...
Other Sheffield events

Ails, rails and fan-made tales

Fully accessible
Past event - 2019
20 May Doors 6pm
Event 6.30-9.30pm
The Old Queen's Head, 40 Pond Hill,
Sheffield S1 2BG
Sold Out!
Join us for a fun and informative night with a definite 'back-to-school' vibe. Get a history lesson on Sheffield's encephalitis epidemic and find out what we can learn from the 1800s. Then take a pop-quiz, before getting schooled in how to gain literary legitimacy as a fandom writer. We will finish off the night with something more extracurricular - a look at the world's most talked-about TV show - Game of Thrones!

The case of Sheffield’s encephalitis epidemic

Kate McAllister (History)
Using the historical example of Sheffield's Epidemic Encephalitis outbreak, Kate will explore the parity of esteem between mental and physical health in the UK's healthcare system, past and present. Epidemic Encephalitis is characterised by both mental and physical symptoms, and thus transcends the traditional, clinical boundaries between mental and physical illness. As a result, during the Epidemic Encephalitis outbreak in the early twentieth century, patients were treated at separated institutions with different therapies according to their predominant symptoms.

Railways and today’s city: learning from the 1800s

Professor David Fletcher (Mechanical Engineering)
The mid-1800s where a transformative time for cities with railway transport, both disrupting and enabling their development. The rail transport infrastructure in most UK cities today is still based on the investment made and decisions taken during the unregulated competitive development of railways. Professor Fletcher will explore the long view of how 19th century decisions impact 21st century society, and how railways can remain relevant in the era of the driverless car.

Pastiche to fanfiction: literary legitimacy in fandom writing

Alexandra Zinca (Management School)
Fanfiction - written works developed by fans. Posted in fan-made magazines, published online, seen with doubt and even scorn by some readers and publishers. However, their older, 17th and 18th century counterparts - pastiches - have been known to gain literary acclaim. Wherein lies the difference and how can these obstacles be overcome?

What type of fan are you? Watching Game of Thrones in Argentina, Spain, and Germany

Dr Florencia García-Rapp (Journalism)
“Summers span decades. Winters can last a lifetime. And the struggle for the Iron Throne continues. Kings and queens, knights and renegades, liars, lords and honest men...all play the 'Game of Thrones’”.

Florencia researches engaged audiences, user communities, and digital cultures. Here she will present initial findings from her ongoing cross-cultural study of the world's most talked-about TV series. As part of this small-scale study, she interviewed 20 German- and Spanish-speaking fans about their motivations to watch the show, reception habits, and understanding of the series.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.