University of Manchester’s Science and Entertainment Lab have teamed up with film scholars at the University of East Anglia to host a brand new film series in the spring of 2017.  This screening of The Cabinet of Dr Caligari (Robert Wiene, 1920) is the first in the Demons of the Mind series which tackles difficult questions regarding causes, symptoms, and treatments of mental illness and contribute to our understanding of what it’s like to experience psychological disturbances.

How do films portray psychological trauma and mental disorders? Why are filmmakers and audiences fascinated by characters with unusual and severe psychological disturbances? In what sense does the medium of film reflect and shape our understanding of clinical conditions such as bipolar depression, schizophrenia, and mass psychogenic disorders (hysteria). What do films focusing on mental illness tell us about notions of mental health and wellbeing?

These events are free and open to the public – no booking required. At each film screening an expert speaker will provide a brief introduction at 6.30pm and then lead a post-screening discussion with the audience. The evening will include an opening reception from 6.00pm where drinks will be available for purchase.

Event organizers and speakers:
Dr David A. Kirby is senior lecturer in Science Communication Studies and director of the Playing God project at the University of Manchester;
Dr Tim Snelson is lecturer in Media History and director of the Demons of the Mind project at the University of East Anglia;
Dr William R. Macauley is a senior research associate with the Demons of the Mind project at the University of East Anglia

Guest speakers:
Dr Michael Pettit (York University, Toronto)
Dr Elizabeth Toon (University of Manchester)
Dr Amy C. Chambers (Newcastle University)

This film series is funded by grants from the Wellcome Trust and the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

Summary list of screening dates and films in the series:
2 March – The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (Robert Wiene, 1920)
23 March – Repulsion (Roman Polanski, 1965)
27 April – Memento (Christopher Nolan, 2000)
11 May – Shutter Island (Martin Scorsese, 2010)
25 May – Silver Linings Playbook (David O. Russell, 2012)
6 June – The Falling (Carol Morley, 2014) – note new date