Belief in an Age of Suspense: The Changing Emotional Landscape of the UFO and Alien Contact Phenomenon

Reports of flying saucers and encounters with aliens have been a part of popular culture since the end of World War II. Explanations for their rise and spread have ranged from extraterrestrial reconnaissance to mass hysteria. Often overlooked, however, is the fact that stories about and responses to the UFO phenomenon have changed over time. How do we account for these changes? And what clues might they provide in helping to explain the enduring fascination with UFOs and alien contact?

May the Fourth be with you!

Greg Eghigian is Associate Professor of Modern History at Penn State University (USA) and the NASA and American Historical Association Fellow in Aerospace History. He specializes in the history of the human sciences and medicine and has written extensively about the history of disability, psychiatric disorders, and criminality. He is presently writing a book on the global history of the UFO and alien contact phenomenon. You can view his website on the subject at ufopast.com

Doors open at 6pm, and the talk will start at 6.30.