Will a hero save us? (Tues 15th Sept)

As children, we all had heroes – footballers, scientists, movie stars or even our parents. But do we still have them now we’re all grown up? What does the idea of heroism even mean?

Join The Conversational’s Ideas Salon to talk about why we choose some people over others as heroes, how our ideas of what we look up to have changed over the years, and what this says about us and our society. What shapes our choices – gender, ethnic identity, social influence, upbringing?

We’ll also be talking about why we have heroes at all. Is it actually a dangerous idea to have idols, to confer such an exaggerated status upon people who are, after all, just human?

We want to know what you think: whether the idea of heroism means anything today, or whether in fact we have only anti-heroes now. And whether, in a world where everything is scrutinised, anyone can maintain the halo needed to be a hero.

Our guest for the evening is John Price, a post-graduate research student at King’s College London, who is focusing on ‘everyday heroism’. John recently organised King’s College London’s ‘My Hero’ symposium, exploring celebrity and iconography, visual culture, gender identities and the recognition of heroism.

Entry is free!
Date: Tuesday 15th September

Time: 7.30pm – 9.30pm

Venue: Dick’s Bar, 23 Romilly Street, Soho
Getting there: Dick’s bar is downstairs at 23 Romilly Street, Soho (23 is a black club with a red awning, and a small ’23’ on the letterbox).

RSVP: email michelle@theconversational.co.uk; or sign-up on Facebook.

Advertisement