The Last Days of Jack Sheppard

Anja Kirschner and David Panos’ third film The Last Days of Jack Sheppard (2009, dur: 56 min) follows on from their previous films in taking London as both location and subject. In this instance the work draws on historical narrative to reflect on the present; the film is based on the inferred prison encounters between the 18th century criminal Jack Sheppard and Daniel Defoe, ghostwriter of Sheppard’s “autobiography.” Set in the wake of the South Sea Bubble of 1720, Britain’s first financial crisis, the film is a critical costume drama constructed from a patchwork of historical, literary, and popular sources. It traces the connections between representation, speculation and the discourses of high and low culture that emerged in the early 18th century, and remain resonant today.

As an introduction to the film, writer and lawyer Sandra Sherman will give a presentation on the relationship between finance and fictionality in the early 18th Century, with particular focus on the life and work of Daniel Defoe. Food will also be served at the event, using 18th Century recipes researched by Sherman.











When: Wed., Nov. 7, 2012 at 7:00 pm
Where: Artists Space
55 Walker St.
212-226-3970
Price: $5
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Anja Kirschner and David Panos’ third film The Last Days of Jack Sheppard (2009, dur: 56 min) follows on from their previous films in taking London as both location and subject. In this instance the work draws on historical narrative to reflect on the present; the film is based on the inferred prison encounters between the 18th century criminal Jack Sheppard and Daniel Defoe, ghostwriter of Sheppard’s “autobiography.” Set in the wake of the South Sea Bubble of 1720, Britain’s first financial crisis, the film is a critical costume drama constructed from a patchwork of historical, literary, and popular sources. It traces the connections between representation, speculation and the discourses of high and low culture that emerged in the early 18th century, and remain resonant today.

As an introduction to the film, writer and lawyer Sandra Sherman will give a presentation on the relationship between finance and fictionality in the early 18th Century, with particular focus on the life and work of Daniel Defoe. Food will also be served at the event, using 18th Century recipes researched by Sherman.

Buy tickets/get more info now