Frankenstein: The Books That Made The Monster – Tuesday 13 November 2018, 6pm

Copyright Alejandro Colucci

The teenage author of Frankenstein, Mary Shelley, was an avid reader, as her detailed diaries reveal. But her most iconic creations, Victor Frankenstein and his Monster, are fatally corrupted by their own exposure to books. Frankenstein immerses himself in the occult sciences, while the Monster turns evil after learning about humanity’s misdeeds in Paradise Lost, The Sorrows of Young Werther, and the Bible, among other things.

This talk, by Dr Daniel Cook from the University of Dundee, traces Shelley’s reading habits before and during the composition of her Gothic  masterpiece, and considers the devilish role played by books in her most famous work of fiction.

Everyone is welcome. This event is free and non-bookable. Places are limited so please arrive early to avoid disappointment. Doors open at 5pm.

Penguins – Public Art on Parade – Tuesday 2 October 2018, 6pm

This summer has seen the streets of Dundee populated by a waddle of colourful penguin sculptures commissioned by Maggie’s Dundee, a charity that supports people and families affected by cancer. The penguin sculpture was designed by Janice Aitken and each one has been decorated with individual designs by a wonderful range of artists and designers. The finale of this fantastic venture is the auction in September, making the penguin parade both an excellent fundraising initiative and a fantastic awareness raising project for the charity.

The trail has been enjoyed by adults and children of all ages, ‘collecting’ penguins through taking photographs and updating specially designed sticker albums, and getting out and about on foot, by bus and on their bikes.

Join Janice Aitken from the University of Dundee as she discusses the Maggie’s Penguin Parade and some of the other public art pieces that she has created, including the boards recently on display at Slessor Gardens and the decorative windows for the Medical Library at Ninewells.

Everyone is welcome. This event is free and non-bookable. Places are limited so please arrive early to avoid disappointment. Doors open at 5pm.

There will be a collection in aid of Maggie’s at the end of the event.

Art and Design Stories – Made in Dundee – Tuesday 8 May 2018, 6pm

Each year, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design is transformed into Scotland’s largest exhibition space. The 10 day event showcases the work of over 350 of the University of Dundee’s graduating art, design and architecture students. At the Degree Show, thousands of visitors see the products of years of creativity and hard work in an exciting show spanning the areas of design and craft, contemporary art practice, social digital, graphic communication and architecture.

Join us on Tuesday 8 May 2018, 6pm at The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery and Museum, for a sneak peek at what this year’s University of Dundee Art, Design & Architecture Degree show has to offer. Students from a variety of disciplines will take to the floor to discuss their work, in advance of the show opening on Friday 18 May 2018.

Everyone is welcome. This event is free and non-bookable. Places are limited so please arrive early to avoid disappointment. Doors open at 5pm.

Modern Social Work: Participation in Risky Spaces – Tuesday 17 April 2018, 6pm

Social work and social workers are often in the hot seat.  They work in the uneasy spaces between participation, responsibility and risk, big ideas that don’t always get along.

Recent policy talk says that the public and service users must be more involved.  But is that what we want?  And what does it means for social work services and the people who use them?

Join Dr Trish McCulloch from the University of Dundee as she discusses these ideas drawing on two different research projects with young people and people who offend.

Everyone is welcome. This event is free and non-bookable. Places are limited so please arrive early to avoid disappointment. Doors open at 5pm.

 

Myth-busting the Generational Divide – Tuesday 6 February 2018, 6pm

The idea of a generational divide, where one generation is pitched against another, has emerged once again in the press and policy discussions.  A popular argument is that Baby Boomers, who have benefited most from public welfare and economic prosperity, should now be giving some of their gains back to help younger generations, particularly Millennials. But is this generational divide a reality or a political smoke screen that emerges during times of economic hardship?

Join Dr Beverley Searle from the University of Dundee as she discusses an overview of these topics and her latest research.

Everyone is welcome. This event is free and non-bookable. Places are limited so please arrive early to avoid disappointment. Doors open at 5pm.

The Art of Making Trouble – Tuesday 7 November 2017, 6pm

A memorial with the names and ages of 334 civilian drone casualties from Pakistan written on the surface of the constructed drone (written in English and Urdu).

Artist and activist, Prof Joseph DeLappe, likes making trouble. From hacking drones to selling despotic dictators on eBay, nothing is off limits, as he uses his over 30 years’ experience in online gaming and sculpture to create projects that react to modern politics and warfare. In his most well-known work, Joseph infiltrated the US Army recruitment game, “America’s Army’ and created memorials to US soldiers who had lost their lives in the most recent Iraq War.

Recently hired as the Professor of Games and Tactical Media at Abertay University, Joseph will discuss his past and future work, and provide a short history of political activism through computer games, art and design.

Everyone is welcome. This event is free and non-bookable. Places are limited so please arrive early to avoid disappointment. Doors open at 5pm.

Usain Bolt – Can Celebrity Boost Tourism? Tuesday 3 October 2017, 6pm

What makes a tourist destination attractive? Can (and should) famous people make a destination more desirable? This event explores the connections between celebrity and tourism through a discussion of Usain Bolt, the world’s most successful and recognisable athlete.

Dr Susan Mains, University of Dundee, will discuss her research on the promotion of Bolt as a global brand and ambassador for Jamaican tourism, and in doing so seeks to address the questions: can celebrity boost tourism, how do we “sell” place and what might this mean for tourism in Dundee?

Everyone is welcome. This event is free and non-bookable. Places are limited so please arrive early to avoid disappointment. Doors open at 5pm.

The More You Look, The More You See – Tuesday 19 September 2017, 6pm

A new exhibition explores the rich collections of objects and art from Dundee’s past, as part of the celebrations of The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery and Museum’s 150th Anniversary. Calum Colvin’s ‘Museography’ positions a number of his intriguing photographs within the galleries of The McManus for all to see.

But all is not what it seems. Look closely at the stunning images, and you’ll discover a magical and puzzling world, where familiar become fascinating and mysterious. In each photograph, the more you look, the more you see.

Join us for this talk from Prof Calum Colvin, from the University of Dundee, followed by a discussion. This talk will finish at 7pm. The event will be followed by a short guided tour of the exhibition for interested members of the audience.

Everyone is welcome. This event is free and non-bookable. Places are limited so please arrive early to avoid disappointment. Doors open at 5pm.

Summer 2017 break

Thank you everyone who came along to our Dundee Arts Cafe series 2016/2017. It’s been another great success, with topics ranging from art, culture, politics, gaming, and comics to name but a few.

Beach-Holiday-WallpaperIt’s time for Dundee Arts Cafe to take a well earned rest over the summer holidays, while we plan an exciting new series starting in September, at our usual venue of the McManus cafe.

Check out out Dundee Arts Cafe YouTube page to find our latest video clips of past talks.

Sign up for our mailing list to find out first about upcoming talks and events by emailing dundeeartscafe@dundee.ac.uk with ‘Subscribe’ in the subject box.

Women and Celebrity Culture – Tuesday 6 June 2017, 6pm


From the earliest days of the film industry, women have played key roles as both professionals and spectators. The division between the two has blurred today in the age of reality TV and social media – but the dynamic relationship between on- and off-screen worlds has always been in place.

Dr Ana Salzberg, from the University of Dundee, will explore the complex engagement between women and celebrity culture, discussing the evolution of stardom and fandom from early Hollywood to contemporary media.

Everyone is welcome. This event is free and non-bookable. Places are limited so please arrive early to avoid disappointment. Doors open at 5pm.