{"id":4087,"date":"2021-09-06T08:50:17","date_gmt":"2021-09-06T07:50:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.chi.ac.uk\/?page_id=4087"},"modified":"2024-05-01T10:51:06","modified_gmt":"2024-05-01T09:51:06","slug":"the-chichester-centre-for-fairy-tales-fantasy-and-speculative-fiction","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.chi.ac.uk\/research\/centres\/the-chichester-centre-for-fairy-tales-fantasy-and-speculative-fiction\/","title":{"rendered":"Chichester Centre for Fairy Tales, Fantasy and Speculative Fiction"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
The heart of this project is a focus on the fantastic imagination as a creative force both in literature and culture.<\/p>\n\t
The Centre provides a forum where writers, scholars, performers, artists and aficionados can explore\u00a0world\u00a0folk narratives, fairy tales,\u00a0fantasy and\u00a0speculative fiction\u00a0in various forms including print, film, and the visual and performing arts.<\/p>\n
The Chichester Centre for Fairy Tales, Fantasy and Speculative Fiction is affiliated with a number of related research institutions around the world, including:<\/p>\n
Wise-man to Wizard: Tracking the Literary Development of the Wizard<\/em> takes a diachronic approach to look at how the wizard has evolved from its linguistic origins as the wise-man into the modern literary figure found today. The project serves to show how the wizard of the contemporary imagination is built upon many reworked representations of the archetype over many historical periods. This includes an exploration of how the various magician, sorcerer and conjurer types that have become amalgamated with the wizard tradition form distinct stages of the wizard’s development. Lastly, the research turns to contemporary depictions of the wizard as hero, rather than its traditional role as advisor, and asks what ramifications this has for the wizard archetype and what it might imply for the next stage of the figure’s development. (Supervisors: Prof Bill Gray, Dr Duncan Salkeld & Dr Amanda Richardson (History))<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\tZoe Mitchell<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t Hag<\/em>, Mitchell’s debut poetry Collection inspired by witches is accompanied by a critical thesis considering the presentation of witches in women’s poetry. Close study of this topic highlights the patriarchal ideology at the foundation of the symbolic order and the motivation behind the designation of the witch as a villain. The critical study focuses on a close analysis of poems by Margaret Atwood, Louise Gl\u00fcck, Audre Lorde, Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton which use the figure of the witch to reclaim a previously negative image and expose the ideology behind it.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\tFrancesca Bihet (completed)<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t Folklore, Fighting and Fairies<\/em> explores the changes in the treatment of fairies by Folklore Society members and how far these reflect wider academic and folkloric trends. It covers the era from the Society’s foundation in 1878 until the eve of WW2. The Society’s journal Folklore <\/em>is used as the main mouthpiece to exemplify the declining interest in, and more critical treatment of, the fairy figure during this era. The Cottingley Affair and WW1 are explored as turning points between the great Victorian fairy pre-occupation and the post-war benign nursery fairy. The pages of Folklore <\/em>mirror this pattern of diminution. (Supervisors: Prof Bill Gray and Prof Sue Morgan; Advisor: Prof Jacqueline Simpson)<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\tJoanna Coleman (completed)<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t Demons, Daemons and Frogs: Animal Transformation in Contemporary Narrative<\/em> investigates how becoming-animal storytelling locates us in the natural world. The topic will be explored from two perspectives, first an eco-critical analysis of shape-shifting motifs in contemporary young adult literature, and second a pedagogical exploration of the environmental potential of shape-shifting storytelling in a creative writing classroom. Animal transformation tales in folklore will be compared with contemporary re-tellings in writers from Philip Pullman to Ursula le Guin, and both traditional versions and re-tellings will be used as classroom inspiration to explore our changing relationship to the hinge, or boundary, between human and animal. (Supervisors: Prof Bill Gray and Dr Hugh Dunkerley; Advisor: Dr Duncan Reavey)<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\tHolly Johnson (completed)<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t Imitation as Originality in Modern Fantasy Literature (post-1955)<\/em> is tackling the accusation that fantasy fiction is necessarily ‘formulaic’, and exploring the relation of imitation to originality. Her work centres on fantasy fiction published post-1955, arguing that the ‘canon’ of fantasy literature is outdated, with problematic omissions. Authors important to her work include George R.R. Martin, Robin Hobb, Tad Williams, Raymond E. Feist, Guy Gavriel Kay, and Joe Abercrombie, amongst many others. She welcomes any discussions on the aforementioned topics or authors. (Supervisors: Prof Bill Gray and Dr Robert Duggan)<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\tElizabeth Rainey (completed)<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t The Art of Storytelling in Emirati Society<\/em> features Emirati oral poetry and compares its unique voice with universal themes such as family, tribe, country, love, war, beauty, work and faith, thus enhancing cross-cultural communication. This vibrant tradition expresses vital emotions and teaches ethical conduct during social occasions as a source of communal entertainment and at the same time works to underpin the social hierarchy. This project initiates the preservation of storytelling as a fragile intangible heritage of the Emirates, which has become a bilingual cosmopolitan nation with the result that L1 Gulf Arabic alone is practised only by the oldest members of society. The project will record, transcribe and translate indigenous narratives and poems not yet available in English, gauging to extent to which Bedouins still employ their own version of homo narrans to inform behaviour and enforce cultural norms. It will also outline the challenges faced during the collection of the sources, including negotiating the complex politics of preservation. (Supervisors: Prof Bill Gray and Dr StavroulaVarella; Advisor: Dr. Tanya Al Aghar)<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\tPeter Whittick (completed)<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t Death, Resurrection and the Flesh of the Imagination: A Critical and Creative Exploration of Cultural Dyslexia<\/em> with regards to Nature develops an eco-critical perspective for the reading of portrayals of nature in literature and applies it to the fiction of David Almond. The creative element explores more empowering ways of representing nature in adolescent fiction and explores the origins of folk tales, developing a new myth for the 21st century. Drawing on the atmosphere of the Hebridean Ceilidh House, it also implements a phenomenological response to the ‘more-than-human’ environment as a major influence within the story, linking to ancient pagan tales and myths that formed in response to a reciprocal interaction with animal entities and the Earth. (Supervisors: Prof Bill Gray and Dr Hugh Dunkerley)<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\tRose Williamson (completed)<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t A Historical and Literary Analysis of Grain and Bread Motifs in Folk and Fairy Tales<\/em> seeks to create a greater understanding of folk and fairy tales through the symbolism of food, with a preliminary focus on grains and domestic baking imagery and expanding to a wider focus on multiple food motifs in fairy tale. It will also map food motifs in folk and fairy tales using a historical compass, connecting these symbols to the availability and production of food stuffs in eras where significant changes in variants affect meaning or interpretation, or detailing where food-centric tales emerge in times of famine or plenty, import or export, etc. The project also aims to provide a catalogue or database for folk and fairy tale scholars in relation to food imagery, categorising which stories include which symbols and motifs, where they change, and possible historical influences on specific stories. (Supervisors: Prof Bill Gray & Dr Andrew Teverson (University of Kingston))<\/p>\n Gramarye, the Centre’s journal, publishes academic articles, creative writing, book reviews and contemporary art.<\/p>\n Gramarye issue 25 is now available to order from our online store<\/a>.<\/p>\n The printed edition of Gramarye is only available to pre-ordering customers and subscribers. To guarantee your printed copy of future issues, please subscribe<\/a>.<\/p>\nLimited numbers of back issues are Gramarye readers are entitled to 20% off Scrivener software, the project management tool for writers. Just visit their website<\/a> and enter the coupon code ‘SUSSEXCENTRE’.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\tGuidelines<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t The Chichester Centre for Fairy Tales, Fantasy and Speculative Fiction seeks articles, book reviews and creative writing relating to literary and historical approaches to fairy tales, fantasy, Gothic, magic realism, science fiction and speculative fiction for\u00a0Gramarye<\/em>, its peer-reviewed journal published by the 香港六合论坛.<\/p>\n Word count guidelines:<\/strong><\/p>\n Long poems, traditional forms, flash fictions and experimental creative writing are all equally encouraged.<\/p>\n All written submissions must be sent as a single Word .doc or .rtf attachment to the editorial board via the Editorial Assistant Heather Robbins at h.robbins@chi.ac.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n We also invite submissions of original artwork (painting, illustration, photography, other digital media, etc), sent as colour image files, along with a brief (300 words max, artist’s statement).<\/p>\n Images may be used as a feature section, or to complement critical and creative texts, as per the editors’ discretion.<\/p>\n Submissions should be accompanied by a separate file with the title, a 100-word abstract, a brief (100 words) biographical note and, for creative work that draws on existing fairy tales, folklore, myth or fantastical traditions, a similarly short statement on why you were drawn to do so.<\/p>\n Relevant colour image files, along with copyright permission, may also be supplied at this stage. If you would like to receive a complimentary e-book of the most recent issue to check content and style, please request one from assistant Heather Robbins (h.robbins@chi.ac.uk<\/a>).<\/p>\n Only original submissions that are not simultaneously under consideration by another journal will be considered. Unrevised student essays or theses cannot be considered. Submissions must include all quotations, endnotes, and the list of works cited. References should follow the Chicago Manual of Style.<\/p>\n For contributions that include any copyrighted materials, the author must secure written permission (specifying “non-exclusive world rights and electronic rights”) to reproduce them. The author must submit these written permissions with their final manuscript. Permission fees are the responsibility of the author.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\tStyle<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t Submissions must include all quotations, endnotes, and the list of works cited. References should follow the Chicago Manual of Style.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\tPermissions for Copyrighted Materials<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t For contributions that include any copyrighted materials, the author must secure written permission (specifying “non-exclusive world rights and electronic rights”) to reproduce them. The author must submit these written permissions with their final manuscript. Permission fees are the responsibility of the author.<\/p>\n Alongside Francesco Straparola, Giambattista Basile is the most significant early author of fairy tales in Western Europe. Described by Jack Zipes as ‘the most talented and innovative of the fairy-tale writers in Europe’, Basile’s\u00a0Lo cunto de li cunti<\/em> is a seminal text, the influence of which – although contested – is immeasurable. It is also an important product of the Italian Renaissance, and Neapolitan culture in particular. To mark the significance of Basile, the Chichester Centre for Fairy Tales, Fantasy and Speculative Fiction will hold this one-day conference to discuss Basile, his work, and the wider world of which he was a product.<\/p>\n Tickets \u00a315 from our\u00a0online store<\/a>.<\/p>\n Alongside Francesco Straparola, Giambattista Basile is the most significant early author of fairy tales in Western Europe. Described by Jack Zipes as ‘the most talented and innovative of the fairy-tale writers in Europe’, Basile’s\u00a0Lo cunto de li cunti<\/em> is a seminal text, the influence of which – although contested – is immeasurable. It is also an important product of the Italian Renaissance, and Neapolitan culture in particular. To mark the significance of Basile, the Chichester Centre for Fairy Tales, Fantasy and Speculative Fiction will hold this one-day conference to discuss Basile, his work, and the wider world of which he was a product.<\/p>\n Draft programme<\/strong><\/p>\n NB: This timetable is meant to be read as UK time zone (British Summer Time, UTC+01:00)<\/p>\n 10 a.m. – 10.30 a.m. Pre-Basile<\/strong><\/p>\n 10.30 – 11.30 a.m. Keynote<\/strong><\/p>\n 11.30-11.45 a.m. Tea break<\/strong><\/p>\n 11.45-1 p.m. Basile – influences and impact<\/strong><\/p>\n 1-2 p.m. Lunch break<\/strong><\/p>\n 2-3.30 p.m. Basile: Structures and themes<\/strong><\/p>\n Download a free interactive map (pdf) of folklore in Sussex and the South Downs, created by The Chichester Centre for Fairy Tales, Fantasy and Speculative Fiction in collaboration with the South Downs National Park. The map is based on Jacqueline Simpson’s ‘Folklore of Sussex<\/a>‘ and illustrated by Abi Daker.<\/p>\n Please download the maps and open in Acrobat to ensure the document works properly on your machine.<\/p>\n Folklore Map Interactive<\/a> (A3 printable\/searchable version): Zoom in and click on the map icons to be taken to the relevant stories, or click on stories to be taken to their place on the map.<\/p>\n Folklore map<\/strong>\u00a0(Pop-up text version)<\/a>: Zoom in and click on the map icons to see pop-up stories.<\/p>\n This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License<\/a>.<\/p>\n This list is used to facilitate interdisciplinary discussion of fairy tales, fantasy fiction and speculative fiction. Contributions may include:<\/p>\n Email the Chichester Centre for Fairy Tales, Fantasy and Speculative Fiction on info@sussexfolktalecentre.org<\/a> or speak to our\u00a0Centre Assistant Heather Robbins on h.robbins@chi.ac.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEmail the Centre\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Chichester Centre for Fairy Tales, Fantasy and Speculative Fiction The heart of this project is a focus on the fantastic imagination as a creative force both in literature and culture. The Centre provides a forum where writers, scholars, performers, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":0,"parent":1332,"menu_order":58,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"no-sidebar","site-content-layout":"page-builder","ast-site-content-layout":"full-width-container","site-content-style":"unboxed","site-sidebar-style":"unboxed","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"default","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"department":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\t\tGramarye Journal\n\t<\/h2>\n
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