Ray Bradbury’s short story ‘The Third Expedition’, first published as ‘Mars is Heaven’ in 1948 and later collected in The Martian Chronicles, describes the arrival of a space expedition on Mars whose crew discover a seemingly familiar American town.
Category: English Literature
Works Loved: Festive Favourites (Wed 11 Dec)
For this festive edition of Works Loved, we’ll be sharing texts that explore festivities, celebrations, and other occasions that are – or should be – joyful. All types of texts, phrases, and festive figures are welcome, from Scrooge to Santa – or feel free to change the tone with a non-festive favourite. Reflections: We had … Continue reading “Works Loved: Festive Favourites (Wed 11 Dec)”
Page Breaks: James Baldwin, Equal in Paris (Wed 16 Oct)
James Baldwin’s essay recounts his brief imprisonment in late 1940s Paris, exploring institutional systems, race, and being American in Europe.
Page Breaks: Goodness and the Literary Imagination (Wed 9 Oct)
Toni Morrison’s essay on altruism and the literary imagination explores the role of goodness in fiction and reflects on why “evil has a blockbuster audience”.
English Literature Induction & Welcome
There will be an induction and welcome event for new postgraduate researchers in English Literature at 3pm on Wednesday 2nd October. This event will complement the School induction on Friday 27th September, and will be followed by a ‘Meet and Greet’ with Research Centres in EDACS at 4pm. Join us for practical advice on starting … Continue reading “English Literature Induction & Welcome”
Research Centre Meet & Greet
To find out more about Research Centres in EDACS, join us for the PG Research Centre Meet and Greet: 4pm, Wednesday 2nd October, Arts Lecture Room 4. Events take place every week within English Literature and EDACS, including visiting speakers, seminars, screenings, and other events organised by departments and Research Centres. For a list of … Continue reading “Research Centre Meet & Greet”
Oxana Timofeeva – ‘The History of Animals: A Philosophy’ – (30/7/19)
For our last session until September, we will be looking at selections from Oxana Timofeeva’s ‘The History of Animals: A Philosophy’. In an original and inspiring work, Oxana Timofeeva provides an ambitious response to what in philosophy has been called the ‘Animal Question’. Specifically, what is the status of the animal in philosophy? Or, why … Continue reading “Oxana Timofeeva – ‘The History of Animals: A Philosophy’ – (30/7/19)”
Kodwo Eshun – ‘Further Considerations on Afrofuturism’ (23/7/19)
This week we will be looking at Kodwo Eshun’s ‘Further Considerations of Afrofuturism’. As a philosophical and aesthetic movement examining the effects of the African Diaspora through technoculture and science fiction, Afrofuturism is both historical and rebellious. Taking the long view of history, its authors imagine possible futures that stem from diasporic experiences. Eshun’s daring … Continue reading “Kodwo Eshun – ‘Further Considerations on Afrofuturism’ (23/7/19)”
Weekly Writing Sessions (Summer 2019)
Weekly Writing Sessions July-August 2019, University of Birmingham Centre for Digital Cultures Vicki Williams is organising a series of writing sessions throughout the summer, for PGRs in the Centre for Digital Cultures. The sessions will provide an informal setting to share and discuss ideas, whilst coming with set tasks and putting time aside for writing. … Continue reading “Weekly Writing Sessions (Summer 2019)”
Works Loved: How Texts Matter to Us (1:30pm, Wed 3 July)
In the latest of our regular ‘Works Loved’ sessions, we will each bring and read from and discuss a text that proved foundational to our research.