Frankenreads Q&A: University of Lincoln

As October 31st approaches, we hope you're getting excited about Frankenreads. Here's a Q&A with Eleanor Bryan - she tells us more about the event at the University of Lincoln.

Want to share details of your Frankenreads event? Get in touch!

What made you want to participate in Frankenreads, and what do you think is the relevance of Mary Shelley's iconic novel today?The inevitable and unstoppable advancement of science renders it reasonable to classify Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein as a novel that will never cease to be relevant to ongoing scientific pursuits. As a PhD researcher studying dramatizations of Frankenstein, I jumped at the opportunity to assist in the organisation of an event that could be a part of the global Frankenreads initiative. The School of English and Journalism at the University of Lincoln has a strong focus on the Gothic, as reflected both in the publications of its faculty and its previous public engagement events. This, combined with the Halloween season and the architecturally Gothic cityscape of the town itself, makes Lincoln the perfect setting for the discussion of texts of this genre. The enthusiasm of the general populous for literary events of this kind paved the way for the University to invite the public to learn about one of the most famous monsters in literary and cinematic history. Frankenstein distinguishes itself from many Georgian novels in that it seems to have resisted obsolescence and has maintained its popularity and cultural relevance consistently over the two hundred years since its publication. The story itself has transcended Shelley’s original storyline, becoming somewhat of a cultural myth – almost everyone is familiar with Frankenstein, even if only through Boris Karloff’s green, zombie-esque emulation. With a range of speakers interrogating many key themes of the original story and its antecedent adaptations, combined with a dramatization and a roundtable, we hope to revitalise the monster once more in the minds of the general public, and provide a comprehensive overview of this novel’s illustrious history.What are you doing for Frankenreads, who is involved, and what makes your Frankenreads event unique?Our event is a public conference hosted at the Lincoln Drill Hall. The morning session (10am-1pm) comprises a programme of papers, with questions from the audience. The afternoon session (2-4pm) features a work in progress performance by Chamelon 53, followed by a Roundtable discussion (with audience participation) titled ‘Frankenstein’s Relevance to the C21st’, chaired by Professor Lucie Armitt (University of Lincoln).

The programme of papers is as follows:Prof. Mark Jancovich (University of East Anglia): ‘Frankenstein’s Hideous Progeny: Science Fiction, Horror and Political Discourse.Eleanor Bryan (University of Lincoln): ‘Hideous Progenies: Reimagining Frankenstein’s monster’.Lauren Christie (University of Dundee): ‘Monstrous Legacies: Literary Adaptations of Frankenstein for Young Readers’.

Chameleon 53 is an emerging East Midlands based theatre company which aims to challenge theatre convention and tell stories. Whether that be through new writing or an adaptation of a text such as a book, music, film, or art; they use theatre as a means to investigate and understand the past and the present, our world, and our feelings. The afternoon session of the event features their work-in-progress performance of Frankenstein’s creation scene, followed by a Q&A session chaired by Dr. Kelly Jones.By incorporating theatre and finishing with a Rountable discussing Frankenstein’s contemporary relevance, our event seeks to emphasise the importance of the novel not only in its original context, but also in its adaptation and its afterlife. Check out the official Frankenreads event page for celebrations near you, and remember to follow the K-SAA on Facebook and Twitter for all things Frankenstein and #Romantics200.