26 January 2012
This lecture examines the forces that are likely to shape large literary festivals in the future. The rapid development of literary festivals today, from inspired labour of love to professional event, has placed new demands on those who organise them. Audiences and journalists increasingly expect to be served up a banquet of superstar celebrity authors, while politicians are ever more aware that the literary festival has largely replaced the political rally as a place for serious discussion.
For some years, the Edinburgh International Book Festival has been regarded as the premier festival of its kind in the world. Innovation and internationalism are vital to continued success: in this lecture Nick will explain why this is the case and how they plan to change and deliver them.
This lecture is free, but please register with the Edinburgh Napier University Events Team.
17 November 2011
Robert Louis Stevenson was born on 13 November 1850, and in the week of the anniversary of his birthday, Edinburgh Napier University’s Centre for Literature and Writing (CLAW) in partnership with the City Art Centre are celebrating the occasion by hosting a special evening with Ian Rankin and Nigel Planer on Thursday 17 November.
During this hour-long event at the City Art Centre, Ian and Nigel will discuss their life-long fascination with Stevenson, talk about his life and works and offer short readings from his novels and poems. There will also be an opportunity for questions at the end of the session for our celebrity speakers.
This event marks the inauguration of a week-long Festival of History in Edinburgh.
Click here to read about the event in the Edinburgh Evening News.
14 November 2011
Mark Cousins, former director of the Edinburgh International Film Festival, is a British film-maker of preternatural sensitivity. He is the author of several books and the director of the filmic epic journey - ‘The Story of Film: An Odyssey’ which takes us across continents and encapsulates the history of film and film making, covering 1,000 films in a 15 hour film which is now being broadcast in sequential form every Saturday at 9pm on More4.
Mark Cousins has also directed 'The First Movie' which ‘is a powerfully artful documentary about the opposite of war: children's imaginative lives. It is an achingly lyrical story of honesty, honour and hope. The colours thrill: flapping fuchsia, orange and yellow sheets, the changing sky, a red clothing of a small girl. The film score by the Hong Kong-Canadian composer Melissa Hui is perfect. With a fusion (profusion) of images, a few camera wizardry tricks, and an insightful, poetic commentary, ‘The First Movie’ delivers a-ha moments like wheat cakes. Cousins travels into the place where Derek Jarman often took us - that liminal, vibratory state which shows you the world as a fireworks seen through tree branches – to reference one of Cousins's memorable shots.’ - - Ken Russell, The Times.
To reserve a place please email Dr Bashabi Fraser.