Exploring the Extraordinary 4th Conference

21st-23rd September, 2012
Holiday Inn, York, UK

 


FRIDAY, 21st September
 
1.00-1.15    Introduction
1.15-1.45    ‘A qualitative study of anomalous telephonic experiences’ Callum Cooper, University of Northampton
1.45-2.15    'The nature and quality of child-parent relationships as predictors of adult paranormal and new age beliefs’ Dr Paul Rogers, University of Central Lancashire

2.15-2.40     Coffee break
 
2.40-3.10    ‘Extraordinary claims, uncanny history: Testing historical
interpretations of Spiritualism and the First World War’ Ben McDonald, University of Melbourne
3.10-3.40    ‘Reconstructing Seaford: A historical methodology to trace the rise of the psychokinetic theory of the poltergeist phenomenon’ Christopher Laursen, University of British Columbia
3.40-4.10    ‘The spectacular supernatural: Victoria Spiritualism and the rise of modern show business’ Dr Simone Natale, University of Cologne 
 
4.10-4.30    Coffee break
 
4.30-5.00    ‘Revenant revolutions’ Jonathan Ferguson, Leeds Royal Armouries
5.00-5.30    ‘Limbos of destruction: Ghosts, malevolence and tragedy’ Dr Hannah Gilbert, York St John University
 
6.30-8.00    Dinner

Evening Activity: Films
8.00    The Fortean tales of Lapis Lazu, Christopher Laursen, University of British Columbia 
8.30    Science and spirit(s), Prof Charles Emmons, Gettysburg College



SATURDAY, 22nd September

10.00-10.30      ‘Exploring extraordinary geographies: The overlapping spaces of the practical, the social and the otherworldly’, Dr Nadia Bartolini, Dr Sara MacKian & Dr Steve Pile, Open University
10.30-11.00    ‘Crystals, angels and a discourse of healing: Exploring extraordinary therapeutic landscapes,’ Dr Sara MacKian, Open University

11.00-11.15    Coffee Break

11.15-11.45    ‘GHosts, guests and hosts, and how to make them’ Sarah Sparkes, University of London
11.45-12.15    ‘English heretic:  An application of magical psychogeography and modern necromancy’ Andy Sharp 
12.15-12.45    ‘Expressions of spirithood: Performance and the manifestation of spirits,’ Jack Hunter, University of Bristol

12.45-2.00    Lunch
 
2.00-2.30    ‘In the light and shadow: Turning the dead to keep the world alive,’ Dr Christel Mattheeuws, University of Aberdeen
2.30-3.00    ‘Magic, materialism and mushrooms: Psilocybin mushrooms user’s constructions of the reality of psychedelic entity encounters’ James Thompson, University of Bath    
3.00-3.30    ‘The shamanic journey: Ordinary into extraordinary reality’, Dr Zoë Brân

3.30-3.45    Coffee Break
 
3.45-4.15    ‘“Knock, knock… who’s there?” Orientating to spirits in the spatial and personal environment’ Rachael Hayward, University of York 
4.15-4.45    ‘The material remains of presence on an excavated hauntscape: A transductive ethnography of a spectral soundscape’ John Sabol

Evening Activity
6.15-7.15         
‘Everyday Spirituality’ book launch and wine reception
7.30                 
Dinner at 1331 Bar & Restaurant      
 

SUNDAY, 23rd September
 
10.00-10.30    ‘Noise and the infinite’ Adam Potts, Newcastle University 
10.30-11.00    ‘Paramusicology: The fusion of music and the paranormal’ Dr Melvyn Willin

11.00-11.20     Coffee Break

11.20-11.50    ‘It takes one to know one: Imaginal cognition and the question of spiritual reality’ Dr Angela Voss
11.50-12.10     'Emotion, extraordinary experience and ethics’ Dr Madeleine Castro, Leeds Metropolitan University 


12.10-1.00     Group discussion
1.00           Lunch


ABSTRACTS
BIOGRAPHIES 
 

Dr Sara MacKian, Prof Steve Pile and Prof Charles Emmons, at Sara's book launch