• 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
Frankenstein at 200, Frankenstein, Frankenweek, 200th Anniversary, Frankenreads, Mary Shelley, Blog, Gothic, Novel, Science Fiction, Kirstin Mills
Frankenstein at 200: Special Anniversary Blog Series
October 18, 2018 In Academic Research All Blog Posts No Comment

This year marks 200 years of one of the world’s most famous and enduring novels: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. First published in 1818, it quickly became a perpetually reincarnating creature of its own, transforming through multiple retellings, adaptations, references and parodies throughout the next 200 years. Central in each retelling is the iconic image of the ambitious scientist haunted by the horrors of his monstrous creation, most famously depicted in Jame’s Whale’s 1931 film featuring Boris Karloff’s iconic “monster,” complete with neck bolts and green skin, ushered into being by Frankenstein’s triumphant exclamations, “It’s alive!!” (more…)

Continue Reading

Elle Fanning as Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein
‘Mary Shelley’ Film Review: Beauty? Yes! Truth? Not so much… (& new podcast!)
July 4, 2018 In Academic Research All Blog Posts Reviews No Comment

“Her greatest love inspired her darkest creation.” So reads the poster tagline of the 2018 film Mary Shelley, starring Elle Fanning. A creative re-imagining of Mary Shelley’s life leading up to the publication of Frankenstein – the novel for which Shelley is still best known – the film presents itself as a biopic that will reveal “the real life story of Mary Shelley”, which, it posits, is “the life that inspired Frankenstein.” Such a premise sounds wonderful indeed: Mary Shelley deserves a lot more attention, and her life was certainly one of the most exciting, tragic and inspiring that you could read about. Even a chronological reenactment of events recorded in her journals and letters (of which there are many) would reveal a wealth of real-life drama. Certainly too, elements of her life inspired her writing. However, there is one problem (more…)

Continue Reading

Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Portrait of Mary Shelley
Interview: Mary Shelley, Mental Health and Travel Writing
February 17, 2018 In Academic Research All Blog Posts Conferences No Comment

I was recently interviewed by the Keats-Shelley Association of America (KSAA) about my research into Mary Shelley, mental health, travel writing and the gothic, which I presented last September at The Shelleys conference in London. This morning I awoke to the delightful news that the interview has now been published online. This research resonates with me on a very personal level (as you’ll see by reading the interview), so I was deeply touched and heartened to read the wonderful feedback it has already received from some Shelley scholars online.

In the interview I answer three excellent questions about my research posed by Ellen Nicholls, who did a wonderful job of chairing the panel on which I spoke at the conference. My responses explore ideas relating to Mary Shelley’s grief, depression and emotional trauma following the many tragic events in her life, not least the deaths of her husband, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and several of their infant children. I discuss what we can learn from the ways that Shelley handles this grief by turning to the dual outlets of travel and creative writing, and the ways that she thereby constructs a space within which to navigate, understand and attempt to heal her mental anguish. I also look at the competing and complimentary influences upon her writings: her blurred personal and professional agendas; the influences of the gothic, sentimental, and epistolary genres; and the perennial question of how close and how equal was the collaboration between Mary and Percy Shelley (my opinion on this is quite strong, in rebuff of a long tradition of overlooking the genius of Mary Shelley in favour of her husband).

You can read the full interview here:

< Shelley Conference: Kirstin Mills on Mary Shelley and the Landscapes of the Mind >

Continue Reading

Alice in Wonderland, Sand Sculpture, Sand, Sand Sculpting, Sand Sculpting Australia, Exhibition, Lewis Carroll, Fantasy, Sculptures, Review, Cheshire Cat
Alice in Wonderland Sand Sculpture Exhibition – Sydney, Australia, 2018
January 29, 2018 In Academic Research All Blog Posts Reviews No Comment

This January saw the marvellous and topsy-turvy world of Wonderland brought to life in three-dimensional glory in the sun-baked grounds of Blacktown Showground on the outskirts of Sydney, Australia. Using more than 250 tonnes of sand, ten Australian and International Sand Sculptors worked for twelve days to create huge sand sculptures depicting characters and scenes from Lewis Carroll’s classic book. Wrought in stunning detail, the sculptures bore a mix of styles (more…)

Continue Reading

moon, full moon, folklore, lunar, lunar lore, jules verne, around the moon, lune
Lunar Folklore: Moon Magic, Weather Lore and Science
November 16, 2017 In Academic Research All Blog Posts Folklore No Comment

Silver-sickled, celestial, circling satellite suspended in star-slung, far-flung skies.
Full-bellied billowing, voluminously glittering, luminously glistering in lunatics’ eyes.
The thrice-spinning moon threads stories through time, spun with the world-wending wisdom of old.
Prophesying poetry: there is magic in words; the weather-witch speaks of secrets foretold.

‘Lunar Lore’ by Kirstin Mills.

The poem above was inspired by a little nineteenth-century volume of collected Weather Folklore, in which the author, introducing a section on lore of the moon, referred to our luminous orb as a “weather witch.” “The moon too has always had her votaries, as a weather-witch,” he writes, (more…)

Continue Reading

alice and the cheshire cat, alice in wonderland, alice, cheshire cat, cat, kirstin mills, kirstin, art, illustration, drawing, sketch, pen and ink, books, fantasy, fairytale, fairy tale, cats
Lewis Carroll’s Letter on Kindness & New Illustration for World Kindness Day
November 13, 2017 In Academic Research All Blog Posts Art & Illustration 2 Comments

Today, the 13th of November, is World Kindness Day – a day, established in 1998, to celebrate and embody kindness in all its forms. I truly believe that above beauty, above talent, above success, above wealth, above anything else, one should always strive to be kind. It is the most important trait to nurture, cultivate and value within oneself, and to project outwards into the world.

Many of the world’s most famous authors (more…)

Continue Reading

123456
Page 4 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.