Fake News: Spin and Propaganda in Art Throughout the Ages

About

In her talk, Geri Parlby uncovers the subtle art of spin and propaganda in art. Starting in ancient Egypt, across to Mesopotamia, then to Rome before leaping forward to the Norman Conquest, Renaissance Italy, Tudor England, the French revolution and Georgian and Victorian England, before ending up in the dark days of the First and Second World Wars and the sublimely clever art of 21st century graffiti.

Every picture tells a story; whether it is true or not is an entirely different matter.

With a background spanning journalism, film publicity and art history, Dr Geri Parlby is particularly interested in the ways images can shape, and sometimes distort, our understanding of the past. For the past 21 years she has been an accredited Arts Society lecturer, speaking throughout the UK and internationally. She runs the Arts Society South West Area History of Art course and is a former Chair of Tavistock Heritage Trust.

Image caption: ‘The Cow-Pock - or the Wonderful Effects of the New Inoculation’, James Gillray 1802 coloured etching (Wellcome Collection)

Information about accessibility is available on our Access page.

Friends £8, Standard £10

Meeting Room A