• Home
  • About
  • Art & Illustration
    • About the Art
    • Art Galleries
      • Fairytales & Fantasy
      • Alice in Wonderland
    • Shop Art & Gifts
    • Licensed Art
    • Blog: Art & Illustration
  • Research & Writing
    • Research Profile
    • Publications
    • Teaching Portfolio
    • Conferences, Talks and Events
    • Blog: Literary Research & Writing
      • c18-19th Literature & History
      • Literary Landscapes
      • Gothic Landscapes
      • Folklore
      • Conferences
      • Reviews
  • Blog
    • All Blog Posts
    • Art & Illustration
    • Writing & Research
      • c18-19th Literature & History
      • Literary Landscapes
      • Gothic Landscapes
      • Folklore
      • Conferences
      • Reviews
    • Wanderings
      • A Wanderer’s Journal
      • Literary Landscapes
      • Gothic Landscapes
      • Folklore & Place
    • News & Events
  • Contact
  • Blog Categories

    • Academic Research (27)
    • All Blog Posts (36)
    • Art & Illustration (3)
    • Conferences (8)
    • Folklore (1)
    • Gothic Landscapes (3)
    • Literary Landscapes: In the Footsteps of Authors & Characters (1)
    • News, Announcements & Events (4)
    • Reviews (4)
    • Wanderings (7)
  • Blog Archives

    • May 2020 (2)
    • April 2020 (1)
    • March 2020 (1)
    • February 2020 (1)
    • January 2020 (2)
    • October 2019 (1)
    • July 2019 (1)
    • December 2018 (1)
    • October 2018 (9)
    • July 2018 (1)
    • February 2018 (1)
    • January 2018 (1)
    • November 2017 (2)
    • October 2017 (3)
    • September 2017 (1)
    • August 2017 (1)
    • April 2017 (1)
    • October 2016 (1)
    • September 2016 (2)
    • July 2016 (1)
    • June 2016 (2)
  • Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
    To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Home
  • About
  • Art & Illustration
    • About the Art
    • Art Galleries
      • Fairytales & Fantasy
      • Alice in Wonderland
    • Shop Art & Gifts
    • Licensed Art
    • Blog: Art & Illustration
  • Research & Writing
    • Research Profile
    • Publications
    • Teaching Portfolio
    • Conferences, Talks and Events
    • Blog: Literary Research & Writing
      • c18-19th Literature & History
      • Literary Landscapes
      • Gothic Landscapes
      • Folklore
      • Conferences
      • Reviews
  • Blog
    • All Blog Posts
    • Art & Illustration
    • Writing & Research
      • c18-19th Literature & History
      • Literary Landscapes
      • Gothic Landscapes
      • Folklore
      • Conferences
      • Reviews
    • Wanderings
      • A Wanderer’s Journal
      • Literary Landscapes
      • Gothic Landscapes
      • Folklore & Place
    • News & Events
  • Contact
Teen Movie Adaptations of Classic Literature, Film Adaptations, Adaptations of Literature, Clueless, 10 Things I Hate About You, Easy A, She's the Man, She's All That, Teen Movies
Teen Movie Adaptations of Classic Literature: Podcast Series
May 11, 2020 In All Blog Posts No Comment

Recently I collaborated once more with Dr Stephanie Russo and Dr Jimmy Van on Macquarie University’s From the Lighthouse podcast to record a series of discussions based around one thing we all have in common: a love for teen movie adaptations of classic literature! From films like Clueless and 10 Things I Hate About You, which have become 90s classics in their own right (and indelibly marked my own teenage years), to a range of weird and wonderful adaptations in the years since, we tackle the ups and downs of turning classic literature into teen film, what we love and loathe about these productions, the advantages and pitfalls of fidelity to the ‘original’ text, and the evergreen question of what makes a good adaptation. Invariably, these discussions also invited a lot of introspection and reflection on our own teenagehoods, and I found it particularly interesting to trace the ways that these films shaped our own varied experiences of being teenagers, and even, in some cases, our journeys into studying and researching literature and its contexts for a living. I will share more of these episodes as they become available below:

(more…)
Continue Reading

macbeth, shakespeare, witches, three witches, magic, women, feminism
Witches & the Magic of Shakespeare’s Macbeth: New Podcast Guest Appearance
May 8, 2020 In All Blog Posts No Comment

My latest guest spot on From the Lighthouse – the literary podcast from Macquarie University’s Department of English – involved one of my favourite things to talk about: witches! Specifically, those gnarled, wisened, wonderful witches whose enduring mystery goes some way towards explaining the seemingly endless appeal of one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays: the bloody, ghostly and gory Macbeth.

(more…)
Continue Reading

New Podcast Chat: What to Read and Watch during Covid-19 Lockdown
April 5, 2020 In All Blog Posts No Comment

Wherever you are, you are likely adjusting to the strange and potentially stressful new world of lockdowns and social distancing during Covid-19. It can be hard in a time like this to find the energy, concentration or willpower to continue many of the activities we once enjoyed, endured and even took for granted.

I was recently invited to join my friends Stephanie and Jimmy, hosts of Macquarie University’s From the Lighthouse podcast, to chat about our go-to books, podcasts, films and TV to help pass the time and ease the load of lockdown.

Listen to our recommendations below, and let me know: what are your go-to comfort reads?

Find this episode and more at: https://www.fromthelighthouse.org/2020/comfort-texts-for-a-brave-new-world

Continue Reading

Illustration of Gottfried August Burger's Lenore
Upcoming Talk: “The Gothic Horse”, Macquarie University, 5 March 2020
March 1, 2020 In All Blog Posts No Comment

Do you like ghosts, goblins, and all things gothic? What about horses, horse-riding and all things equestrian? What happens if you put both of those things together? Heads will roll…

On Thursday the 5th March I will be talking about the evolution of the dark, demonic, ghostly horse and rider (yes, the Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow fame, along with his ancestors and descendants!) as the first speaker in the Macquarie University Department of English’s 2020 Research Seminar Series. (more…)

Continue Reading

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Review (New podcast episode)
February 27, 2020 In All Blog Posts No Comment

The Dark Crystal (1982) was one of the many fantasy films on high rotation for me and my siblings growing up. Its blend of enchanting, ethereal beauty and hideous, brutal darkness, and its adventure story steeped in deep mythology made it vastly appealing to our eager imaginations (though its depiction of cruelty, loss and atmosphere of doom sometimes meant that films like The Never-ending Story, Mary Poppins and The Wizard of Oz were sought out more often). In addition, the sheer magnitude and detail in its handcrafted artistry, combining the talents of puppeteer and filmmaker Jim Henson and artist Brian Froud, along with a vast team of creatives, has ensured the film’s iconic place in history as well as its indelible influence upon a generation of creative minds that grew up under its spell. (more…)

Continue Reading

Sinking our Teeth into Netflix’s Dracula: Review (New Podcast Episode!)
January 29, 2020 In All Blog Posts 1 Comment

Dracula (BBC and Netflix, 2020) is the latest adaptation of Bram Stoker’s classic Victorian Gothic vampire novel. Dark, gory, and beautifully cinematic, it both returns to and departs from the novel in many different ways. Indulging liberally in well recognised gothic and horror tropes, locations and characters, it sinks its teeth into the long history of Dracula adaptations with relish, bundling them together into something that feels both fresh and familiar. But the question of how successful this combination is has stoked (sorry, I had to) some contention. (more…)

Continue Reading

123456
Page 1 of 6
  • Dr Kirstin Mills, writer, artist, illustrator, travel writer, explorer, academic

    Kirstin Mills is an Australian artist, writer, lecturer and researcher following her endless curiosity into realms of imagination and wonder. Read more about her life & projects here.

  • Blog Categories

    • Academic Research (27)
    • All Blog Posts (36)
    • Art & Illustration (3)
    • Conferences (8)
    • Folklore (1)
    • Gothic Landscapes (3)
    • Literary Landscapes: In the Footsteps of Authors & Characters (1)
    • News, Announcements & Events (4)
    • Reviews (4)
    • Wanderings (7)
  • Latest on Twitter

    My Tweets
  • Instagram

    Last week’s tea break activity was proofing a ch Last week’s tea break activity was proofing a chapter to be published soon with Palgrave’s Handbook of the Gothic! I know some people loathe proofing, but I actually really enjoy it: there’s something soothing about checking for the small details once all the hard work is done. This was also a fun chapter to write so I’m super excited for it to be out in the world!
.
.
.
#academiclife #researchlife #gothicliterature #gothic #writing #research #literature #victorianliterature #nineteenthcentury #supernatural #ghoststories #bookstagram #bookpublishing #academia #academicwriting #homeoffice
    Morning sunshine on a jacaranda. I love the Spring Morning sunshine on a jacaranda. I love the Spring explosions of purple that delightfully interrupt shades of green across Sydney 💚💜💚
    So sad to hear of Professor Stephen Prickett’s p So sad to hear of Professor Stephen Prickett’s passing. An eminent Victorian fantasy scholar, he was also wonderfully kind & particularly supportive of younger scholars’ work. He examined my PhD thesis & continued to encourage my work long after. This photo is from the “Re-imagining the Inklings: the Victorian Roots of Modern Fantasy” conference organized by the George MacDonald Society, of which Stephen was longtime president. It was my first conference after finishing my PhD, and Stephen was so welcoming. He will be missed.
    I have been waiting all year to crack out these li I have been waiting all year to crack out these little dudes. It’s officially Spooky Season! 🦇🦇🦇🦇
#halloween #gothic
    ‪I haven’t shared work stuff for a while becau ‪I haven’t shared work stuff for a while because of much more important things going on in the world, but if anyone needs a little respite from 2020, our new podcast series (for @Macquarieuni English) is all about Teen Movie adaptations of classic literature and features gems like Clueless & 10 Things I Hate About You. So far it’s been a really interesting flashback to my own teen years (& a really interesting reflection on how things do and don’t change over the years - and sometimes centuries)! More episodes on the way, & the first 4 are available now. Read more and find the episodes at http://www.kirstinmills.com/blog/teen-movie-adaptations-classic-literature-podcast‬
.
.
.
#teenmovie #adaptation #literature #clueless #tenthingsihateaboutyou #10thingsihateaboutyou #easya #shestheman #shesallthat #movies #moviequotes #classicliterature #teenage #bookstomovies #readersofinstagram
    #blackouttuesday Rather than just taking a break #blackouttuesday 
Rather than just taking a break from social media, please use this time to listen to, read, and learn from the voices this movement is designed to amplify. Social media expressions against racism are not enough. Individually condemning racism isn’t enough. Thinking “racism is horrible but I’m not racist” is definitely not enough. We need to educate ourselves, and demand and fight for real, deep, systemic change (yes, in Australia and the UK and elsewhere too). At the very least, donate what you can to the organizations currently on the ground doing the hard work. One place to start: see link in my bio.
    Wondering what to read, watch and listen to during Wondering what to read, watch and listen to during lockdown? I was recently invited to join my friends Stephanie and Jimmy, hosts of Macquarie University’s From the Lighthouse podcast, to chat about our go-to books, podcasts, films and TV to help pass the time and ease the load of this strange new social-distancing world. Listen to the podcast episode on my blog (link in bio) 📚☕️
.
.
.
.
#podcast #podcastersofinstagram #podcasting #books #bookstagram #booklover #booksofinstagram #booksbooksbooks #lockdown #isolation #whattoread #whattoreadnext #movies #recommendedreading #recommendedbooks #recommended #chat #talk #book #bookobsessed #booknerd #bookclub
    Today I gave a talk on some of my research for the Today I gave a talk on some of my research for the first of Macquarie Uni’s Department of English Research Seminars! It’s always fun to present, but today was particularly enjoyable (lovely people, super enthusiastic reception, plus when else do you get to make double entrendre jokes about sexy men on horseback and call it work?!). Now, time for wine. And pasta. And more pasta. And more wine. 🍷🍝
    TOMORROW! I’m giving a talk at Macquarie Univers TOMORROW! I’m giving a talk at Macquarie University as the first speaker in the Department of English Research Seminar Series. My talk will be on one of my recent research projects, and is entitled “Hellish Horses and Monstrous Men: The Evolution of the Gothic Horse in the Long Nineteenth Century.” Read more about it and find the talk details on my website (link in bio). [Painting of a scene from “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by John Quidor]💀🐎🦇 .
.
.
#gothic #gothicliterature #gothicart #sleepyhollow #washingtonirving #edgarallanpoe #academia #academiclife #macquarieuniversity #nineteenthcentury #nineteenthcenturyart #horse #horses #gothichorse #headlesshorseman
    Follow Kirstin on Instagram

  • Recent Posts

    • Teen Movie Adaptations of Classic Literature, Film Adaptations, Adaptations of Literature, Clueless, 10 Things I Hate About You, Easy A, She's the Man, She's All That, Teen Movies
      Teen Movie Adaptations of Classic Literature: Podcast Series
      May 11, 2020
    • macbeth, shakespeare, witches, three witches, magic, women, feminism
      Witches & the Magic of Shakespeare's Macbeth: New Podcast Guest Appearance
      May 8, 2020
    • New Podcast Chat: What to Read and Watch during Covid-19 Lockdown
      April 5, 2020
  • Latest Tweets

    My Tweets
  • Instagram

    Last week’s tea break activity was proofing a ch Last week’s tea break activity was proofing a chapter to be published soon with Palgrave’s Handbook of the Gothic! I know some people loathe proofing, but I actually really enjoy it: there’s something soothing about checking for the small details once all the hard work is done. This was also a fun chapter to write so I’m super excited for it to be out in the world!
.
.
.
#academiclife #researchlife #gothicliterature #gothic #writing #research #literature #victorianliterature #nineteenthcentury #supernatural #ghoststories #bookstagram #bookpublishing #academia #academicwriting #homeoffice
    Morning sunshine on a jacaranda. I love the Spring Morning sunshine on a jacaranda. I love the Spring explosions of purple that delightfully interrupt shades of green across Sydney 💚💜💚
    So sad to hear of Professor Stephen Prickett’s p So sad to hear of Professor Stephen Prickett’s passing. An eminent Victorian fantasy scholar, he was also wonderfully kind & particularly supportive of younger scholars’ work. He examined my PhD thesis & continued to encourage my work long after. This photo is from the “Re-imagining the Inklings: the Victorian Roots of Modern Fantasy” conference organized by the George MacDonald Society, of which Stephen was longtime president. It was my first conference after finishing my PhD, and Stephen was so welcoming. He will be missed.
    I have been waiting all year to crack out these li I have been waiting all year to crack out these little dudes. It’s officially Spooky Season! 🦇🦇🦇🦇
#halloween #gothic
    ‪I haven’t shared work stuff for a while becau ‪I haven’t shared work stuff for a while because of much more important things going on in the world, but if anyone needs a little respite from 2020, our new podcast series (for @Macquarieuni English) is all about Teen Movie adaptations of classic literature and features gems like Clueless & 10 Things I Hate About You. So far it’s been a really interesting flashback to my own teen years (& a really interesting reflection on how things do and don’t change over the years - and sometimes centuries)! More episodes on the way, & the first 4 are available now. Read more and find the episodes at http://www.kirstinmills.com/blog/teen-movie-adaptations-classic-literature-podcast‬
.
.
.
#teenmovie #adaptation #literature #clueless #tenthingsihateaboutyou #10thingsihateaboutyou #easya #shestheman #shesallthat #movies #moviequotes #classicliterature #teenage #bookstomovies #readersofinstagram
    #blackouttuesday Rather than just taking a break #blackouttuesday 
Rather than just taking a break from social media, please use this time to listen to, read, and learn from the voices this movement is designed to amplify. Social media expressions against racism are not enough. Individually condemning racism isn’t enough. Thinking “racism is horrible but I’m not racist” is definitely not enough. We need to educate ourselves, and demand and fight for real, deep, systemic change (yes, in Australia and the UK and elsewhere too). At the very least, donate what you can to the organizations currently on the ground doing the hard work. One place to start: see link in my bio.
    Wondering what to read, watch and listen to during Wondering what to read, watch and listen to during lockdown? I was recently invited to join my friends Stephanie and Jimmy, hosts of Macquarie University’s From the Lighthouse podcast, to chat about our go-to books, podcasts, films and TV to help pass the time and ease the load of this strange new social-distancing world. Listen to the podcast episode on my blog (link in bio) 📚☕️
.
.
.
.
#podcast #podcastersofinstagram #podcasting #books #bookstagram #booklover #booksofinstagram #booksbooksbooks #lockdown #isolation #whattoread #whattoreadnext #movies #recommendedreading #recommendedbooks #recommended #chat #talk #book #bookobsessed #booknerd #bookclub
    Today I gave a talk on some of my research for the Today I gave a talk on some of my research for the first of Macquarie Uni’s Department of English Research Seminars! It’s always fun to present, but today was particularly enjoyable (lovely people, super enthusiastic reception, plus when else do you get to make double entrendre jokes about sexy men on horseback and call it work?!). Now, time for wine. And pasta. And more pasta. And more wine. 🍷🍝
    TOMORROW! I’m giving a talk at Macquarie Univers TOMORROW! I’m giving a talk at Macquarie University as the first speaker in the Department of English Research Seminar Series. My talk will be on one of my recent research projects, and is entitled “Hellish Horses and Monstrous Men: The Evolution of the Gothic Horse in the Long Nineteenth Century.” Read more about it and find the talk details on my website (link in bio). [Painting of a scene from “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by John Quidor]💀🐎🦇 .
.
.
#gothic #gothicliterature #gothicart #sleepyhollow #washingtonirving #edgarallanpoe #academia #academiclife #macquarieuniversity #nineteenthcentury #nineteenthcenturyart #horse #horses #gothichorse #headlesshorseman
    Follow Kirstin on Instagram

All text and images are © Copyright Kirstin Mills unless otherwise stated. No unauthorised use.