Online talk explores how James Bond has long been entwined with Gothic storytelling.
James Bond may be best known for his high-stakes espionage and jet-setting lifestyle, but a new online event will argue that the world of 007 is also steeped in the Gothic tradition. On Saturday, 15th March (7–8 pm GMT), Tom Mason will present Something Evil Comes This Way: James Bond and the Gothic as part of the Romancing the Gothic series.
Mason’s talk will delve into the eerie undercurrents running through both Ian Fleming’s novels and the Eon Productions films. Drawing from Umberto Eco’s 1966 claim that Fleming’s writing contained elements of “pure Gothic,” Mason will examine how Bond’s world is filled with exaggerated villains, sinister lairs, and the ever-present influence of the past. He will focus particularly on the 1970s Bond films—from Diamonds Are Forever to Moonraker—as well as the Daniel Craig era, where Bond himself is often depicted as a relic of another time.
The event will also uncover Gothic elements that never made it to the screen, using production documents and other archival materials. Tickets are available via Eventbrite, with a ‘pay what you can’ model supporting both the speaker and the Romancing the Gothic project.
Details
Date: 15th March
Time: 7–8 pm GMT
Cost: Pay what you can
For more information and to register, visit: Eventbrite.
