Friday 31 October 2014

Entering the Realm of the Gothic


So this weekend I continued my journey into the world of the supernatural, ahead of Halloween, by dropping into the British Library to check out their new exhibition, Terror and Wonder: The Gothic Imagination.

As a kid I was absolutely terrified of anything to do with ghosts, ghouls, monsters or the scary neighbours. To part quote Ferris Bueller I was like origami, but instead of folding under pressure, I folded under fear. Then at the age of 14, I was introduced to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and a love of Gothic literature blossomed. Yes I've put pen to paper to create my own Gothic stories, but they pale in comparison to Dracula which I believe sets the benchmark for Gothic tales.

The exhibition at the British Library comprises of six chapters in the tale of Gothic: Gothic Beginnings, A Taste for Terror, Victorian Monstrosity, Decadence and Degeneration, Modern Horrors and A Weekend in Whitby. It's a bit like a tree. You start at the roots of Gothic and discover those who brought the genre back into fashion and then you follow the roots to the trunk and then along the branches to find out how the genre has played out across the centuries. So who planted the seed?

                                        

With medieval origins, Shakespeare, Spenser, Mallory were all well-known for bringing elements of the supernatural into their works. However, it was Horace Walpole who provided the genre with a resurgence and popular cult status with his tale 'The Castle of Otranto.' Written over 250 years ago the book contains all the elements needed for a Gothic novel including the villain, a heroine, a sinister plot and a dramatic backdrop. On publication all 500 copies were sold.

Normally you associate grotesque tales and horror with men, but many female writers, including Jane Austen, created some of the most fantastical and macabre tales. Ann Radcliffe inspired Edgar Allen Poe and generations of writers whilst Mary Shelley gave us the tale centered on creation, Frankenstein - a tale born from a competition at Villa Diodati between Percy Shelley, Lord Byron, John Polideri and Mary Shelley. 

By the Victorian era Gothic literature transformed. Instead of setting the tales in the medieval period with landscape playing a pivotal role, the drama took place in the sprawling cities or in the home. Penny Dreadfuls, lurid serial stories for a Penny each, became a popular source for scary tales whilst also bringing the Gothic genre to the mass audience and not just middle and upper classes. One of the most famous serials featured in these Penny Dreadfuls was Sweeney Todd. If you haven't seen the TV series Penny Dreadful then you must get on the case now!!

                                      

Perhaps the most stomach churning part of the exhibition was the exploration into real life horror stories. A section is dedicated to Jack the Ripper and on display is a letter believed to be from the murderer himself. According to police they regularly received fake ripper mail, but this letter described an incident which occurred to the next victim - slicing off part of the ear. The Ripper atrocities also coincided with a stage production of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and the talented, but unfortunate Richard Mansfield portrayed the split personalities of the protagonist so well that many people suspected him of the killings. It goes to show that sometimes it's worth not being that great an actor.

The exhibition is cleverly put together and you clearly get a sense of how the Gothic genre has evolved and adapted itself across the centuries to fascinate and capture the imagination of millions across the world. You also see how the novels translated into film with Nosferatu, The Innocents, but for me it's all about the books - nothing is scarier than curling up and reading a book and letting your imagination run wild. The only downside was ending the exhibition with photos of modern day goths which I didn't feel was necessary, but that's by no means an excuse for you not to visit this incredible exhibition.

Finally, you can tell when an exhibition has had a profound effect on you when you leave the gift shop with four novels and of course two Dracula inspired Christmas decorations....the gift shop did well. 

The exhibition is open till the 20th January and more information can be found at www.bl.uk.

For those seeking to create their own Gothic tale here are four elements which must be included.


The Essential Ingredients for a Classic Gothic Story

1. Setting: An isolated castle, abandoned house or a religious building are crucial to the plot - the more derelict the better

2. Landscape/Urban: A Gothic tale can take place in either but if you want to stand shoulder to shoulder with some of the greats then nature is essential

3. Characters: Every role in a Gothic novel is significant. If you have a heroine there's a villain. Where there is a hero there is a foolish woman. Don't get too caught up in the romanticism between the hero/heroine remember this a Gothic novel and it needs to maintain the elements of the sinister and macabre

4. Tension and Suspension: No I'm not talking about cars, but storms, lightening, lurking shadows. You want to create an eerie atmosphere to entice and shock your reader

Thursday 30 October 2014

Weekend Dose of Culture


So this weekend I recommend power dressing and heading to the Design Museum to see Women Fashion Power.

Having played host to some amazing exhibitions in the past exploring designers such as Christian Louboutin and Paul Smith, this time it's the turn of the people who wear the clothes. But it's not what you expect.

Curated by architect Zaha Hadid, the exhibit features exclusive interviews and a collection of outfits from a wide variety of powerful and confident women including Princesses, models, CEO's and Dames. From Vivienne Westwood to Livia Firth you'll see how women have used fashion to express themselves and assert authority over the last 150 years.

You'll probably want to head directly to the shops afterwards to build your own power wardrobe. 

Women Fashion Power: Not a Multiple Choice
Extras: Double the fashion fun and enjoy a curated guided tour of Women Fashion Power and Knitwear: Chanel to Westwood at the Fashion Textile Museum for only £25
Cost: £12.40
Opening Dates: 29th October 2014 - 26 April 2015

Thursday 23 October 2014

Weekend Dose of Culture


So this weekend I suggest escaping to a galaxy far far away, well actually just to Southbank to check out the BFI's new Sci-Fi season.

The fun, frolics and celebrity glitz of the London Film Festival might be over, but as Chief Executive of the BFI Amanda Nevill said at the closing LFF gala, there's still plenty to come from the BFI. 

The latest seasonal film offering from the institute encompasses over a thousand films from the world of science fiction. You can experience blockbuster classics, take a trip down memory lane with childhood favourites, loose yourself in an obscure Sci-Fi adventure or simply indulge your curiosity of the genre.

I've got my eye on 2001: A Space Odyssey and the Handmaids Tale, but I'm sure I'll easily find an excuse to see more.

Sci-Fi: Days of Fear and Wonder
Extras: Beam me up Scotty! You are spoilt for choice, but you don't have to be in London to watch some classic Sci-Fi. There are several screenings taking place across the UK just visit the BFI website for more details.
Cost: Tickets for non-members are around £11.50
Opening Times: Now till December

Monday 20 October 2014

A Drum, a Drum, the Witches Hath Come


So this weekend I immersed myself in the world of witchcraft and all things wicked at the British Museum's free exhibition, 'Witches and Wicked Bodies.'

I wasn't actually intending to go to this exhibition. It was purely by coincidence that I spotted the exhibition poster as I was on my way to the British Library and something made me double back and head straight to the gallery. Was it fate or witchcraft which lured me into the exhibition? Whatever the reason it piqued my attention and my original plans were dropped.

We've all got our own interpretations and visions of witches. They are either the macabre or prophetic witches from Shakespeare's Macbeth, the eccentric and comical child-haters in Roald Dahl's the Witches or clever know it all Hermione Granger from Harry Potter. However; for centuries witches have been interpreted, reinterpreted, misinterpreted and sexualised in reality and in the art world.

The exhibition at the British Museum uncovers the relationship between witches, sorcery and artistic imagination via sketchings and paintings from the last 500 years. Initially inspired by Greek sorceresses Circe (men beware! One toe out of line with her and she'll turn you into an animal) and Medea the works of art transformed into grotesque depictions in the early 16th Century (clear obsession with witches appearing naked with unfortunate sagging boobs) to the pre-raphelite age where the witch was reconstructed as a "femme fatale." 

But why were witches depicted in such a crude manner in art and literature? You learn as you walk through the exhibition that it was born out of a fear of social, economic and female influence. The 'evils' of female influence is particularly prevalent in the art work with the constant presence of snakes - a reminder of Eve and how easily she was tempted in the garden of Eden. Yes, we are still paying for that one. This fear is also summed up by a quote from an essay by Joris-Karl Huysmans which the curator conveniently places at the end of the exhibition which says; "Woman demonic.. [is a] creature of hell...the repository of all iniquities and crime, the only ambassador delegated by all the vices to ensnare men's souls."

Drawing back to my good old history lessons, I can recollect learning about the numbers of people persecuted and killed for suspected witchcraft. Although most will think of Harry Potter and the fun and excitement that comes from being a witch or wizard when it comes to magic, in the 16th Century to be considered a witch was a crime punishable by death. Makes you think twice about applying for Hogwarts. 

The exhibition is free and lasts till the 11th January 2015. You can also check out the engravings at Friday Lates - with Halloween just around the corner who knows what spooky occurrences will happen! Visit www.britishmuseum.org for more information.

Just one last thing! No spooky blog post would be complete without my top five witches, good and bad!

1. The Grand High Witch, The Witches


2. Glinda the Good Witch, The Wizard of Oz


3. The Three Weird Sisters, Macbeth



4. Minerva McGonagall, Harry Potter



5. The Queen, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves





Thursday 16 October 2014

Weekend Dose of Culture



So this weekend I suggest testing your skills of deduction with a visit to the new Sherlock Holmes exhibition at the Museum of London.

The museums latest offering explores the life and times of the  detective who never lived and will never die. From his literary origins to the actors who have immortalised him on the stage and screen, Mr Holmes is a character who has endured time to become one of the most renowned literary figures globally. 

Sherlock enthusiasts will be transported back to Victorian London to relive the life and times of the detective with stunning 'Sherlockian' themed displays of art, literature and artefact's. 

The exhibition runs for six months, but I suggest booking in advance. With the current popularity of Sherlock, thanks to Mr Cumberbatch, it's going to be hard to get tickets.

Sherlock Holmes: The Man Who Never Lived and Who Will Never Die
Extras: Additional activities include a walking tour of Sherlock's London, a Late London event and a Sherlock themed cocktail making class
Cost: Tickets start from £12 for an adult
Opening Times: 17th October 2014 - 12th April 2015

Saturday 11 October 2014

Discovering and Uncovering London


So this weekend I found myself running down back streets and navigating my way across the West End solving puzzles.

Sadly I wasn't appearing in a re-enactment of Die Hard 3 (Samuel L Jackson had filming commitments), but a new puzzle game that's growing in popularity called Hidden City. The company, set up by brothers Rob and Nick, has a whole list of city puzzle trails for you to explore in London, York, Manchester and Brighton. You can venture down to the East End of London or wander around the cobbled historical streets of York. The trail I embarked on was called "Hidden Places, Open Spaces" which takes you across the West End.

Now when I tell people about some of the absurd if not border line crazy walks I do around London they sometimes worry about my sanity and quite possibly the state of my feet. But I honestly believe that the best way to learn about and explore our fantastic capital is by foot. I wouldn't have discovered the street called Little Britain or discovered the delights of Exmouth market if I always confined my travelling to the London underground network.

This is why Hidden City is so great, as you really do get to explore the area and uncover secret gems. The way it works is that you are designated a meeting point and once you arrive at said point the game begins. Now it's not like the Crystal Maze, you don't have a presenter or guide following you around telling you where to go. All clues are supplied by the almighty text and all messages you receive are cryptic each providing a clue you have to solve to get to the next destination. Depending on the level of the route, some are easy, some are hard and some will leave you walking around in circles trying to guess the answer. Ultimately, what will help you get from A - Z and success is your knowledge of London and a good sense of direction. Fortunately my brother was on my team and he is a human sat nav so he was clearly a great team leader.

One moment we were wandering around a tea shop trying to find a particular blend (I've made a note to go back at some point for a cuppa), the next we were sprinting through St James' Park and in between that time we'd found ourselves swerving around customers in one of her Majesty's favourite stores. I can't really give away any more as it'll ruin the challenge. Also I don't want to give away too many hints and tips in case you beat my teams time.

There isn't a finish line to cross nor will you receive a bottle of champagne to celebrate with your team mates, but you do get entered on to a leader board so the faster you complete the course the higher up the rankings you'll find yourself.

To get on board this mini adventure, just visit www.inthehiddencity.com