Event Date: 5 November 2016

Birkbeck, University of London

Birkbeck Cinema

43 Gordon Square

London WC1H 0PD

The Birkbeck Institute for Social Research and Birkbeck Gender & Sexuality (BiGS) in collaboration with the Birkbeck Institute of the Moving Image (BIMI)present:

Bowie at Birkbeck

Professor Alex Sharpe of Keele University will present a lecture titled: Scary Monsters: the Hopeful Undecidability of David Bowie (1947-2016). Monsters, because the monster is the outsider template par excellence. Hopeful, because monsters are quintessentially hopeful. Bowie, because he is the monster writ large. Of all the figures within popular culture, few embody the monster quite like David Bowie. Through Bowie, the lecture will think through, and render accessible, some key categorical distinctions which the monster brings to crisis. In particular, and through Bowie, we will journey through the territory of sex, gender and sexuality; human/animal hybridity, and the sacred and the profane.

Introduction by Dr Daniel Monk (Birkbeck):

Talk:

Questions:

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The lecture will be followed by a screening of Nick Roeg’s 1976 cult sci-fi film, The Man Who Fell to Earth.

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There will then follow a discussion of Bowie and his massive cultural influence. The discussion will be led by Dr Piyel Haldar (Birkbeck), with Professof Adam Gearey (Birkbeck), Professor Alex Sharpe (Keele) and Dr Daniel Monk (Birkbeck).

So roll up for the mother of monsters. The event will be theoretically rich and an audio-visual feast. What it will not be is dull.