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Future of Medieval Studies

Our reflection on this fiftieth anniversary is not about looking back; instead, we want to use this solid foundation to move forward and start a conversation around the Future of Medieval Studies.

Our aim with the ongoing Future of Medieval Studies project is to engage with the wider academic community to facilitate discussions as to where our field is going, and how we should influence this to expand the diversity and inclusivity of Medieval Studies. Focusing on the UK Higher Education landscape, we hope to bring together students, staff, and interested parties to talk about issues and provide a space to work towards solutions.

This project is looking at:

  • how did people experience diversity in the Middle Ages?
  • how is diversity investigated in Medieval Studies?
  • how can we, as a community, support those from different backgrounds to join our field?

Using a mixture of on-campus events and virtual discussions, we welcome the input of anyone interested in the future of our field.

Upcoming events

The Future of Medieval Studies Symposium

Taking place from Thursday 31 May to Friday 1 June 2018, this two day conference will explore developments in the field. Of particular importance for the future of Medieval Studies is how we can enrich and expand the themes of our research, the environments and methods of our research, and the diversity of researchers. How can Medieval Studies be made more engaged and better reflect the world of the present and the future (and should it)?

The symposium will explore three closely-connected topics:

  • the diversity of the Middle Ages
  • the diversity of Medieval Studies
  • the diversity of medievalists

Programme

Thursday, 31 May 2018

10:30-11:00. Registration and coffee

11:00-12:00. Loving the Middle Ages in a Flat World, Richard Utz (Georgia Institute of Technology)

12:00-13:00. Famous Men Who Rape: Chaucer, Edward III and Teaching Medieval Studies in the #MeToo Era, Lucia Akard (Oxford) and Seamus Dwyer (Yale)

13:00-14:30. Lunch

14:30-15:30. (Where) Do We Meet? Diversities of Teaching Medieval Studies in the Peripheries, Gerhard Jaritz (CEU) and Zsuzsanna Papp Reed (CEU), with Skype contributions from Andrea Vanina Neyra (Universidad de Buenos Aries), Ephraim Shoham-Steiner (Ben-Gurion University of the Negev), Xu Zhexin (Salzburg), and Dan Knox (CEU)

15:30-16:30. Going Global, Phil Booth (Lancaster) and Adam Simmons (Lancaster)

16:30-17:00. Break

17:00-18:00. Diversity and Decolonisation, Priyamvada Gopal (Cambridge) and Alaric Hall (Leeds)

Friday 01 June 2018

09:00-09:30. Registration and coffee

09:30-10:30. Decolonising the Medieval Islamicate, Fozia Bora (Leeds), Daisy Livingston (SOAS), and Adam Talib (Durham)

10:30-11:30. Medieval Art History: Postcolonising, Decolonising, Eva Frojmovic (Leeds) and Catherine Karkov (Leeds)

11:30-13:00. Lunch

13:00-14:00. Interpreting the Middle Ages for the Game of Thrones Generation, Michael Carter (English Heritage), Maeve Morales-O'Donnell (Courtauld Institute of Art), and Will Wyeth (English Heritage)

14:00-15:00. Diversifying the Traditional Narrative of Cultural Encounter, Adam Simmons (Lancaster) and Claudia Rogers (Leeds)

15:00-15:30. Break

15:30-16:30. Closing Discussion, Geoff Humble (Leeds), Emilia Jamroziak (Leeds), Sjoerd Levelt (Bilkent), Amanda Power (Oxford), Victoria Yuskaitis (Leeds)

Registration

Registration is free of charge and can be found here. Each day is registered separately, so if attending the whole conference please ensure both days are included. Lunch and refreshments are provided.