Inspired by a passage in Sara Ahmed’s book Living a Feminist Life in which she quotes Firestone’s notion of a ‘dream action’, this series explores the ways in which ideals, beliefs and convictions are lived out and made tangible through gestures in artistic and personal life. Through conversations and presentations with artists, collectives and academics, the series considers how personal and collective actions are both constricted by and made visible by the institutions of their day.
The first event, Embodied Visions: Medieval Mysticism, is an exploration of female mystics and saints. The discussion will consider both how the interior mystical experiences of mystics and saints were externalized through visions and embodied responses, and how they negotiated the institutions which framed, legitimized and yet also persecuted them. Featuring Dr Sarah Salih, Senior Lecturer in Medieval English at Kings College London, and Dr Alicia Spencer-Hall, Honorary Research Fellow at Queen Mary, University of London.
Biographies
Dr Sarah Salih is a Senior Lecturer in medieval English at Kings College London, with a long-standing interest in mystical writing and its reception.
Author of Medieval Saints and Modern Screens, Dr Alicia Spencer-Hall specialises in trans-historical critical engagement with literature of the Middle Ages, with particular expertise in the crossover between medieval divine visions and modern media environments.
OTHER EVENTS IN THE SERIES
Thu 23 Nov 2017 - In-conversation with Jade Monsterrat as a representative of the Rainbow Tribe
Thu 11 Jan 2018 - Collective Responses: screening and discussion
Speakers to be confirmed