Festival of Ideas 2017 at the University Library
The Special Collections team are once again taking part in the University’s Festival of Ideas, a public engagement initiative that celebrates the arts, humanities and social sciences by showcasing a diverse mix of inspirational talks, performances, films, exhibitions and other creative displays. 2017 marks the tenth year of the Festival of ideas; it runs from Monday 16 October–Sunday 29 October. Although our pre-booked events are all full, there’s plenty of drop-in talks and a display.
This year the Library will be hosting the following events:
PRESERVING THE TRUTH: COPYING THE HEBREW BIBLE IN THE AGE BEFORE PRINT
For more than two-thousand years, the text of the Hebrew Bible has been accurately preserved. What techniques ensured the remarkably faithful copying of the text in the age before print?
This talk will focus on the work of the scribes and Masoretes – the protectors and transmitters of biblical tradition – and, through an examination of Bible manuscripts, look at the way they ensured the accurate copying of the Hebrew Bible.
TALK | 16 OCT 17.30-18.30 | FULLY BOOKED
IN BLACK AND WHITE: AN INTRODUCTION TO LETTERPRESS PRINTING
Enjoy a tour of the Historical Printing Room. Discover how type is made and pages are composed and view a demonstration of how a hand press works.
TOUR | 17 OCT 14.00-15.00 | FULLY BOOKED
TOUR | 17 OCT 15.30-16.30 | FULLY BOOKED
TOUR | 18 OCT 14.00-15.00 | FULLY BOOKED
TOUR | 18 OCT 15.30-16.30 | FULLY BOOKED
FAKE DARWIN: SOME THINGS CHARLES DARWIN DIDN’T SAY AND A FEW THAT HE ACTUALLY DID
This informal session will explore some of the quotations and ideas wrongly attributed to Darwin. How do these misinterpretations impact on our understanding of his work?
TALK | 18 OCT 11.00-12.00 | ALL WELCOME
MAKING SHAKESPEARE
How has Shakespeare been re-shaped in the centuries since his death? In this workshop, you’ll explore printed versions of Shakespeare and how he has been re-packaged over time.
Hosted by Cambridge University Library, this workshop will invite participants to bring in their own copies of Shakespeare and to consider the ways in which his works have been presented to them – editorially and culturally. Led by Ian Burrows from the Faculty of English, the workshop will consider Shakespeare’s editorial history, and will introduce participants to the centuries of Shakespeareana held at the University Library. Looking over these pages together we will ask (and struggle to answer) “is any text the true Shakespearean text?”
TALK | 20 OCT 14.00-15.30 | ALL WELCOME
THE FOLGER COLLECTION OF FIRST FOLIOS
Henry and Emily Folger spent almost 50 years assembling the world’s finest and largest collection of Shakespeare editions. This talk, by their biographer Stephen Grant, looks at the role played by Emily in the creation of this remarkable collection – including 82 First Folios – and the library that bears their name. Visitors can also see a display of a selection of the University Library’s thousands of Shakespeare editions, including our own iconic 1623 First Folio.
TALK | 20 OCT 16.30-17.30 | ALL WELCOME
CRAFTED OBJECTS, EMOTION AND SUSTAINABILITY
How do we form and dissolve our emotional connections to objects? Drawing on ideas from Gujarati craftspeople and medieval artisans, Kate Rudy considers the role of craft in creating objects that resist obsolescence.
This event will include a live weaving demonstration and a hands-on session in which participants will be able to examine North Indian textiles.
TALK | 21 OCT 14.00-15.00 | ALL WELCOME
POPPING THE FILTER BUBBLE: HOW FACTS CAN HELP YOU
When you’re surrounded by so-called fake news how do you know when information is fact-based? Join us to learn about the real story behind fake news.
So-called “fake news” is everywhere and is having a major impact on daily life from politics to education. The rapid growth of information and the numbers of people who can create it means that we need more sophisticated tools to process the news we receive. Join us to learn about different methods you can use to be your own fact checker and pop your filter bubble.
TALK | 23 OCT 17.30-19.00 | ALL WELCOME
PAPER AND TRANSMISSION OF KNOWLEDGE IN THE MEDIEVAL PERIOD
Paper is central to the histories of written communication and the transmission of knowledge. This talk will discuss the pre-modern and pre-printing transformative legacy of paper as a material.
Recent publications and media interest have demonstrated the urgency of getting to grips with paper, at a historical moment that feels like a turning point in our relations with it. This talk will explore the technological innovation that paper brought about in pre-modern Britain, focusing on medieval handwritten culture and, more broadly, on the literary and non-literary culture of the period. After the talk, there will be an opportunity for audience members to have a close-up look at some medieval paper manuscripts from the University Library’s collection.
TALK | 24 OCT 17.30-18.30 | FULLY BOOKED
MAPS OF THE FENS: VERSIONS OF THE TRUTH
Unique opportunity to see antique hand-drawn and printed maps of the Fens from the collections of Cambridge University Library and the Wisbech & Fenland Museum. Many of the maps will be from the 17th and 18th centuries. Admire the craftsmanship and think about why they were made and how that influenced what information was included. What can they tell us about the landscape of the past and the evolution of the Fens?
DISPLAY | 28 OCT 11.00-15.00 | ALL WELCOME