Dive beneath the surface of mermaid lore, tracing their long histories and what they may reveal about wider society. Followed by Q&A.

Why do mermaids continue to enchant us? From ancient sea-spirits to Disney princesses, the mermaid has drifted through centuries of myth, art, and pop culture – shifting shape with our fears and desires. In this talk, we dive beneath the surface of the familiar tale to explore the deeper history of mermaid lore. We’ll begin with Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid and its Disney transformations, then swim back through time to meet her many watery sisters: the sirens of antiquity, medieval Melusine, selkies, rusalki, Mami Wata, and the curious “mermaids” sailors swore they saw at sea.

Join Professor Diane Purkiss in unravelling what mermaids reveal about how societies imagine women, bodies, and outsiders. Together we’ll explore the mermaid and her relationship to the way women are defined and ponder the opposition between the mermaid and the sailor. Lastly, we’ll look at 21st-century reimagining’s – from colonial critique to queer and transgender symbolism – that show why the mermaid’s spell endures.