Events
Take a look at upcoming events we are running.
Upcoming events
We organise events throughout the semester, usually held online and open to all. If you want to join our mailing list, please contact Dr Charlotte Mathieson (c.mathieson@surrey.ac.uk).
Upcoming events
If you would like your own work to be discussed, please get in touch! In the past we have discussed grant applications, article drafts, thesis chapters, and even an exhibition project. This always proves very beneficial and interesting for all involved.
“Occult Objects in India and England (1850-1940): Nuanced Perspectives”
Workshop 1 with IAS visiting fellow Dr Shaona Barik - Tuesday 7 October, 12-2pm in 58 AD 02
This workshop will take the form of a mini-exhibition curated by Dr Barik, originally exhibited at Visva-Bharati University India, followed by Q&A discussion. Dr Barik will discuss the mobilities of occult objects between India and England in this period, with specific focus upon items used in mesmerism and clairvoyance; the afterlives of these objects and the need to decolonise museum spaces; and contextualise how mesmerism travelled to England and discuss the practitioners of mesmerism.
This workshop will take place in-person only. All welcome; attendees are welcome to come to one or both of the workshops; please email Dr Charlotte Mathieson c.mathieson@surrey.ac.uk if you'd like to attend.
“The impact of mesmerism on British and Bengali fiction, 1850s-1940s”
Workshop 2 with IAS visiting fellow Dr Shaona Barik - Tuesday 28 October, 12-2pm, in 58 AD 02
This discussion-based workshop will explore the impact of mesmerism on literary works, exploring examples from British and Bengali fiction from the 1850s-1940s. The discussion will be contextualised by themes of transnational mobilities, transcultural knowledge exchange, and dialogues between India and Britain in this period.
This workshop will have a hybrid option. All welcome; attendees are welcome to come to one or both of the workshops; please email Dr Charlotte Mathieson c.mathieson@surrey.ac.uk if you'd like to attend.
“Mesmerism in Colonial Bengal (1860-1940): Case Studies of Seances, Cure, Magic and Performances”
Talk by IAS visiting fellow Dr Shaona Barik, Tuesday 28 October, 4-5.30pm 11 TB 00
The talk will explore how mesmerism facilitated cross-cultural exchanges between the U.K. and Calcutta during the latter half of the nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth century. Dr Barik will discuss how mesmerism often led to the collapse of racial boundaries and colonial hierarchies, and the kind of cultural adaptations that followed or how oriental fantasies and fetishes were reinforced through the trope of mesmerism. Mesmerism’s utility in health and healing practices in colonial Bengal, leading to the development of transnational networks will be specifically addressed; and how mesmerism was utilised to construct notions about colonial bodies, often keeping intact the gaze of the colonisers and how such bodies became the sites of contestations at the same time, will be critically examined. Almanacs, Government records, advertisements in the form of posters, pamphlets, etc, will be consulted as primary resources for the purpose of the talk.
Please email Dr Charlotte Mathieson if you would like to attend c.mathieson@surrey.ac.uk
Part of the Being Human Festival 2025. Event booking here.
Location: New House Art Space & Gallery, Fays Passage. Guildford GU1 4SQ
Dive into the history of queer fashion, from sandals and fans to flowers and top hats, in this interactive exhibition and self-guided walk.
Starting at 2pm, meet the fashion history experts at New House Art Space in Guildford. Explore queer fashion items placed around the gallery through conversations with lesbian fashion historian Eleanor Medhurst (aka Dressing Dykes) and Victorian dress specialist Dr Danielle Dove.
Danielle and Eleanor will reveal why and when certain items or accessories were queer-coded or gendered in surprising ways. Discover how fashion items can communicate queerness, challenge gender-norms, and serve as powerful vehicles of self-expression.
From 3pm, you are invited to go on a 1 hour self-guided walking tour of Guildford (please bring your own headphones!) with Dr Lena Mattheis’ audio-based app ListenQueer.co.uk. In small groups or by yourself, you can walk in the footsteps of Guildford’s queer and trans history icons and learn about what they used to wear.
If you do not wish to walk, feel free to listen to the immersive audio content from New House’s cosy café.
This event is part of the University of Surrey Being Human Festival 2025 Hub Programme.
Part of the Being Human Festival 2025. Event booking here.
Location: New House Art Space & Gallery, Fays Passage. Guildford GU1 4SQ
Join an evening of creative readings, performances, and short talks, devised by young, displaced people, and try different dishes showcasing their culture and heritage.
Performances will explore what it means to move across lines and create community by going beyond visible and invisible boundaries. You will be encouraged to reflect on what it means for you to cross lines by participating in interactive workshop activities and guided conversations.
We will explore together how, in a world of borders and well-defined boundaries, moving across lines can be an opportunity to challenge stereotypes and build more welcoming communities.
This interactive event is developed in collaboration with The Big Leaf Foundation and emerges from the work of Surrey’s Mobilities research centre.
The event is designed for adults and young adults, and accompanied children are welcome to attend.
This event is part of the University of Surrey Being Human Festival 2025 Hub Programme.
Past events
Confirmed guest speaker: Dr Carolin Gebauer. Details to follow
In this session, we will read and discuss "Walking with narratives: Introduction to the English edition" of Shaping Space and Mobilities in Contemporary Walking Narratives, Ed. Adrien Frenay, Giulio Iacoli, and Lucia Quaquarelli (Palgrave 2025).
If you would like your own work to be discussed, please get in touch! In the past we have discussed grant applications, article drafts, thesis chapters, and even an exhibition project. This always proves very beneficial and interesting for all involved.
9 November 2024 at New House Art Space (Guildford); 13:00–15:00
Landmarking Guildford’s Queer History (Being Human Festival)
Are you up for a bit of queer time travel? This event takes you on an immersive audio treasure hunt to meet your LGBTQIA+ elders.
Walk in the footsteps of lesbian and gender nonconforming icon Anne Lister aka Gentleman Jack, explore the love nest of Edward II and Piers Gaviston, hear about the tragic story of Alan Turing, and meet Felix Holling, the trans archaeologist who ran Guildford Museum for many years.
More information and sign up here.
8 November 2024 at Zero Carbon (Guildford); 18:30–21:00
Landmarking Migrancy, Community and Connection (Being Human Festival)
An evening of readings, performances and short talks celebrating the creativity and insights of migrant authors over the centuries. Reflecting the work of our Centre, this event will focus on how displaced writers integrate themselves into unfamiliar surroundings and societies, establishing new communities and connections.
More information and sign up here.
As we go into a new academic year, the Mobilities in Literature and Culture Research group would like to invite colleagues from across the School to find out more and get involved in our activities.
Anyone interested in questions of mobilities, broadly conceived (including but not limited to globalisation, migration, multilingualism, creative practices and mobilities, technologies and their reception) is welcome to join. Please also pass this invite onto any PGRs who may be interested.
The networking event will be held online on Wednesday, 16th October at 10:30 AM-12 PM on Teams.
More information about our research can be found here, and if you would like to attend or get in touch with any questions, please email Dr Charlotte Mathieson (c.mathieson@surrey.ac.uk ), Dr Gabriele Lazzari (g.lazzari@surrey.ac.uk ) or Dr Lena Mattheis (l.mattheis@surrey.ac.uk)
If you would like your own work to be discussed, please get in touch! In the past we have discussed grant applications, article drafts, thesis chapters, and even an exhibition project. This always proves very beneficial and interesting for all involved.
Joint seminar with our international partner, the Mobilities and Humanities Centre at the University of Padua.
Guest lecture by Chiara Rabbiosi on video-making as a mobilities research pedagogy and discussion.
Discussion of two articles on border abolitionism and queer mobilities.
School of Literature and Languages events
Our researchers contribute to a series of conferences, seminars and annual outreach events held at Surrey or based in the local area.