Content warning: this talk will deal with difficult topics which some audience members may find disturbing.
We are delighted to welcome Veronika Koller, from Lancaster University as the next speaker in our research seminar series this semester.
The talk takes place online at 12noon UK time on Wednesday the 17th of November.
The talk is open to all and will be delivered via Teams. Please email Billy clark for the link: billy.clark@northumbria.ac.uk
The title of Veronika’s talk is:
‘Introducing Mantrap: Misogyny and the Red Pill‘
The abstract is below.
The talk is open to all. For any queries, please email Billy Clark: billy.clark@northumbria.ac.uk
The full programme for this semester is at: https://northumbriaenglish.org/northumbria-linguistics-seminars-2021-2022/
. . .
Abstract:
Introducing Mantrap: Misogyny and the Red Pill
Veronika Koller (with Jess Aiston, Alexandra Krendel and Mark McGlashan)
In this talk, I will introduce a research project that focuses on language use in the so-called manosphere. The manosphere can be described as a loose online network of websites and discussion forums dedicated to specific issues relating to men and masculinity, such as techniques for the seduction of women, male separatism, men’s rights activism, and ‘involuntary celibacy’. Consistent across many of these sites and forums is the legitimation of misogyny through discussion of ‘red pill philosophy’, which disavows feminism and gender equality. The Mantrap project examines language use within and between manosphere communities and considers how the popularisation and normalisation of misogynistic discourse especially online may have profound social effects on beliefs, values and social behaviours.
I will introduce the members of the project team, highlighting their contributions and elaborating on the special aspects of manopshere discourse that they work on. This will be followed by a review of publications that have resulted from our collaborative work, alongside other previous studies that inform our research. In short, this part of my talk will summarise what we know about the language use by different groups within the manosphere so far.
The team works with a range of academic and non-academic research partners to develop and disseminate tools and strategies for countering the social harms resulting from the normalisation of misogynist discourse and practices, especially via mainstream online media. Accordingly, the final part of my talk will focus on collaborations between the Mantrap team and individuals and organisations in academia and beyond.
Northumbria Englishes 