, and her first monograph, ‘Darwinian Monsters at the Fin de Siècle’, is under contract with Palgrave Macmillan. She is also an experienced public speaker who has organised her own conference exploring mythology and the Ecogothic.
This talk is 16+
Testimonials from our guests
⭐ Truly riveting talks, always enjoy these – a great way to spend an evening with some pals. Already looking forward to the next one. – Alexander P
⭐ Expertly run, talks are always super informative and a lot of fun! Couldn’t recommend these enough! 5 star. – Owen S
⭐ Been to a few talks and all have been super interesting. An enjoyable evening to go to either alone or with friends. The talks make for stimulating conversation. Highly recommend! – Daisy J
Agenda
🕑: 07:00 PM
Doors Open
🕑: 07:30 PM
Talk Starts
Event venue & nearby stays
Harraby Theatre, Edgehill Rd, Carlisle CA1 3SN, Carlisle, United Kingdom
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