Join Dr Sophie James as we step into the shadows where technology meets the supernatural.
From the witch hunts of early modern Europe to the rise of digital gothicism, this special Halloween lecture traces how each new medium revives old anxieties about knowledge, power, and control. Moving from witchcraft and modern spiritualism to viral conspiracy theories and algorithmic rituals, we’ll explore how digital systems of persuasion and visibility echo earlier forms of magic, manipulation, and moral panic.
Are today’s algorithms the new spells? And why does technology — from viral conspiracies to online radicalisation — so often mirror our oldest superstitions?
Together, we’ll consider how horror content, online radicalisation, and the viral spread of fear reveal a darker side of our connected world; one that thrives on attention, emotion, and the thrill of being afraid.
Expect a hauntingly creative talk that blends cultural history and a touch of the macabre, revealing the eerie ways our technologies keep summoning ghosts of the past…
FREE Entry – no need to book
Suitable for ages 16+
Thu 30 Oct 7PM
Doors Open 6.30PM
Pop-up Bar
No need to book – just come along on the night!