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A series of lectures and talks from across the University celebrating the literary works and enduring global legacy of Franz Kafka. 100 years after the death of Franz Kafka (1883-1924), the University of Oxford celebrated the life and work of one of the most influential writers of all time.
Since the posthumous publication of his work and ‘rediscovery’ in the middle of the twentieth century, Kafka became a truly global writer who embraced his own multicultural identity. His novels and short stories were translated into multiple languages. His body of work offered profound insights into the human condition, alienation, relationships, and transformation. Oxford is the natural home for a centenary celebration of Franz Kafka: the Bodleian Libraries has the world’s laest Kafka archive; and the University is a leading centre for Kafka studies led by the Oxford Kafka Research Centre.
For more approaches to Kafka and 'The Metamorphosis', the ‘Conversations on Kafka’ interviews (https://podcasts.ox.ac.uk/series/conversations-kafka) explore race, comedy, dance, ecology, and much more with world experts on the author from different contexts and traditions.
| # | Episode Title | Description | People | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Monstrosities and Metamorphosis in More-Than-Human Worlds | Metamorphosis is constantly taking place in the worlds of people and other animals. A freewheeling discussion featuring shape-shifting leopard men in Nigeria, gut microbes that shape the human condition, and circus freakshows. | David Pratten, Jamie Lorimer, Beth Greenhough, Eva Bredler | 20 Aug 2024 | |
| 8 | Extraordinary Bodies, Disability Justice, and Metamorphosis | All of our bodies are gradually undergoing metamorphosis. Yet, many people with extraordinary bodies and minds experience discrimination in everyday life. Our speakers imagine metamorphosis and transformations on a grand societal scale. | Rosemarie Garland-Thomson, Anna Landre, Benedict Ipgrave, Stuart Murray | 12 Aug 2024 | |
| 7 | Keynote: Time traveling with Gregor Samsa, or what you can do with six legs | Professors Rosemarie Garland-Thomson and Eben Kirksey use Gregor's transformation in 'Metamorphosis' to muse on the everyday changes we all experience and their relations to disability, design justice and ableism. | Rosemarie Garland-Thomson, Eben Kirksey | 07 Aug 2024 | |
| 6 | CRISPR, Gene Editing, and Metamorphosis | Biotechnology is transforming the human condition. A molecular tool called CRISPR-Cas9 is being used to edit human DNA. Scientists will join influential disabled thinkers to discuss ethical issues hovering around gene editing. | Rosemarie Garland-Thomson, Nada Kubikova, Dagan Wells, Julia-Sophia Bellingrath | 26 Jul 2024 | |
| 5 | Hunger Artistry: Kafka and the Art of Starvation | Kafka’s provocative story “The Hunger Artist” explores starvation, art, and the nature of human existence. Experts discuss the story and its reception. | Peter Boxall, Ankhi Mukherjee, Meindert Peters, Karen Leeder | 10 Jul 2024 | |
| 4 | ‘Franz Kafka’s ‘Metamorphosis’: Insects and Disgust and Repulsion’ | Franz Kafka exploited people’s disgust at insects as his protagonist, Greger Samsa, was transformed into a giant insect. Is this disgust innate, widely shared or justified and what are the consequences for our treatment of insects? | Liam Crowley, Rosemary Gillespie, Clair Linzey, Geraldine Wright | 12 Jun 2024 | |
| 3 | Tuberculosis: vaccines, diagnostics and experience | Kafka died in 1924 of tuberculosis, which remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases. This talk looks at the various aspects of tuberculosis from candidate vaccines, the role of genetics in TB treatments and the perspective of a patient. | Helen McShane, Philip Fowler | 12 Jun 2024 | |
| 2 | Oxford Reads Kafka | A collective public reading of 'Metamorphosis' to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of Franz Kafka’s death. Bringing together literary figures, civic leaders and University academics and students, this event celebrates the power of Kafka’s voice today. | Lemn Sissay, Ben Okri, Lisa Appignanesi, Helen McShane | 12 Jun 2024 | |
| 1 | 'Kafka's Ape' and 'Words and Music' | Interview with the creatives behind two shows inspired by Kafka's story 'A Report for an Academy' which explore race, migration, ageing and "humanimal" agency. | Ed Gaughan, Karen Leeder, Tony Miyambo, Wes Williams | 07 Jun 2024 |