In conversation with archivist and menimist Sir Henry Charles Philip Turner

Since 1989

Students: Evita Rigert, Heather Griffin, Annamaria Merkel

Each era creates or revives mythologies to help make sense of the world. The Neigh Sayer is a short film, extending the myth of an ancient mystical creature into a fictional scenario. The film depicts a BBC News scene in which women rule the world, featuring an interview with the head of an imaginary institution; the HistoryFactory; a menimist activist movement led by Sir Henry Charles Philip Turner, the white working unicorn. The myth of the monoceros transposed onto the white working leader, advocating men’s rights. The script is based on real gender inequality statistics within the creative sectors, with a focus on
the film industry.

The concept supports subversive thinking by illustrating the absurdity of current debates in feminism, often purely focused on women instead of general identity politics and by doing so reinforcing bias and social prejudices. Since social norms cover up these edges of injustice, the short film alienates the gender struggle by not only swapping the power system but also exacerbating the issue of toxic constructed masculinity within the labour market by representing the male voice through the mystical creature of the unicorn, who can only be understood by it’s translator.

The unicorn is an ancient phenomenon across Europe & Asia. It’s myth dates back to the middle ages and ancient Greece. Throughout time it exists across various narratives, transforming from a wild beast to a gay rights campaigner and eventually a highly commodified fashion accessory for kids and adults alike. It is a symbol for our mixed-up age, simultaneously representing purity and innocence, debauchery, sacred love and a panacea. A heraldic animal as well as a phallic symbol. His myth is the incarnation of a post-truth figure, not existing in reality but through fantasy and emotions, with the famous Lewis Carroll quote; “If you will believe in me I will believe in you.”

The myth of the unicorn is used to reveal gender bias in the conceptualisation of power within the institution. By applying the methodology of mythology we are questioning the system of understanding around narrowly focused gender debates. We encourage institutions within the creative industry to look at inequality from a different perspective using extended mythology to open up a more inclusive discourse.