Karen Graham
@kartook.bsky.social
PhD in myth, religious studies, and fantasy fiction. Expertise on Wicked, fairy tales, and transmedial adaptation. 1/3 of the Danse Macabre project on gothic dance. QA and Acreditations Manager in HE. Mum of 2 kids with additional needs.
Reposted by Karen Graham
For Day 22 of #31DaysofMacbreDanse, we have the Danse Macabre crew on Romancing the Gothic (www.youtube.com/@RomancingTh...). The image is from our screening of Guy Maddin's 'Dracula: Pages from a Virgin's Diary' (see Day 15) for Dracula in Derby conference.
October 21, 2025 at 8:43 PM
For Day 22 of #31DaysofMacbreDanse, we have the Danse Macabre crew on Romancing the Gothic (www.youtube.com/@RomancingTh...). The image is from our screening of Guy Maddin's 'Dracula: Pages from a Virgin's Diary' (see Day 15) for Dracula in Derby conference.
Reposted by Karen Graham
A belated day 20 of #31DaysofMacabreDanse with the classic novel of death, a young woman and dance: 'Bruges-la-Morte' (1892) by Georges Rodenbach. The narrative follows a widower haunted by his dead wife, and still living amongst her relics.
Image: Fernand Khnopff's cover design, 1892.
Image: Fernand Khnopff's cover design, 1892.
October 21, 2025 at 8:19 PM
A belated day 20 of #31DaysofMacabreDanse with the classic novel of death, a young woman and dance: 'Bruges-la-Morte' (1892) by Georges Rodenbach. The narrative follows a widower haunted by his dead wife, and still living amongst her relics.
Image: Fernand Khnopff's cover design, 1892.
Image: Fernand Khnopff's cover design, 1892.
Reposted by Karen Graham
Our Dancing Dead Girl for Day 17 of #31DaysOfMacabreDanse is Monster High's Draculaura. Daughter of Dracula, our girl is harbouring a secret; she might be a Vampire but she's also a Witch and the two are mortal enemies.
October 17, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Our Dancing Dead Girl for Day 17 of #31DaysOfMacabreDanse is Monster High's Draculaura. Daughter of Dracula, our girl is harbouring a secret; she might be a Vampire but she's also a Witch and the two are mortal enemies.
Reposted by Karen Graham
Day 15 of #31DaysofMacabreDanse and it's Guy Maddin's 'Dracula: Pages from a Virgin's Diary' (2002), a film of Royal Winnipeg's Baller adaptation of 'Dracula' (1897). Filmed in the silent film tradition, the addition of colours - golden, green and red - add depth and symbolism.
October 15, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Day 15 of #31DaysofMacabreDanse and it's Guy Maddin's 'Dracula: Pages from a Virgin's Diary' (2002), a film of Royal Winnipeg's Baller adaptation of 'Dracula' (1897). Filmed in the silent film tradition, the addition of colours - golden, green and red - add depth and symbolism.
Reposted by Karen Graham
Day 9 of #31DaysOfMacabreDanse, and our dancing dead girls are stitching a seam across the eye. Season 2 of So You Think You Can Dance in 2006 gave us a zombie group number to Ramalama (Bang Bang) by Roísín Murphy
October 9, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Day 9 of #31DaysOfMacabreDanse, and our dancing dead girls are stitching a seam across the eye. Season 2 of So You Think You Can Dance in 2006 gave us a zombie group number to Ramalama (Bang Bang) by Roísín Murphy
Reposted by Karen Graham
Day 8 of #31DaysofMacabreDanse and we wonder 'to sleep, perchance to dream' (Hamlet, 3:1) with 'La Sonnambula'. Premiering in 1946, at the City Center of Music and Drama, New York, it was created by George Balanchine.
October 8, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Day 8 of #31DaysofMacabreDanse and we wonder 'to sleep, perchance to dream' (Hamlet, 3:1) with 'La Sonnambula'. Premiering in 1946, at the City Center of Music and Drama, New York, it was created by George Balanchine.
It took me ages to get those screenshots from the video. I'm rather pleased with myself for this one.
In contrast, Helena's movement is decidedly balletic as she lands in 5th position in her black satin ballet shoes, moving forward with perfectly pointed, turned out feet. Helena is therefore a Dancing Dead Girl in the the mould of Giselle #31DaysOfMacabreDanse
October 4, 2025 at 9:34 PM
It took me ages to get those screenshots from the video. I'm rather pleased with myself for this one.
Over on the Danse Macabre socials, we are about to start our epic annual daily gothic dance post for the whole of October. Follow along on twitter, bluesky, or Instagram with #31DaysOfMacabreDanse for a whole month on Dancing Dead Girls.
October 1, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Over on the Danse Macabre socials, we are about to start our epic annual daily gothic dance post for the whole of October. Follow along on twitter, bluesky, or Instagram with #31DaysOfMacabreDanse for a whole month on Dancing Dead Girls.
Correction, the original had Ms McKenzie as 33.
Gearing up for reliving my youth with my baby sis at Busted v McFly in a couple of weeks. I can't decide how I feel about What I Go To School For 2.0 updating Ms Mckenzie's age from 23 to 53. But I am very much looking forward to hearing 3am with Charlie's love vocal.
September 20, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Correction, the original had Ms McKenzie as 33.
Gearing up for reliving my youth with my baby sis at Busted v McFly in a couple of weeks. I can't decide how I feel about What I Go To School For 2.0 updating Ms Mckenzie's age from 23 to 53. But I am very much looking forward to hearing 3am with Charlie's love vocal.
September 20, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Gearing up for reliving my youth with my baby sis at Busted v McFly in a couple of weeks. I can't decide how I feel about What I Go To School For 2.0 updating Ms Mckenzie's age from 23 to 53. But I am very much looking forward to hearing 3am with Charlie's love vocal.
Reposted by Karen Graham
Heads up @igagoths.bsky.social - delighted to announce the CFP for IGA 2026: 'Gothic Selves/Artificial Others' hosted at the University of Hull 28-31 July! hullgothic.wordpress.com
Gothic Selves/Artificial Others
18th Biennual Conference of the International Gothic Association: 28-31 July, 2026. Hull, UK
hullgothic.wordpress.com
September 18, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Heads up @igagoths.bsky.social - delighted to announce the CFP for IGA 2026: 'Gothic Selves/Artificial Others' hosted at the University of Hull 28-31 July! hullgothic.wordpress.com
I have just seen someone post "I guess some of you do mourn the wicked" referencing Charlie Kirk and I cannot articulate how mad that makes me. Never mind media literacy and subtext is dead, this next generation can't even undersand the absolute surface reading of a text that's spoon fed to them.
September 11, 2025 at 8:36 PM
I have just seen someone post "I guess some of you do mourn the wicked" referencing Charlie Kirk and I cannot articulate how mad that makes me. Never mind media literacy and subtext is dead, this next generation can't even undersand the absolute surface reading of a text that's spoon fed to them.
For those of you wondering if Im doing any better at knowing when it is: I have been convinced all morning that it is (still) Thursday.
Babes, it's September. (I know, I know - how?!?!) But yes.
September 5, 2025 at 8:55 AM
For those of you wondering if Im doing any better at knowing when it is: I have been convinced all morning that it is (still) Thursday.
Scotrail it is August and 17° out. Why in the name of all that is holy is the heating on in this train?!? I worked hard on my make up, I do not want it melted off by the time I get where I'm going.
September 4, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Scotrail it is August and 17° out. Why in the name of all that is holy is the heating on in this train?!? I worked hard on my make up, I do not want it melted off by the time I get where I'm going.
Reposted by Karen Graham
What's this?
An exciting talk introducing you to the Gothic work of Patrick McGrapth?
Free!? Online?
This Saturday at 10am and 7pm BST
10 - www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1018472016...
7 - www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1018513399...
An exciting talk introducing you to the Gothic work of Patrick McGrapth?
Free!? Online?
This Saturday at 10am and 7pm BST
10 - www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1018472016...
7 - www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1018513399...
Patrick McGrath’s Gothic Fiction: An Introduction with Tatiana Farjado
An introduction to the Gothic work of author Patrick McGraph
www.eventbrite.co.uk
July 31, 2025 at 9:14 PM
What's this?
An exciting talk introducing you to the Gothic work of Patrick McGrapth?
Free!? Online?
This Saturday at 10am and 7pm BST
10 - www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1018472016...
7 - www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1018513399...
An exciting talk introducing you to the Gothic work of Patrick McGrapth?
Free!? Online?
This Saturday at 10am and 7pm BST
10 - www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1018472016...
7 - www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1018513399...
Reposted by Karen Graham
It doesn't matter if they are ever coming for you.
It was always ever already too much that they were coming for anyone.
It was always ever already too much that they were coming for anyone.
July 10, 2025 at 12:28 AM
It doesn't matter if they are ever coming for you.
It was always ever already too much that they were coming for anyone.
It was always ever already too much that they were coming for anyone.
Reposted by Karen Graham
It’s exhausting thst our govt is quicker & more vociferous in condemning chants vs the indiscriminate murder of innocent civilians inc thousands of children. Whatever you think abiut the chanting, there must be a part of you that can see the IDF’s actions are worse. 🧵 news.sky.com/story/israel...
Israeli embassy 'deeply disturbed' by Bob Vylan's 'death to the IDF' Glastonbury chant
The government and the Tories have condemned the outburst - which happened in front of thousands at the festival's West Holts Stage.
news.sky.com
June 29, 2025 at 5:36 AM
It’s exhausting thst our govt is quicker & more vociferous in condemning chants vs the indiscriminate murder of innocent civilians inc thousands of children. Whatever you think abiut the chanting, there must be a part of you that can see the IDF’s actions are worse. 🧵 news.sky.com/story/israel...
You can try and tell me that representation doesn't make a difference, and we should concentrate on bigger things but my little girl is currently watching Spiritbox's set from Rock Am Ring and is blown away by Courtney LaPlante and that a girl can do that.
June 22, 2025 at 12:50 PM
You can try and tell me that representation doesn't make a difference, and we should concentrate on bigger things but my little girl is currently watching Spiritbox's set from Rock Am Ring and is blown away by Courtney LaPlante and that a girl can do that.
Well, Hull's got a lot to live up to if the IGA goth disco is to beat the Dracula Returns to Derby Monster Mash.
May 18, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Well, Hull's got a lot to live up to if the IGA goth disco is to beat the Dracula Returns to Derby Monster Mash.
Reposted by Karen Graham
Join the @bavs-uk.bsky.social Early Career Reps today on Zoom at 2.30 - 3.30pm (BST) for Tea Time - an informal chat about all things Victorian and postdoc 🫖 ☕️ DM me for link 🔗
a cup of tea is being poured from a teapot on a saucer
ALT: a cup of tea is being poured from a teapot on a saucer
media.tenor.com
May 7, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Join the @bavs-uk.bsky.social Early Career Reps today on Zoom at 2.30 - 3.30pm (BST) for Tea Time - an informal chat about all things Victorian and postdoc 🫖 ☕️ DM me for link 🔗
Reposted by Karen Graham
over 1500 UK writers including caryl churchill, hollie mcnish, michaela coel & max porter (pick your genre) signed this letter and call to action in support of the trans community. if you’re a UK writer, sign. if you know a UK writer, send it to ‘em!
docs.google.com/document/u/0...
docs.google.com/document/u/0...
An Open Letter of Solidarity With the Trans Community from UK Writers
An Open Letter of Solidarity With the Trans Community from UK Writers The UK Supreme Court ruling of 16th April 2025 was the result of a coordinated and privately funded attack on the human rights an...
docs.google.com
April 22, 2025 at 11:14 PM
over 1500 UK writers including caryl churchill, hollie mcnish, michaela coel & max porter (pick your genre) signed this letter and call to action in support of the trans community. if you’re a UK writer, sign. if you know a UK writer, send it to ‘em!
docs.google.com/document/u/0...
docs.google.com/document/u/0...
Post your gender in gif form.
April 23, 2025 at 6:26 AM
Post your gender in gif form.
Reposted by Karen Graham
If you’re a cis woman in the UK and you’re not now terrified that a male police officer has a ready excuse to take off all your clothes (‘I thought she was trans!’) then you don’t understand how the erosion of trans rights is also the erosion of women’s rights.
April 19, 2025 at 11:10 AM
If you’re a cis woman in the UK and you’re not now terrified that a male police officer has a ready excuse to take off all your clothes (‘I thought she was trans!’) then you don’t understand how the erosion of trans rights is also the erosion of women’s rights.
Reposted by Karen Graham
Here’s a protest involving many thousands of people which will be met with total silence in the media, in stark contrast to the champagne popping photos of half a dozen vile bigots being plastered everywhere
Thousands show solidarity at #TransRightsAreHumanRights Demo in Parliament Square.
April 19, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Here’s a protest involving many thousands of people which will be met with total silence in the media, in stark contrast to the champagne popping photos of half a dozen vile bigots being plastered everywhere
Drinking half a bottle of tequila with your Hubs seems like a good idea until 7am the next morning when the kids want breakfast. I make a damn good margarita though.
April 6, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Drinking half a bottle of tequila with your Hubs seems like a good idea until 7am the next morning when the kids want breakfast. I make a damn good margarita though.