Gothic Fiction & The Female Writer

Have you heard the uproar over the new Wuthering Heights adaptation?

Despite over 40 films, television and radio adaptations, Wuthering Heights is still often remembered as an “obsessive romance.” In reality, it is a Gothic Romance – and more specifically, a story that engages deeply with themes of domestic abuse. Similarly, many beloved Female Gothic adaptations tend to highlight romance over the darker, more unsettling aspects of these narratives. From Wuthering Heights to Jane Eyre to Rebecca, the central figures are not simply swoon-worthy lovers – they often reflect the complex and sometimes abusive dynamics at the heart of these stories.

Join Dr Maisha Wester as she explores the intimate connections between the Gothic and First-wave Feminism. Tracing back to the French Revolution, Dr Wester will examine how these moments shaped both Gothic literature and early reflections on women’s rights. We will also look at how early Female Gothic writers like Anne Radcliffe wove these societal changes into stories that framed women’s disenfranchisement as a source of true horror. Finally, turning to the present, we will consider the impact of modern adaptations that sometimes downplay the Gothic and how these romanticised portrayals continue to shape the imaginations of audiences today.

Doors open at 7pm, talk starts at 7.30pm - come down early to grab a good seat!

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Dr. Maisha Wester is an Associate Professor and a recent British Academy Global Professor. Her interests focus on social oppression in Gothic Literature and Horror Film. Her books and numerous essays include “Torture Porn and Uneasy Feminisms: Re-thinking (Wo)men in Eli Roth’s Hostel Films” and African American Gothic in the Era of Black Lives Matter. Most recently, she has created and released a narrative-driven, social justice video game for PC titled Coded Black. Her teaching includes courses on Black Feminist literature, racial representations in Gothic Literature and Horror film, and Gender in contemporary Horror film.

This talk is 18+

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