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Imagining the Impossible: Festival of (Eighteenth-Century) Ideas
Posted on 21 May 2018
The Festival takes place each year in June, and for 2018 has the theme of “Imagining the Impossible”. Taking this as inspiration, we’ve come up with a series of events that explore other worlds, lead participants on unexpected journeys, and also celebrate the 200th anniversary of Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein– because the impossible, might just be possible after all!
Details of each event can be found below, along with links to book tickets where necessary. We do hope that you can come and join us!
Frankenstein: A Night at the Movies
Wednesday 6 June 2018, 6.30pm
Speakers: Jon Mee and Mary Fairclough
Venue: City Screen
Tickets: Available from CityScreen
To celebrate the 200th anniversary of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, we present a special festival screening of the 1931 film adaptation of the same name. Directed by James Whale, the iconic horror film by Universal Pictures tells the story of a doomed scientist who brings a monster to life. The film stars Colin Clive, Mae Clarke and John Boles, and features Boris Karloff as the monster. It was adapted from a play by Peggy Webling, which in turn is based on Mary Shelley’s novel.
Frankenstein at 200: The Science of the Novel
Thursday 7 June 2018, 8pm
Speaker: Mary Fairclough
Venue: King’s Manor, Exhibition Square
Tickets: Available via Eventbright
Celebrating the 200th anniversary of the publication of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Mary Fairclough of the University of York discusses the science of the novel. Learn how this relates to early 19th-century studies in medicine, chemistry and electricity, and how Shelley’s presentation of the animation of the creature anticipates more recent developments in medical ethics.
Laurence Sterne: A Sentimental Picture
Friday 8 June 2018, 6.30pm
Speakers: Jon Mee with Patrick Wildgust, Nick Thurston and Caleb Klaces
Venue: King’s Manor, Exhibition Square
Tickets: Available via Eventbright
This year marks the 250th anniversary of the death of novelist Laurence Sterne and of the publication of his last book, A Sentimental Journey. Taking their cue from Sterne – who famously wrote about the impossibility of writing – our speakers and performers examine the theme of writing the impossible and the impossibility of writing.
Fringe Family Fun Afternoon
Saturday 9 June 2018, 1.30pm-4.30pm
Venue: Ron Cooke Hub, University of York, Heslington East Campus
Tickets: None – just turn up!
There are three events being run by CECS students as part of the Fringe Family Fun afternoon:
Make your own Frankenstein’s Creature
Fiona Milne, Harrie Neal, Millie Schurch, Hannah Jeans
Craft workshop to create your own version of Victor Frankenstein’s creature – how terrifying will your monster be? Come and find out as part of #Frankenstein200
Frankenstory’s Discovery Lab
Alice Rhodes, Jennifer Buckley
Create your own twist on a classic tale! Make your own monster, search for buried treasure, and discover a new land as we take inspiration from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels, and Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island
Grand Tour: The Board Game
Lilian Tabois, Frances Long, Tali Kot-Ofek
Want to see the world, or go travelling? Well now you can – eighteenth century style! Avoid carriage accidents, dodge strangers, and see if you have what it takes to survive life on the road as part of the grand tour!