Strange Encounters: Paranoia and British Science Fiction Cinema #scifi #fantasy

(Partnership event with Café Scientifique)

Jade Verbick writes:

As a fan of everything science fiction, I enjoy nothing more than a scintillating conversation on the relationship between culture and works of science fiction, and the impact they have on each other. The wide-spanning genre is often disregarded or dismissed altogether when discussing culture and the arts, but science fiction is an important way of gauging the fears held in contemporary culture. 

Robert Shail

Robert Shail, Professor of Film and Director of Research at Leeds Beckett University, expanded on this theory in his talk about the unique anxieties that influenced post-WWII British science fiction cinema. Referencing such classics as The Village of the Damned and The Day of the Triffids, Shail discussed the very British fears of children, women, and nice weather. While, disappointingly (and perhaps a slightly bit ironically), we were not able to see a visual representation of the films he mentioned due to technical difficulties, Robert Shail’s discussion on science fiction films of post-war Britain was insightful and animated. 

His passion for science fiction film shone through in his brilliant analysis of classic science fiction film and literature. His talk helped open a wider conversation about the lasting legacy of science fiction and what it might represent in our contemporary society. Robert Shail gave a talk that will likely stick in his audience’s minds for a long time to come.

Tamsin Scott writes:

When headed to Robert Shail’s talk on science fiction, I honestly had no idea what to expect. My only experiences with Science Fiction so far have been my step-dad’s unyielding attempts to make me watch Blade Runner, which, in spite of all his efforts, I have still not seen. Despite not quite being the target audience for Shail’s 1950’s based talk, I was so completely engaged with his ideas that I begun to view myself as an elderly man who had lived through the fears of the post war years. His clear, humorous presentation guided us through both time and place, starting with US films and their focus on the Red Scare, making his way towards UK films and the fears present in suburban Britain.

At multiple points throughout the presentation, I was struck by the relevance to today’s science fiction. As it turns out, women and youth have been universally feared for centuries, which is surprisingly quite an ego boost for a 20 year old woman. Although I hadn’t seen many of the films Shail spoke about, the concepts were easily relatable to the sci-fi films I have seen. Issues such as untrustworthy women and a new generation that can’t be understood are still present in today’s society, and are equally as obvious in modern films. During the question and answer session at the end of the presentation, Shail answered multiple questions about the future of science fiction. He stated that due to Netflix and YouTube, we may see a return of the B movie, and thus realistic, widely representative fears that are not Hollywood giants but instead capture the charm of rural Britain.

YOU'LL NEVER BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENS IN THIS TRAILER - for the Hammer Film version of Quatermass and the Pit - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Zoz9MN0-Y4

Audience Comments

Really enjoyed it.  Very interesting guest speaker.

Despite the problem with the projector the talk was illuminating and very interesting

Interesting talk and discussion.  Pity the film clips couldn't be shown

Very illuminating talk

Excellent despite the technology failure. A very good talk in spite of technical hitches – and interesting discussion points

Given the failure of the AV equipment the speaker was excellent

A very interesting talk but it was a pity about the lack of video

Excellent! And despite lack of projector

Very interesting even though let down by technology

Interesting!

Liked the comparisons between British and American SciFi movies - and his assertion that Star Wars changed everything.

And here's the message passed on to its members by Café Scientifique:

Information for Followers of Headingley Cafe Scientifique Dear All, Thanks to all of you who attended the last Cafe Sci meeting - "Strange Encounters" by Robert Shail. As will recall, this was put on in conjunction with Headingley LitFest and we had a bit of a technology failure in that the projector refused to work. So, thanks again to Robert for coping with all this and still delivering an interesting and thought provoking discussion. Robert has kindly passed on his Powerpoint presentation which contains some graphics but also some links to the clips he would have shown but did a great job in explaining everything verbally. Click here to download the powerpoint presentation

Café Scientifique Headingley is a programme run under the auspices of the Headingley Development Trust Headingley Development Trust Ltd  www.headingleydevelopmenttrust.org.uk

The Exceedingly Good Writings of Mr Kipling

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Darla Dryland writes:

Trio Literati: Maggie Mash, Richard Rastall, Jane Oakshott

The wonderful Trio Literati, comprised of Maggie Mash, Richard Rastall and Jane Oakshott, educated and entertained their audience with a captivating account of the life and works of Rudyard Kipling. Combining musical performance, poetry reading and storytelling, we were led through the imaginative journey of Kipling’s creative development. Richard Rastall played Rudyard Kipling himself, providing an emotional insight into the great writer’s many enchanting experiences. Maggie Mash and Jane Oakshott frequently switched from a narrative, external outlook to playing comical roles that interacted brilliantly with Rastall. The Trio were accompanied by Eleanor Rastall on vocals and Jonathan Drummond on the piano, adding another dimension to the intriguing atmosphere. It was absolutely breathtaking.

Eleanor Rastall

I was surprised and excited by the scope of Kipling’s work the Trio introduced to us. They brought to life poems such as ‘If’, ‘The Lie’ and ‘Boots’ and musical performances of ‘Let’s All go Down to The Strand’ and ‘I Wanna be Like You’ from the Jungle book. This innovative yet informative production combined educational purpose with creative involvement and they maintained an active engagement with the audience from start to finish. 

This terrific Trio is definitely one to watch!

Sally Bavage adds:
Darla Dryland, who wrote our blog above, was also very helpful in clearing up after the event.  Furniture moving her speciality!

Audience Comments

The performers sang and spoke so well that even I (a foreigner) could understand everything. The actors were fascinating, musicians were brilliant. I am very happy to know new facts about Kipling. This performance was wonderful and educative.

Diversity was a theme and the show was exceedingly and very pleasingly diverse. Well structured, mixing biography with creative work. Enjoyable performance bringing Kipling to entertaining life.

A lovely mix of poetry, music, biography. I knew only a little about Kipling and hadn't appreciated how interesting his life had been. Another fantastic Trio Literati performance!

A fabulous evening with not a weak link - Trio Literati, with Eleanor and Jonathan created a great and warm rapport with the audience, who clearly appreciated the evening.

A superb evening - varied and witty and it was so good to be at an event where the word could be so clearly heard.

Trio Literati; Eleanor Rastall and Jonathan Drummond are simply delightful. The text, the songs, the production were all first rate, entertaining and educational, funny and thought provoking.

Right venue - quite intimate. So well thought through, it knitted together excellently + lovely performance. We really enjoyed it.

I enjoyed the mix of narrative and song. An interesting mix of material about Kipling and his writings. Learned a lot about him I didn’t know before.

A well researched, comprehensive and witty survey of Kipling's life, times + a glimpse into his art. A sound basis on which to study his works further.

Didn't realise Kipling was such an interesting character - what a wonderful variety of writing and an interesting selection of music and words.

Very interesting and informative as well as enjoyable. Well performed both music and drama. Loved the coconut horses!

A really interesting and thought-provoking mix of prose and poetry. The music added greatly to the atmosphere and made the evening wonderfully varied. Tragedy and humour combined.

Really enjoyable and entertaining selection of pieces encapsulating Kipling and his life and times

Most enjoyable evening. Broadened my awareness of the work of Kipling. Lovely entertaining performances.

A lovely mixture of poetry, story, song and music - nostalgic and very memorable.

As ever, an interesting and esoteric assemblage of diverse material, well presented.

Well done and thoroughly enjoyable because I am particularly fond of Kipling.

A very well-acted tribute to Kipling, with an excellent selection of music and song!

Reminiscent but different. Well presented celebration of Kipling.

A marvellous performance, capturing the spirit of Kipling so well.

A very interesting and enjoyable compilation. New insights into K's life and attitudes.

A thoroughly 'old fashioned' evening - beautifully performed and very informative.

Very good - well presented. A joy to watch.

Very well done + excellent singing and music.

Someone who knows very little of Kipling's life I found it not only educational but also entertaining and fun to watch.

A wonderful evening well in keeping with the ethos of the LitFest.

As always, a stimulating and amusing event. Impeccable acting. Fun and moving.

My first Headingley LitFest event - if the quality and entertainment value of this is representative it must be a very good festival!

Rudyard Kipling has always been just a name to me, synonymous with empire. This evening, he became human.

Enjoyable, and challenging received opinion of Kipling's place in literature.

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