A Drink with The Idler | David Bramwell on The Wicker Man
£7.50
Join “A Drink with the Idler” as we chat with David Bramwell about folk horror, paganism and The Wicker Man
On Halloween,we’ll be talking about all things folk horror and Wicker Man with David Bramwell who’s written about the film for a new book and has been performing as Lord Summerisle in the cult DIY show Sing-Along-A-Wicker-Man for over 15 years.
Bramwell will unravel the bizarre history of The Wicker Man from its unpromising start to its status as ‘the Citizen Kane of horror films’. It even – arguably – changed the world of folk music, ushered in a new genre of horror, brought the term ‘a bit Wicker Man’ into common parlance and has been the inspiration for everything from a Radiohead video to a Muppet comic book remake.
Bramwell will share film clips, oddities to look out for and recommendations for lesser-known folk horror classics.
We’ll also discuss why the Wicker Man is so popular with witches, Wiccans, and druids when it essentially portrays pagans as a homicidal cult. As research for his book, Bramwell hung out with druids, Wicker Man director the late Robin Hardy, and musician Julian Cope in an effort to understand our complex relationship with paganism today and why, in the movies at least, pagans have always been portrayed as the bad guys.
The discussion between David Bramwell and Idler editor Tom Hodgkinson will be followed by a live Q&A, and the Idler Academy’s Head of Philosophy Dr Mark Vernon will present a short “thought for the week” to get our brains fizzing. The event will be hosted by Idler Academy director Victoria Hull.
This is an online event. It should be like meeting up in the pub for an interesting conversation. We leave the meeting open at the end so you can carry on chatting.
David Bramwell is a writer, broadcaster, performer and singer-songwriter with the band Oddfellow’s Casino. His work includes The Cult of Water, The No9 Bus to Utopia, The Haunted Moustache, The Odditorium and Adventures in Nutopia podcast. For BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 4 he has made programmes on subjects ranging from Ivor Cutler and Ken Campbell to an Alpine community of time travellers. His book The Singalong-A-Wicker-Man Scrapbook : In Search of the Pagan Heart of Britain is out now. Find out more at https://www.drbramwell.com.
Tom Hodgkinson is editor of the Idler and author of the best-selling manuals, How to Be Idle and How to Be Free. Other publications include a book on parenting, the Ukulele Handbook and a manual for creative entrepreneurs, Business for Bohemians.
Dr Mark Vernon is a psychotherapist, writer, broadcaster, and teacher. He presents several Idler Academy online courses. He has a PhD in philosophy, and degrees in theology and physics. His most recent books include The Idler Guide to Ancient Philosophy (Idler Books), Love: All that Matters (Hodder) and Jung: How to Believe (Guardian Shorts) – and he has books on friendship, belief and the good life too. Mark can often be heard on Radio 4’s Moral Maze. He began his professional life as a priest in the Church of England. For more, visit markvernon.com.
Victoria Hull is director of the Idler Academy, producing the Idler’s live and online events and courses.
Testimonials for A Drink with the Idler
Drinks with the Idler have kept me sane.
A fabulous Idler Drinks – thanks Tom, Victoria, Mark and idlers everywhere!
A simple heartfelt “thank you”: I cannot tell you how much I am enjoying Thursday evenings as part of the Idler community. Never has a subscription yielded such brain-nourishing pleasure.
Short yet so sweet, delightful and interesting… uplifting intelligent conversation. I feel so happy to have stumbled upon the Idler. I bow to you all☺️⭐️
A Drink with the Idler has turned out to be one of our lifelines! Such fun, wonderful commentary by you and the remarkable Mark, not to mention the delightful Victoria.
Event Details
Date: Thursday 31 October 2024
Time: 6pm-7pm
Location: Online via Zoom link
Cost: £7.50. Free for Idler members. SUBSCRIBE HERE.
How to join A Drink with the Idler: Non subscribers should register by clicking the BUY NOW button above. Subscribers can register by clicking the GET TICKETS button above.
Important
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Idler Magazine and Idler Academy members will be sent a special registration link ahead of the event.
Latecomers may not be given access
