Reading Robots

Robots are both strange and familiar. They seem to have been with us in film and fiction forever. The Reading Robots project (2022-) brings together researchers from literature, film and screen media, and computer science to examine the range of representations of robots.

So far, we have explored Karel Capek’s play, RUR (1920; 1921) which brought the word ‘robot’ into the English language. We have watched the film Ex Machina. (2014; dir. Alex Garland). This term we invite you to join us for more Robot Readings and conversations from different perspectives on what robots have meant and what the future holds for robot-human dialogues.

This Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Literary Studies seminar will explore the film Her (2013; dir. Spike Jonze).

Staff and students at the University of Essex will have access to the film on Box of Broadcasts.

This seminar is ideal for University of Essex students and researchers as well as members of the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Literary Studies.

The seminar is a hybrid event, to be held on campus and online. Participants wishing to join remotely can do so via the event Zoom link.