London Fortean Society: Twins – Superstitions and Marvels, Fantasies and Experiments

** This event will be held with a small, socially-distanced, in-person audience at Conway Hall *AND* online, via Zoom. Everyone wishing to join this event must register for a ticket in advance, using the “Book Now” link **

** Conway Hall is a charity and we politely ask you to add a donation of at least £5 when registering. **

Human twins have many meanings and different histories. They have been seen as gods and monsters, signs of danger, death and sexual deviance. They are taken as objects of wonder and violent repression, the subjects of scientific experiment. Now millions are born through fertility technologies. Their history is often buried in philosophies and medical theories, religious and scientific practices, and countless stories of devotion and tragedy.

In this history of superstitions and marvels, fantasies and experiments William Viney – himself a twin – shows how the use and abuse of twins has helped to shape the world in which we live. His book Twins (Reaktion 2021) has been written for twins and for anyone interested in their historical, global and political impact.

William Viney is a researcher in the Department of Anthropology, Goldsmiths, University of London. His writing has appeared in Cabinet, Critical Quarterly, frieze, and the Times Literary Supplement. He is the author of Waste: A Philosophy of Things (2014).

LINKS FOR FURTHER INFO:

Website:  https://www.reaktionbooks.co.uk/display.asp?ISB=9781789144086

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReaktionBooks

Twitter: @WillViney / @reaktionbook

** For those joining us online, we will be using the Zoom application (available for PC, Mac, iOS and Android). A link to join the talk will be sent to ticketholders before the event. **