Batman Gets a Lecture at Edge Hill

Edge Hill University is to stage this year's season of Inaugural Lectures starting next week.

The University's most recently-appointed professors will each give an opening address on one of a diverse range of subjects covering thought-provoking poetry, the value of e-learning, adventures in literary history and the importance of partnership working.

Even Batman gets a look-in as part of a lecture that examines the portrayal of African Americans and the civil rights movement in American films and TV programmes.

Professor Robert Shepherd will open the season on Tuesday, 13 March. As both poet and critic, he will examine how it is possible to reconcile these two roles. He will also read from a number of his own works, which include: Hymns to the God my Typewriter Believes in and Poetry of Saying: British Poetry and its Discontents, 1950-2000

The full programme is as follows.

13 March Professor Robert Shepherd - "Poetics as Conjecture and Provocation"

17 April Emeritus Professor Andrew Sackville - "Exciting? Extra? Essential? or Evil? Adding the "e" to e-learning

1 May Professor John Diamond - "Reclaiming Trust and Equality in Partnership Working: What is Possible?"

15 May Professor Harriet Devine - "Snooping Around: Adventures in Literary History"

14 June Professor Kevern Verney - "Holy Mackerel Batman - The Portrayal of African Americans and the Civil Rights Movement in Hollywood Film and US Network television, 1948-1975"

All the lectures, which will be held at the main campus in St Helens Road, Ormskirk, start at 6pm, last around an hour and will be followed by a buffet. Admission is free. To book a place contact Sharon Buckley on 01695 584435, e-mail: buckleys@edgehill.ac.uk