Icy Sedgwick – The Ethics of Ghost Hunting - 1867 cafe bar

Ghost hunting has evolved from a pseudoscientific pursuit in the 19th century into a lucrative commercial powerhouse, driven in part by the success of TV shows like Ghost Hunters and podcasts like Uncanny. Yet an evolution based so heavily upon profit means that both integrity and ethics can be sidelined, if not entirely disregarded, in the process.

This talk will examine the ethical friction between entertainment and inquiry. Is it possible to investigate the paranormal without exploiting the dead or lying to the living? Setting aside the question of the reality of ghosts, Icy will explore the fraught ethics of paid ghost hunts and the commodification of tragedy.

Dr Icy Sedgwick is the host of the Fabulous Folklore podcast, investigating the fascinating world of European folklore with a focus on the British Isles, and the author of Rebel Folklore, Ghostlore, and Bring Me Love. Former ghost hunter Icy also holds a PhD in Film Studies after examining the representation of haunted houses in contemporary Hollywood cinema.