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Posted: 19-11-2011 14:58 Post subject:

I've posted Part One of my UnCon review on my blog:

http://52thingsblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/attend-fortean-times-unconvention-1.html

Part Two will follow tomorrow.

Posted: 20-11-2011 11:24 Post subject: Uncon

Pietro - thank God you mentioned my talk! I was beginning to think that I hadn't given one this year, so effectively was it failing to turn up in anyone's posts. I'm glad you like it, but I suspect I've rather become part of the furniture and that this might be the moment to bow out gracefully, trailing my mummy-wrappings behind me and leaving a strange perfume of the tomb...

Posted: 20-11-2011 12:25 Post subject:

You definitely gave one. I enjoyed it, although you didn't really touch on the mummies from other cultures, other than Jet Li in The Mummy - The franchise isn't quite dead yet. South American mummies crop up from time to time, and it would be interesting to know how much of it is based on real mummification in South America, and how much is just because they have pyramids.

And you missed out the greatest mummy film of all time - Bubba Ho-Tep.

Posted: 20-11-2011 13:19 Post subject:

Agree with your points - love "Bubba Ho-Tep" and the way that the mummy becomes the symbol for an acceptance of ageing and death. Also many fine South American mummies out there - there was very recently a National Geographic documentary on the Inca child mummies, and in popular culture, who could forget Buffy's "Inca Mummy Girl" episode? All good stuff, but as it was I was pushing the limits of my time-slot. However, all suggestions duly noted for any future versions of the talk!

Posted: 20-11-2011 14:16 Post subject:

Can I add that the Mummy talk was great stuff, and I'd second the suggestion of South American mummies.

I've seen Peruvian mummies, in dusty little museum on the altiplano (i've forgetten the name of the town). They look freeze-dried (which I suppose they are), and are even creepier-looking than the Egyptian variety.

Posted: 20-11-2011 16:54 Post subject:

Thanks for the response, GailNina. Smile

I also missed a reference to Bubbahotep. There's a small, but influential, sub-class of Western-influenced mummy movies. The first one I saw was House II, which features gunslinger mummies and an Aztec skull. Great stuff! I suspect it exists partially because Western, 'gunslinger', mummies occasionally turned up in travelling carney sideshows.

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/14196

Please, don't stop doing the talks. They've always been a highlight and the relationship between history, myth, legend and popular culture is a big part of what underpins a lot of Fortean phenomena.

Posted: 20-11-2011 20:58 Post subject:

Part 2 of my review: http://52thingsblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/attend-fortean-times-unconvention-2.html

I do mention Gail-Nina, albeit briefly.

Posted: 20-11-2011 22:12 Post subject:

Cheers for a great review Gordon.

Posted: 20-11-2011 22:15 Post subject:

Posted: 20-11-2011 23:09 Post subject:

LordMongrove has betrayed the fact that he is a time traveller!

Very Happy

Posted: 21-11-2011 18:11 Post subject:

Or he's gotten Gordon and Zarathustraspake confused.

And I thought it odd that last year someone thought I was Gordon.

Posted: 21-11-2011 19:53 Post subject:

Is being Gordon the new being Spartacus?

Posted: 21-11-2011 19:57 Post subject:

Posted: 22-11-2011 19:46 Post subject:

That'll be a surprise to Min. Cool

Posted: 23-11-2011 15:12 Post subject:

Sorry, for some reason i got it into my head that Gordon had written that!
Thanks anyway.