The nineteenth century introduced developments in science and medicine that made the eradication of pain conceivable for the first time. This new understanding of pain brought with it a complex set of moral and philosophical dilemmas. If pain serves no obvious purpose, how do we reconcile its existence with a well-ordered universe? Examining how writers of the day engaged with such questions, Victorian Pain offers a compelling new literary and philosophical history of modern pain.

November 23 is artist Rachel Fein-Smolinski's birthday, so we're throwing her a party with all of her favorite things. Come to BICA for a lecture on pain in Victorian literature by Rachel Ablow at 5:30, a pole dance performance by Evan Vafai around 6:30 accompanied by a new projection work by Fein-Smolinski.

Rachel Ablow is a Professor of English and Humanities Director at the University at Buffalo, SUNY. She is the author of Victorian Pain (Princeton University Press, 2017) and editor of a special issue of the journal, Representations, on "The Social Life of Pain" (2019). Her work addresses the experiences and perspectives of sufferers, caregivers, and medical professionals.

Evan Vafai is an experienced pole performer and instructor, stage actor, visual artist, musician, and student of classical ballet.

Rachel Fein-Smolinski is an artist and educator. Her work is on view at the Buffalo Institute for Contemporary Art.