On the Radar: “Nigel Kneale, Quatermass and the Ancient Astronaut Legend” with Dr David Clarke – Tuesday 09 April 2024

ON THE RADAR research seminars promote the sharing of knowledge across the entire Sheffield Hallam University community – all are welcome, free to attend. Our next talk is by Dr David Clarke with Nigel Kneale, Quatermass and the Ancient Astronaut Legend, as below:

Nigel Kneale, Quatermass and the Ancient Astronaut Legend

The Book of the Damned (Fort 1919) opined that ‘once upon a time, visitors from other worlds arrived here, planted their seed and fought others for possession of the Earth’. The legend that Earth had been visited by aliens who left visible markers or ‘xenolithic artefacts’ (Fisher 2010), has inspired science fiction from Wells to Lovecraft and continues to influence contemporary belief in ET visitations. Speculation about ancient astronauts (or paleo-SETI) inspired Erich von Daniken’s best-selling Chariots of the Gods?, published the same year that Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) arrived on cinema screens. It has also encouraged ostensive searches of the archaeological record for artefacts that could prove the presence of extraterrestrials in our prehistoric past.

This talk focuses on the output of science fiction writer Nigel Kneale, and his creation of the quintessential British folk hero Professor Bernard Quatermass. Drawing upon archival material it will examine the folkloric content of his masterpiece Quatermass and the Pit (1958-59, 1967) and The Quatermass Conclusion (1979).

#shuradar

 

Nigel Kneale, Quatermass and the Ancient Astronaut Legend with Dr David Clarke
Tuesday 09 April 2024, 13:00-14:00
Cantor 9235
All welcome, free to attend. If you have any queries please contact the CCRI team. Please share the details with your students and colleagues who you think might be interested in coming along.

For more information about ON THE RADAR or to add your name as a future presenter, contact Dr Diane A. Rodgers / @SHU_radar / #shuradar

Associate Professor Dr David Clarke is one of the UK’s leading authorities on contemporary legend and folklore. He is a co-founder of the Centre for Contemporary Legend at SHU and is executive council member of the International Society for Contemporary Legend Research (ISCLR). David teaches media law and court reporting on the UG and PG multi-media journalism, sports journalism and PR courses and has 30 years experience as a journalist in print and online, via his blog drdavidclarke.co.uk. He is an experienced broadcaster and has acted as a consultant for The National Archives and the BBC. His main interests include legend and rumours, supernatural folklore, investigative journalism and archival research.