This lecture is a RECORDING ONLY - after purchasing your Pay What You Can ticket you will be able to access the link to the recording of this class via the ticket page. Please reach out to hello@feministlectureprogram.com if you run into any issues.
After purchasing, you will have until Monday 17th February to watch this recording.
We hope you enjoy the class!
Join FLP Director Luisa-Maria MacCormack for an iconic lecture that places the spotlight on the architectural grotesques that adorn European castles…the Sheela Na Gig!
CLASS DESCRIPTION
Wander under the eaves of a 11th or 12th century Castle, Church or Cathedral, and one might expect to see gargoyles, beautiful gothic architecture, or even a grotesque or two. What most people probably WOULDN'T expect to see, is a figurine of a screaming woman holding her enormous vagina wide open like a doorway. That is to say - most people haven't ever seen or heard of a Sheela Na gig.. 👀
Sheela Na Gigs are technically architectural grotesques, architectural grotesques found throughout most of European cathedrals, castles, and other buildings. They usually depict a female figure, (sometimes screaming), and nearly always with a hugely exaggerated Vulva. In some instances the vulvas in these carvings are immense, half the size of the rest of the body, and in others the figure is holding her vulva and vagina wide open, like a strange doorway!
Found throughout Great Britain, France and Spain, Sheelas are perhaps most deeply associated with Ireland where there are the greatest number of surviving Carvings. Scholars Joanne McMahon and Jack Roberts cite 101 examples in Ireland and 45 examples in Britain.
Theories abound on the origins and purpose of the Sheela, with the first serious scholarship on these enigmatic little sculptures only emerging in the 1970s, and scholars still seem quite unable to agree even upon the origins of the name Sheela Na Gig!
This lecture will explore the many conflicting histories and theories that surround these strange and enigmatic sculptures, and the inherent misogyny that underpinned much of their written history…
ABOUT OUR LECTURER
The Director of The Feminist Lecture Program, Luisa-Maria MacCormack (she/her) studied Textiles Design at London College of Fashion before turning to Fine Art and studying at the Royal Drawing School in 2014. A practicing artist as well as lecturer, Luisa has recently completed her MA at City and Guilds of London Art School. A founding member of the London Drawing Group since its inception in 2016, Luisa teaches drawing, and Feminist Art History classes across London, as well as exhibiting regularly in solo and group shows across the country.
WEBSITE: https://www.luisamariamaccormack.co.uk/
INSTAGRAM: @luisamariamfineart
SPRING TERM 2025
Monday 20th January
Margot Mifflin (she/her)
Beauty Pageants and National Identity
Monday 27th January
Verity Babbs (she/her)
Divergent Minds: Female Neurodiversity in Art and Art History
Monday 3rd February
Vex Ashley (she/her)
The Body And The Screen - Sexuality Against The Machine
Monday 10th February
Luisa-Maria MacCormack (she/her)
Holy Hags: Sinners and Sheela Na Gigs - RECORDING ONLY
Monday 17th February
Dr. Kimberley Baltzer-Jaray (she/they)
Women Who Kill: Gender Bias And Murder
Monday 24th February
Alekszandra Rokvity (she/her)
Endometriosis: A Feminist Issue
Monday 3rd March
TBC
Monday 10th March
Jennifer Anyan (she/her)
The Madonna Whore Dichotomy: Motherhood And Sexual Agency
Monday 17th March
Alyssa Velazquez (she/her)
Spawn: The Fantasy Of Women's Right To Choose
Monday 24th March
Leanne Yau (she/they)
Radical Connection Through Relationship Anarchy
Monday 31st March
Dr. Noam Yadin Evron (she/her)
Abortions: A Complicated History From The Middle Ages To Today
Monday 7th April
Lucy Cooke (she/her)
Bitch: On The Female Of The Species
Monday 14th April
Anna Souter (she/her)
Plant Parenthood: A Potted History Of Vegetal Reproduction And (M)Otherhood
Monday 21st April
Luisa-Maria MacCormack (she/her)
Feminism And The Ice Age - RECORDING ONLY
Monday 28th April
Elora Shehabuddin (she/her)
Feminism And Islam: A History Of Muslim Feminism
PAY WHAT YOU CAN
Everyone is welcome to join this Pay-What-You-Can class. We suggest a donation of £20, however, we understand that may not be possible for everybody. Please be honest and pay what you can afford so that we can continue to offer our sessions on a donation basis.
MORE FLP…
Can’t get enough? The Feminist Lecture Program has our very own digital archive, where you can find some of the best past lectures from our back catalogue to rent and watch ON DEMAND. Check out our ever growing collection here: https://thefeministlectureprogram.vhx.tv/
Follow us on Instagram @thefeministlectureprogram
And check out our sustainable merch from FLP Studio at https://feministlectureprogram.com/shop & @flp__studio
And that's it!
We're really looking forward to you joining us x