Talk To Explore Boundaries Of Good And Evil
26 April 2012
Professor Jason Lee with his recently published book Unholy Days.
Society protects itself by depicting those who breaks its rules, which are sometimes less clear cut than we'd like to think, as 'the other', very much the outsider
”Professor Jason Lee.
Hard questions about the nature of good and evil, and the grey areas in-between, will be discussed in a free University of Derby lecture by a published author and academic.
Professor Jason Lee's inaugural Lecture - entitled Evil in Mind? Madness, abuse, addiction and culture - will be held at 6.30pm on Wednesday2 May in the Courtroom (Room OL2) at the University's Kedleston Road site in Derby. Admission to the public event is free.
The Head of Film and Media with Creative Writing and Professional Writing has written extensively on the subject of transgressive culture, looking at society's attitudes towards the breaking of real life social norms regarding issues such as addiction and violence. He also drew on this academic work for his recently published crime fiction novel, Unholy Days.
His lecture will look at how popular culture often demonises those considered 'wrongdoers', from disgraced celebrities to hardened criminals, even though the way they are depicted in the media holds a mirror up to the rest of society.
As part of his talk Jason will refer to his own publications, which have been translated into eight languages; including Madness and the Savage (1999), which explores cultural constructions of 'madness' and the perception of indigenous Americans on film.
Jason said: "Society protects itself by depicting those who breaks its rules, which are sometimes less clear cut than we'd like to think, as 'the other', very much the outsider. But these people are as much a result of our culture and its influences as everyone else.
"I believe that, rather than shying away from it, by analysing transgressive culture we come to see how flimsy some of the social boundaries we've created are and by studying those who break them we can learn more about ourselves."
Jason will be signing copies of his books at the University's Waterstones store after his lecture, when free refreshments will also be provided in the main Atrium.
His talk is part of Derby's contribution to national Universities Week, which aims to increase public awareness of the role of the UK's higher education institutions.
The talk is free to attend but places must be booked. To book a place go online at website www.derby.ac.uk/lee or telephone Angela Drinkwater at the University on 01332 591046.
Media requiring more information should contact Press & PR Officer Sean Kirby on 01332 591891 or 07876 476103, or email s.kirby@derby.ac.uk
