University of Dundee, 29-31 August 2023
Programme and Registration Details
Our draft programme and registration are now live!
Register for the conference at this link.
The conference fee will be £100 for salaried delegates or £55 for unsalaried delegates (at the early bird rate). When you register for the conference, you will also be able to sign up for conference excursions and events, including the conference dinner.
The draft programme is downloadable here:
We have a limited number of £100 PGR / ECR / unwaged bursaries, kindly sponsored by BSECS and BARS. If you would like to apply for a bursary, please send an email to gothicwomenproject@gmail.com with the subject line ‘Bursary Application’, giving your name and paper title and your current funding / salary status.
For information on travel and accommodation, see below.
Plenary Speakers
Professor Eileen M. Hunt (University of Notre Dame)
Dr Maisha Wester (University of Sheffield & Indiana University)
Professor Angela Wright (University of Sheffield)
The Conference
The year 2023 marks the bicentenary of both Ann Radcliffe’s death and two major publications for Mary Shelley: the first edition of Valperga and the second edition of Frankenstein,which now bore her name as author. The Gothic Women Project showcases exciting new strands of research on women’s writing in the Gothic mode, focusing on underappreciated texts by major authors as well as works by marginalised figures. Building on our successful online seminar series, this conference brings scholars into conversation with creative writers, artists, and heritage professionals. We aim to examine the different ways in which the Gothic raises questions of self-definition in a time of crisis, to explore the diversity of women’s Gothic writing in the Romantic period, and to celebrate the afterlives and legacies of this work through the centuries. Collectively, we will challenge mainstream narratives, including those of nationhood, gender, sexuality, and race. Our conference is built on the principles of inclusivity, diversity, and accessibility; we are committed to furthering such principles within and beyond the academy.
Topics covered will include:
- Representations and performances of gender and sexuality;
- Responses to ecological and political crises;
- National, transnational, racial or cultural identities;
- Underappreciated texts and marginalised figures;
- Adaptation, imitation, translation and other forms of textual appropriation;
- The Gothic and the medical humanities;
- The presence or impact of women’s Gothic writing in a pedagogical context.
Activities
In honour of Mary Shelley’s early life in Dundee we have created a special “Frankenstein Tour” of the city to complement the conference programme. Other optional events will include a civic reception at Caird Hall, a reading and reception in the Gothic Hall of The McManus Museum and Art Gallery, and more. See the programme for more details.
Conference Location
The Dalhousie Building, University of Dundee, Scotland, DD1 5EN
Our conference venue is a short walk (0.7 miles) from Dundee’s main train station (postcode: DD1 4BY). There is a taxi rank directly outside the station. Located elsewhere in the city, Dundee’s Seagate Bus Station (postcode: DD1 2EH) is also 0.8 miles from the conference venue.
Dundee is a small and relatively flat city – both stations and the conference venue are in striking distance of the city centre and major sites of interest: V&A Dundee, RSS Discovery, Slessor Gardens, The McManus Art Gallery & Museum, HMS Unicorn, Verdant Works, Caird Hall, Botanic Gardens, Dundee Contemporary Arts (DCA), Dundee Science Museum, the Overgate shopping mall, and more.
Slightly further afield, but very reachable, you will find the Law (an extinct volcano) and Mills Observatory in Balgay Park. Dundee has many other historic parks, including Baxter Park and Camperdown. And, of course, we have countless pubs, cafes and restaurants to suit every palate.
The city campus of the University of Dundee includes a large Student’s Union, which has a convenience store, bars and cafes. A sports centre is located on the same road as the Dalhousie Building. Dundee is a cycling city – many routes along the beautiful river Tay can be found. Dundee Cycle Hub is located on the Riverside Esplanade, by the V&A Dundee. Buses range over the city (the main companies are Xplore and Stagecoach East Scotland).
Check out nearby Broughty Ferry, which has a beach and a castle, or even St Andrews. The surrounding areas (Fife, Angus, and Perthshire) are filled with stunning countryside and hills. Glasgow is roughly 90 minutes west, Edinburgh an hour south, and Aberdeen an hour north.
If you’re bringing a car, multistorey parking is available at Greenmarket, Overgate and Wellgate. Smaller carparks are located throughout the city. Adjacent to the conference venue is an open carpark on Hunter Street.
Dundee’s main taxi company is Tele Taxis.
Hotels
The University does not provide conference accommodation, but rooms may be available at the West Park complex. For hotel bookings, we recommend Hotels.com, though please note that the major UK budget hotel chains are not typically listed on that website (Premier Inn, Travelodge, Holiday Inn Express, and Sleeperz). Dundee’s fanciest hotels are The Malmaison and The Apex City Quay Hotel & Spa. Dundee Backpackers Hostel is a popular budget-friendly option (private rooms are available).
Travelling to Dundee
By Rail
Dundee is easy to reach by train. Edinburgh’s Waverley Station is 60-90 minutes away, Birmingham 5 hours and 45 minutes, and London between 6 and 7 hours. Train journeys can be planned and booked at The Train Line or ScotRail. Information about accessibility and train travel can be found on the National Rail website, including information about passenger assistance, which should be booked in advance.
By Car
Edinburgh is 60-90 minutes away by car, Manchester 5 hours, and London 8 hours. Plan a journey by using AA Traffic News and AA Route Planner.
By Air
Dundee Airport is a small, centrally located airport that connects to London, Belfast City, and Sumburgh (Shetland). The airline for each route is Loganair. Dundee Airport is a five-minute drive from the city centre; it does not have a taxi rank, but there are buses available, or taxis can be booked with Tele Taxis.
Loganair is offering up to 30% off flights to delegates travelling to/from Dundee from London Heathrow (LHR), Belfast City (BHD), Sumburgh (LSI) and Kirkwall (KOI) Airports for this conference. Book at Loganair.co.uk before 3 September 2023, quoting promotional code ‘YGW2023’ at the time of booking, for travel between 26 August – 3 September 2023.
Aberdeen International Airport connects with 50 international destinations. It is about 6.5 miles from Aberdeen Railway Station, which you can reach from the airport by hiring a taxi or catching a bus. Aberdeen Railway Station has frequent and direct connections to Dundee Railway Station – the journey takes a little over an hour (see ‘Rail’ info, above).
Edinburgh International Airport connects with 100 international routes. The Edinburgh Airport Xpress coach service runs non-stop between Edinburgh airport and Dundee City Centre, with departures every 90 minutes, around the clock. Information on the coach service is available at the National Express website. Alternatively, Edinburgh Gateway Railway Station can be reached via a tram link that operates every seven minutes (the journey time is approximately seven minutes). To find Tram Stop follow the tram signs in the airport terminal buildings. Edinburgh Gateway Railway Station provides direct rail connections to Dundee (journey time is around 1 hour and 20 minutes). Combined tram/train tickets can be bought on the ScotRail website.
Glasgow International Airport connects with 110 international destinations. It is about 9 miles from Glasgow Queen Street Station; you can get there by hiring a taxi or by catching a First 500 Glasgow Shuttle (either way, the journey time is approximately twenty minutes). Glasgow Queen Street Station has frequent and direct connections to Dundee and the journey takes roughly one hour and 20 minutes (see ‘Rail’ info, above).
Project Team
Daniel Cook, Laura Kirkley, Anna Mercer, Deborah Russell, and Lauren Nixon
Contact: gothicwomenproject@gmail.com
Gothic Women 