The ‘Let’s Talk about Literature’ seminar series, offered by the Department of Comparative Literature at the University of Kent, is aimed at Sixth Form students considering or planning to study literature at university, however all are welcome including teachers and anyone with an interest in literature from around the world. The seminars will take place on Wednesday at 1pm.
22 July – Coming of age at Hogwarts: Let’s talk about Harry Potter
Harry Potter is a tour de force of children’s literature. It has sold millions of copies worldwide and its filmic adaptations have raked in billions of dollars. But what is the story actually about? How does it deal with the theme, so central to children’s literature, of growing up? What is the significance of the deathly hallows? And how can we interpret Lord Voldemort? This webinar will examine these questions in the context of the literary Bildungsroman (coming of age story). Particular attention will be paid to the themes of childhood, friendship and death.
Book via Zoom.
5 August – Reading the undead: Let’s talk about vampires in fiction and film
From the monstrous vampires of classic horror to the sexy incarnation of the Cullens in Twilight, vampires have captured imaginations for centuries. This webinar will consider some of the metaphorical functions of the vampire figure. Culturally very adaptable, vampire narratives can touch on a range of topical issues, including race, social class, (homo)sexuality, religion and addiction. Drawing on a variety of examples, we will briefly chart the evolution of vampires over time; we will consider their role as manifestations of particular social anxieties; and we will think about why these creatures have endured in the popular imagination.
Book via Zoom.
19 August – Is the book always better than the film? Let’s talk about adaptation
You know what they say: the book is always better than the film. But is that right? And by whose standard? It is certainly the case that – consciously or otherwise – fidelity to the original novel is often seen as a major criterion for a film’s success. But is it fair to expect an adaptation to stay faithful to a book? Or might we be better to consider a filmic adaptation as a separate piece of work, divorced from the book that inspired it? This talk will consider some of these important issues of adaptation. Engaging with some key theories and considering a range of examples, we will focus on the question of fidelity and its validity as a critical response.
Book via Zoom.
2 September – The literary canon – let’s talk about World Literature
In the Western world, there are a few authors that most people are familiar with: William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Virginia Woolf, Franz Kafka, Albert Camus, Oscar Wilde (etc. etc.). Authors such as these make up the literary canon; they are taught in high schools and as part of university syllabi, and they often top “must read before you die” lists. But who decides that these works are the ones we should read? What about the classical literature of Africa, Asia or the Middle East? How many examples of modern Chinese literature have you heard of? This webinar will discuss the question (and validity) of the literary canon in the context of current debates around World Literature.
Book via Zoom.
16 September – Politics and the graphic novel: Let’s talk about the refugee crisis
The current refugee crisis has brought widespread attention to the precarious situation of the refugee. While representations of refugees and migrants in literary texts can be traced back to antiquity, the current era of globalisation and international conflict has created a sense of urgency, resulting in an abundance of new literary works that are devoted to the figure of the refugee. This webinar will explore themes of home, displacement and the foreign other through a discussion of Kate Evans’ graphic narrative, Threads: From the Refugee Crisis. No prior knowledge of the text is required.
Book via Zoom.