Talks and shows

How did monsters help unlock the secrets of life?

How do monsters help us understand the world around us?

Image by Etienne Marais from Pixabay

Monsters have existed in literature and science for centuries, but they're more than just a source of fear. They also act as a crucial key to unlocking the mysteries of life.

Join Professor of Victorian Literature, Andrew Mangham, as he traces the development of the idea of monsters from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein to Comte de Buffon's natural history, and Hugo de Vries' mutation theory.

Discover how these ground-breaking thinkers challenged traditional notions of normality and helped lay the foundation for modern biology and genetics. Uncover the connections between literature, science, and the changing perception of monsters, and how this sheds light on the significance of body difference and diversity in the natural world. And do it all in the very same Theatre where Mary Shelley got ideas for her seminal book!

Through his in-depth analysis of the works of these innovative thinkers, Andrew reveals the transformative power of monsters and their role in shaping our understanding of life.

Copies of Andrew's latest book, 'We Are All Monsters: How Deviant Organisms Came to Define Us', are available to purchase after the talk.

Event type

This is a theatre only event where the speakers and audience are together in our Theatre.

By booking to attend events at the Royal Institution, you confirm that you have read and accept the Ri's event terms and conditions. You also agree to abide by our code of conduct, and help to create a great experience for yourself and your fellow participants. Please note that Eventbrite adds a small booking fee to the amount paid for each ticket option.

For any queries regarding this event please get in touch by phone 020 7409 2992 or email events@ri.ac.uk.

About Andrew Mangham

A man is looking at the camera.
Andrew Mangham

Andrew Mangham is Professor of Victorian Literature and Medical Humanities at the University of Reading, UK. Andrew's research focuses on the overlap between literature and medicine, specifically the shared intellectual and methodological features that literature and medicine have in common. He is the founder and director of the Centre for Health Humanities at the University of Reading, which is an interdisciplinary group of researchers further investigating the links between the arts and humanities across three major themes: life transition; minds, bodies and sickness; and monsters and the monstrous. He is the author of 'The Science of Starving in Victorian Literature', 'Medicine, and Political Economy', 'Dickens's Forensic Realism', and 'Violent Women and Sensation Fiction'.

Timing

Doors to the theatre will open at 6.45pm and the talk will begin at 7.00pm.

Accessibility

The event will take place on the first floor and there is step-free access from the street via lift.

The closest underground station is Green Park, which is step-free.

There is space at floor level in the theatre for wheelchair users.

Seating is usually unreserved for our events. If you and your group require seating reservations, please do let us know by emailing us at events@ri.ac.uk, and we’ll be more than happy to help.

Carers can receive a free ticket to an event by emailing events@ri.ac.uk.

Our theatre is equipped with an Audio Induction Loop. 

Covid guidelines

Face masks are no longer mandatory and wearing one in our Theatre and at other Ri events is at your discretion, however please do not attend the Ri if you are displaying Covid symptoms or, if you have tested, the result remains positive. Thank you for respecting other people and their choices, and for helping us keep all of our visitors and staff safe and well.

Event terms and conditions

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