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Upcoming Treadwells Lecture: A Phallic Night

January may well be (like December) a lean month for posting as I am presently working on a lecture to be given at Treadwells on Thursday, 3rd Februrary. This lecture, entitled “A Phallic Night” is an examination of Richard Payne Knight’s infamous work A Discourse on the Worship of Priapus and its Connexion with the Mystic Theology of the Ancients (1786). Originally, I was going to examine Knight’s work as part of the “Occult Gender Regimes” series, but as I delved into the backstory behind the writing of Priapus, the ensuing scandal, Knight’s various associates (such as Baron d’Harcanville) and its relationship to both eighteenth century mythology & erotica – as well as Knight’s influence on the emergence of modern paganism and the theories of Freud and Jung, I realised that there was the makings of an entertaining lecture here. When Christina asked me to do something to support the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Queer and Transgender History Month lectures at Treadwells, I thought this would be a fitting contribution.

Booking details

5 comments

  1. Pallas Renatus
    Posted January 10th 2011 at 2:21 pm | Permalink

    Is there any chance that the lecture will be recorded? I’d love to hear it, but being on the other side of the globe…

    • Phil Hine
      Posted January 10th 2011 at 5:11 pm | Permalink

      Pallas

      It’s a possibility, certainly. I’m hoping also to write it up for publication later in the year.

  2. Hierax
    Posted January 12th 2011 at 8:46 pm | Permalink

    Seems very interesting. Alas, I also live too far away, hope to read it later.

  3. Pol o Cuileabhain
    Posted February 4th 2011 at 10:31 pm | Permalink

    A few of us unfortunately missed your lecture — I look forward to an mp3 recording being posted and/or the write-up.

    • Phil Hine
      Posted February 5th 2011 at 10:24 am | Permalink

      The lecture was recorded, so it will be available at some point in the future. I have also promised to write it up for Abraxas – but not for a while.