WYVERN POETS
writing group, Dundee
Project: Frankenstein's Poetic Progeny
In collaboration with The University of Dundee, Wyvern Poetrs recently took part in the International Festival of the Humanities: Being Human; Origins and Endings (15-24 November 2018). In celebration of the 200th anniversary of the first publication of Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, and in response to Dundee’s theme of Frankenstein Returns, we produced the pamphlet 'Frankenstein’s Poetic Progeny'.
Our event on November 21st included individual readings against a backdrop of projected images. Our poems consider present-day ways in which we threaten to become monsters ourselves; they also reassess what it means to be human.
This is a diverse collection is sometimes gravely poignant and sometimes darkly comic - the subject matter ranges from posthumous existence and artificial life to online dating.
Lauren Christie* is the Assistant Director for Being Human Festival (Dundee Hub). As part of the 2018 theme ‘Frankenstein Returns’, and in collaboration with the University of Dundee and Wyvern Poets, Lauren designed an exclusive workbook for schools.
This was a specially designed extension of ‘Frankenstein’s Poetic Progeny’, where each activity reflected aspects of the Curriculum for Excellence and was been inspired by the work from the Wyvern Poets.
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*Lauren Christie is a Doctoral Researcher at the University of Dundee. Lauren’s research examines the Gothic Tradition in Modern Scottish Education, and has established Gothic literacy workshops across Fife. The purpose of this project is to raise awareness of the Gothic genre through creative writing as a way of increasing reading for pleasure, thereby increasing literacy levels.