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Siobhan-Michelle Smith

@smdsmith.bsky.social

PhD student interested in nineteenth-century writing, gender, cross-dressing, women's facial hair, narrative silences & digital humanities (She/her)

42 Posts84 Follower59 Folgt
The English Association@englishassociation.bsky.social · 3mo ago

👀👀 Take a look at our upcoming events - many FREE online #CPD opportunities - Primary, Secondary, Further, Higher - cross sector. Lots to choose from! AND a treasure of an archive to check out! Go! Click on the link and see for yourself ! 😊 Join us & join in! englishassociation.ac.uk/events/

Events | The English Association

We support the teaching, learning, and enjoyment of English at all levels of education, from early years to further and higher education and beyond.

englishassociation.ac.uk

Siobhan-Michelle Smith@smdsmith.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Still excited about this, still sharing it, still can't believe I get to be involved with cool things like this ... but also ... still fighting with my own peri-menopausal symptoms and full of rage. It's a rollercoaster of emotions today!

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Amanda Wyatt! Visconti@literaturegeek.bsky.social · 4mo ago

5/6, join online+free @scholarslab.bsky.social event by our DH Fellow Seanna Viechweg for a very good example of DH dissertation work right now: interactive digital pedagogy exploring how we can practice speculative reinterpretation as a way of asking "what if?" when archives fall short +

Speculative Digital Pedagogy Workshop: DH Fellow Seanna Viechweg

Speculative Pedagogies in Practice: A Workshop on Archives and Teaching Otherwise What does it look like to teach with speculation? This spring presentation marks the second...

cal.lib.virginia.edu

Jim Casey@jimccasey1.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Hey friends - Who's been doing non-traditional humanities dissertations in the past ~5 years? Tons of fabulous resources from ~2021 and before, but wondering what cool people have been doing lately. References? Links? Exploring new options for our department.

Siobhan-Michelle Smith@smdsmith.bsky.social · 4mo ago

It's so reassuring to see registrations coming in for our study day. We're really excited to hear from our speakers and engage in conversation about the importance of (peri-)menopause and how it has been represented historically (and today!?) Programme and registration link in the comments!

A small poster with a pale peach background. The top left hand side has a logo for the VPFA. There are details in bold with the title of the day and the date and time. In darker peach is a synopisis about the study day and below is contact information.
Siobhan-Michelle Smith@smdsmith.bsky.social · 4mo ago

My bio for conference papers often says that I am an advocate for making digital humanities methods more inclusive and accessible. Mainly because I know that they can be incredibly useful but they intimidate me. Today I am finally "properly" advocating by organising a workshop. Link in comments...

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Victorian Popular Fiction Association@vpfa.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Join the VPFA for a workshop on publishing Victorian Popular Fiction! ✅ Turning your thesis into a monograph. ✅ Writing a winning book proposal. ✅ Insights from the VPFJ editorial committee. ✅ Handling peer review & rejection 📅 26th February at 6pm 🔗 See your emails for the registration link!

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Siobhan-Michelle Smith@smdsmith.bsky.social · 6mo ago

We have received some brilliant abstracts already and would love to see a few more! Get your ideas down and get them to us! The deadline is tomorrow (19th February), but I'm taking the day off and won't be checking my emails until the 20th, so ....... 🤷‍♀️😉

Victorian Popular Fiction Association@vpfa.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Another VPFA Study Day: 'The Critical Age in Victorian Popular Literature' ❓literary representations of the (peri-) menopause 🌏 online 📅 19th May 2026 💰 free for VPFA Members/ £5 for non-members Send proposals (250) to jessica.cox@brunel.ac.uk and siobhan.smith@tees.ac.uk by 19th February 2026

This one-day symposium seeks to explore representations of the ‘critical age’ – the (peri-) menopause – in Victorian popular literature. The peri-menopausal and menopausal experiences of Victorian women have to date been overlooked or underrepresented in scholarly discussions of the period. Victorian popular literature, from novels to periodicals to advice books, provided an essential forum for discussing and shaping the public understanding of women’s bodies, even as much of it sought to obscure the female body. The (peri-) menopausal experience was often framed in terms of illness, excess, and degeneration, or, conversely, was relegated to silence. Women at the ‘critical age’ are frequently marginalised and associated with a range of negative stereotypes in literary and cultural narratives. This call for papers invites exploration of how this phase of women’s lives was constructed in the Victorian imagination, in medical discourses and advice literature, and in women’s lived experiences. We invite 20-minute papers exploring any aspect of the critical age in Victorian popular literature. Topics for exploration include but are not limited to: • Representations of the critical age in Victorian popular fiction • The medicalisation of (peri-) menopause • Cultural constructions of middle-aged women • Class and (peri-) menopause • (Peri-) Menopause in Victorian advice literature • Motherhood and (peri-) menopause • Experiences of the critical age in Victorian women’s life writing • Myths and popular misconceptions The event will also include a Digital Humanities Research Skills Workshop, with an emphasis on making digital methods more accessible. We invite short papers or workshop proposals that showcase how digital tools can be used to research women and their bodies in Victorian literature. Possible topics include data creation/cleaning/visualisations, textual, quantitative or statistical analysis, using AI or specific tools (such as Voyant or Power BI).
Siobhan-Michelle Smith@smdsmith.bsky.social · 6mo ago

@ukiedh.bsky.social Can you please share with your members. We are keen to have a DH session showcasing some of the tools or programs that can aid research into the nineteenth century and would greatly appreciate the share!

Victorian Popular Fiction Association@vpfa.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Another VPFA Study Day: 'The Critical Age in Victorian Popular Literature' ❓literary representations of the (peri-) menopause 🌏 online 📅 19th May 2026 💰 free for VPFA Members/ £5 for non-members Send proposals (250) to jessica.cox@brunel.ac.uk and siobhan.smith@tees.ac.uk by 19th February 2026

This one-day symposium seeks to explore representations of the ‘critical age’ – the (peri-) menopause – in Victorian popular literature. The peri-menopausal and menopausal experiences of Victorian women have to date been overlooked or underrepresented in scholarly discussions of the period. Victorian popular literature, from novels to periodicals to advice books, provided an essential forum for discussing and shaping the public understanding of women’s bodies, even as much of it sought to obscure the female body. The (peri-) menopausal experience was often framed in terms of illness, excess, and degeneration, or, conversely, was relegated to silence. Women at the ‘critical age’ are frequently marginalised and associated with a range of negative stereotypes in literary and cultural narratives. This call for papers invites exploration of how this phase of women’s lives was constructed in the Victorian imagination, in medical discourses and advice literature, and in women’s lived experiences. We invite 20-minute papers exploring any aspect of the critical age in Victorian popular literature. Topics for exploration include but are not limited to: • Representations of the critical age in Victorian popular fiction • The medicalisation of (peri-) menopause • Cultural constructions of middle-aged women • Class and (peri-) menopause • (Peri-) Menopause in Victorian advice literature • Motherhood and (peri-) menopause • Experiences of the critical age in Victorian women’s life writing • Myths and popular misconceptions The event will also include a Digital Humanities Research Skills Workshop, with an emphasis on making digital methods more accessible. We invite short papers or workshop proposals that showcase how digital tools can be used to research women and their bodies in Victorian literature. Possible topics include data creation/cleaning/visualisations, textual, quantitative or statistical analysis, using AI or specific tools (such as Voyant or Power BI).
Siobhan-Michelle Smith@smdsmith.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Just 9 days left to get an abstract in for this @vpfa.bsky.social study day on "The Critical Age". Please re-post to share as widely as we can. Thank you!

Victorian Popular Fiction Association@vpfa.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Another VPFA Study Day: 'The Critical Age in Victorian Popular Literature' ❓literary representations of the (peri-) menopause 🌏 online 📅 19th May 2026 💰 free for VPFA Members/ £5 for non-members Send proposals (250) to jessica.cox@brunel.ac.uk and siobhan.smith@tees.ac.uk by 19th February 2026

This one-day symposium seeks to explore representations of the ‘critical age’ – the (peri-) menopause – in Victorian popular literature. The peri-menopausal and menopausal experiences of Victorian women have to date been overlooked or underrepresented in scholarly discussions of the period. Victorian popular literature, from novels to periodicals to advice books, provided an essential forum for discussing and shaping the public understanding of women’s bodies, even as much of it sought to obscure the female body. The (peri-) menopausal experience was often framed in terms of illness, excess, and degeneration, or, conversely, was relegated to silence. Women at the ‘critical age’ are frequently marginalised and associated with a range of negative stereotypes in literary and cultural narratives. This call for papers invites exploration of how this phase of women’s lives was constructed in the Victorian imagination, in medical discourses and advice literature, and in women’s lived experiences. We invite 20-minute papers exploring any aspect of the critical age in Victorian popular literature. Topics for exploration include but are not limited to: • Representations of the critical age in Victorian popular fiction • The medicalisation of (peri-) menopause • Cultural constructions of middle-aged women • Class and (peri-) menopause • (Peri-) Menopause in Victorian advice literature • Motherhood and (peri-) menopause • Experiences of the critical age in Victorian women’s life writing • Myths and popular misconceptions The event will also include a Digital Humanities Research Skills Workshop, with an emphasis on making digital methods more accessible. We invite short papers or workshop proposals that showcase how digital tools can be used to research women and their bodies in Victorian literature. Possible topics include data creation/cleaning/visualisations, textual, quantitative or statistical analysis, using AI or specific tools (such as Voyant or Power BI).
Siobhan-Michelle Smith@smdsmith.bsky.social · 6mo ago

3 weeks to get your abstract into us for our fabulous study day on (peri-)menopause in Victorian literature. That's 1 week to jot it down on your never-ending to-do list, 1 week to forget about it & 1 week to write down your brilliant research ideas in a somewhat coherent manner and send it to us!

Victorian Popular Fiction Association@vpfa.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Another VPFA Study Day: 'The Critical Age in Victorian Popular Literature' ❓literary representations of the (peri-) menopause 🌏 online 📅 19th May 2026 💰 free for VPFA Members/ £5 for non-members Send proposals (250) to jessica.cox@brunel.ac.uk and siobhan.smith@tees.ac.uk by 19th February 2026

This one-day symposium seeks to explore representations of the ‘critical age’ – the (peri-) menopause – in Victorian popular literature. The peri-menopausal and menopausal experiences of Victorian women have to date been overlooked or underrepresented in scholarly discussions of the period. Victorian popular literature, from novels to periodicals to advice books, provided an essential forum for discussing and shaping the public understanding of women’s bodies, even as much of it sought to obscure the female body. The (peri-) menopausal experience was often framed in terms of illness, excess, and degeneration, or, conversely, was relegated to silence. Women at the ‘critical age’ are frequently marginalised and associated with a range of negative stereotypes in literary and cultural narratives. This call for papers invites exploration of how this phase of women’s lives was constructed in the Victorian imagination, in medical discourses and advice literature, and in women’s lived experiences. We invite 20-minute papers exploring any aspect of the critical age in Victorian popular literature. Topics for exploration include but are not limited to: • Representations of the critical age in Victorian popular fiction • The medicalisation of (peri-) menopause • Cultural constructions of middle-aged women • Class and (peri-) menopause • (Peri-) Menopause in Victorian advice literature • Motherhood and (peri-) menopause • Experiences of the critical age in Victorian women’s life writing • Myths and popular misconceptions The event will also include a Digital Humanities Research Skills Workshop, with an emphasis on making digital methods more accessible. We invite short papers or workshop proposals that showcase how digital tools can be used to research women and their bodies in Victorian literature. Possible topics include data creation/cleaning/visualisations, textual, quantitative or statistical analysis, using AI or specific tools (such as Voyant or Power BI).
Siobhan-Michelle Smith@smdsmith.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Hello 2026! Here's to a great new year, the same fabulous you, and a new(ish) CFP to submit an abstract to....

Victorian Popular Fiction Association@vpfa.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Another VPFA Study Day: 'The Critical Age in Victorian Popular Literature' ❓literary representations of the (peri-) menopause 🌏 online 📅 19th May 2026 💰 free for VPFA Members/ £5 for non-members Send proposals (250) to jessica.cox@brunel.ac.uk and siobhan.smith@tees.ac.uk by 19th February 2026

This one-day symposium seeks to explore representations of the ‘critical age’ – the (peri-) menopause – in Victorian popular literature. The peri-menopausal and menopausal experiences of Victorian women have to date been overlooked or underrepresented in scholarly discussions of the period. Victorian popular literature, from novels to periodicals to advice books, provided an essential forum for discussing and shaping the public understanding of women’s bodies, even as much of it sought to obscure the female body. The (peri-) menopausal experience was often framed in terms of illness, excess, and degeneration, or, conversely, was relegated to silence. Women at the ‘critical age’ are frequently marginalised and associated with a range of negative stereotypes in literary and cultural narratives. This call for papers invites exploration of how this phase of women’s lives was constructed in the Victorian imagination, in medical discourses and advice literature, and in women’s lived experiences. We invite 20-minute papers exploring any aspect of the critical age in Victorian popular literature. Topics for exploration include but are not limited to: • Representations of the critical age in Victorian popular fiction • The medicalisation of (peri-) menopause • Cultural constructions of middle-aged women • Class and (peri-) menopause • (Peri-) Menopause in Victorian advice literature • Motherhood and (peri-) menopause • Experiences of the critical age in Victorian women’s life writing • Myths and popular misconceptions The event will also include a Digital Humanities Research Skills Workshop, with an emphasis on making digital methods more accessible. We invite short papers or workshop proposals that showcase how digital tools can be used to research women and their bodies in Victorian literature. Possible topics include data creation/cleaning/visualisations, textual, quantitative or statistical analysis, using AI or specific tools (such as Voyant or Power BI).
Siobhan-Michelle Smith@smdsmith.bsky.social · 9mo ago

I'm thrilled to be co-organising this study day next year. Please consider submitting an abstract and joining us in this important and fascinating conversation about women's (peri-) menopause in Victorian literature

Victorian Popular Fiction Association@vpfa.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Another VPFA Study Day: 'The Critical Age in Victorian Popular Literature' ❓literary representations of the (peri-) menopause 🌏 online 📅 19th May 2026 💰 free for VPFA Members/ £5 for non-members Send proposals (250) to jessica.cox@brunel.ac.uk and siobhan.smith@tees.ac.uk by 19th February 2026

This one-day symposium seeks to explore representations of the ‘critical age’ – the (peri-) menopause – in Victorian popular literature. The peri-menopausal and menopausal experiences of Victorian women have to date been overlooked or underrepresented in scholarly discussions of the period. Victorian popular literature, from novels to periodicals to advice books, provided an essential forum for discussing and shaping the public understanding of women’s bodies, even as much of it sought to obscure the female body. The (peri-) menopausal experience was often framed in terms of illness, excess, and degeneration, or, conversely, was relegated to silence. Women at the ‘critical age’ are frequently marginalised and associated with a range of negative stereotypes in literary and cultural narratives. This call for papers invites exploration of how this phase of women’s lives was constructed in the Victorian imagination, in medical discourses and advice literature, and in women’s lived experiences. We invite 20-minute papers exploring any aspect of the critical age in Victorian popular literature. Topics for exploration include but are not limited to: • Representations of the critical age in Victorian popular fiction • The medicalisation of (peri-) menopause • Cultural constructions of middle-aged women • Class and (peri-) menopause • (Peri-) Menopause in Victorian advice literature • Motherhood and (peri-) menopause • Experiences of the critical age in Victorian women’s life writing • Myths and popular misconceptions The event will also include a Digital Humanities Research Skills Workshop, with an emphasis on making digital methods more accessible. We invite short papers or workshop proposals that showcase how digital tools can be used to research women and their bodies in Victorian literature. Possible topics include data creation/cleaning/visualisations, textual, quantitative or statistical analysis, using AI or specific tools (such as Voyant or Power BI).
Siobhan-Michelle Smith@smdsmith.bsky.social · last yr.

This photo may be upsetting to some people as it shows a book being vandalised... aka my notes on Mary Shelley's Lodore. Key words so far are: Incestuous, Angel of the House, and depression. Looking forward to discussing further on 17 September at the VPFA 3rd sex reading group.

Double page spread of black printed text on white paper which is the first two pages of chapter three of Mary Shelley's Lodore. The pages are covered in handwritten annotations (mine)
Victorian Popular Fiction Association@vpfa.bsky.social · last yr.

VPFA speed networking event - this Friday, the 30th May! 🗣️ Connect, converse, and collaborate! 🧑‍🎓 Who’s it for? This event is designed for postgraduate students and researchers who are members of the VPFA. Come as you are—whether you're just starting out or writing up your thesis.

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Siobhan-Michelle Smith@smdsmith.bsky.social · last yr.

Love this article from 1905. When I first read "Women especially are tired out. You can't find one who has energy enough to make her husband a shirt" I did a little eye-roll and was ready to dismiss it as 19thC patriarchal BS, but then I kept on reading....

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Siobhan-Michelle Smith@smdsmith.bsky.social · last yr.

Join us for Teesside University's next research seminar... Paper: ‘Exploring Conceptual Spaces with Co-Creativity: Using Human and AI Collaboration to Investigate Constraints in Literary Forms’ By: PhD Student Sam Pegg (Southampton University) When: Wednesday 7th May at 2pm BST Where: Online 📖🖊️🖥️🤖💭

Siobhan-Michelle Smith@smdsmith.bsky.social · last yr.

What a line up ... this year's Graduate Conference organised by Teesside's MA students looks incredible, so much so that we've joined forces with them to host our Research Seminar Series, which is being given by Dr Susan Civale. It is online and free to attend so please join us, Wed 26 Mar @ 2pm

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The English Association@englishassociation.bsky.social · last yr.

#ThinkingForwards in #Collaboration #Arts #Humanities #Curators #Libraries #DataScientists #Technology Join us, join in, next week, free online! 😊 #EduSky #TeamEnglish #Education englishassociation.ac.uk/thinking-for...

Thinking Forwards: Collaboration | Living with Machines (28 February 2025, 13:00 - 14:00) | The English Association

We support the teaching, learning, and enjoyment of English at all levels of education, from early years to further and higher education and beyond.

englishassociation.ac.uk

Siobhan-Michelle Smith@smdsmith.bsky.social · last yr.

There are just four presentations left of this year's English & Creative Writing Research Seminar Series (organised by PhD students at Teesside University). Don't miss out on your chance to join us in what sounds to be four fantastic talks .....

A poster, the background is different shades of yellow and brown with unreadable handwriting. The foreground is supposed to look like old paper - a mixture of brown shades with printed details of the upcoming talks. Email siobhan.smiht@tees.ac.uk for more information.
Siobhan-Michelle Smith@smdsmith.bsky.social · 2y ago

Having a teenage daughter who has just started reading Macbeth at school, I'm looking forward to hearing Adam Hansen discuss the role class plays in the Shakespearean classroom. Everybody is welcome to join. Please message me for the Teams invite.

A dusty pink background with a black and grey sketch like illustration of William Shakespeare with text about an upcoming event organised by Teesside University's English & Creative Writing Department, this year's research seminar series. The next event is on Wednesday 5th February at 2pm which will be Dr Adam Hansen from Northumbria University talking about "Macbeth in/and Class". An abstract of his talk is provided.
Siobhan-Michelle Smith@smdsmith.bsky.social · 2y ago

A reminder of the great lineup for Teesside University's English & Creative Writing Research Seminar Series ... next up we have PhD student Georgia Dalton from Northumbria University presenting on grassroots theatre and the women's liberation movement. Wed 15th Jan at 2pm UK time on Teams

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Siobhan-Michelle Smith@smdsmith.bsky.social · 2y ago

I am looking forward to hosting Dr Francesca Benatti tomorrow (Wed 4 Dec) at 2pm UK time. Her paper "Webcomics: Digital Innovations in Reading and Writing" looks at how readers and authors experience webcomics. Email me if you'd like to join online: siobhan.smith@tees.ac.uk

A simple poster with a table on a white background, there is green shading behind the dates, and the titles of the speakers are also in green. The Teesside University logo is on the top left and bottom right.