The special events of the 56th International Congress on Medieval Studies at Western Michigan University (2021) include two plenary lectures, the annual lecture on the reception of the classics, and a virtual talent show.
Plenary lectures
"Marco Polo and the Diversity of the Global Middle Ages"
Sharon Kinoshita
University of California, Santa Cruz
Sponsored by the Medieval Academy of America
"The Black Queen of Sheba: A Global History of an African Idea"
Wendy Laura Belcher
Princeton University
Sponsored by Medieval Institute Publications and De Gruyter
Both plenary lectures are available to congress registrants on the meeting site as pre-recorded content during the week of live events (Monday through Saturday, May 10-15) and during the following two weeks (Monday through Saturday, May 17-29).
Reception of the Classics in the Middle Ages Lecture
Danuta Shanzer
endowed in memory of Archibald Cason Edwards, Senior, and Sarah Stanley Gordon Edwards
"Passion, Personification, Sickness, Sin: Brooding on Envy in the Aetas Covidiana"
Danuta Shanzer
Universität Wien
with a response by David Konstan (New York University)
The Reception of the Classics in the Middle Ages Lecture is available to congress registrants on the meeting site as pre-recorded content during the week of live events (Monday through Saturday, May 10-15) and during the following two weeks (Monday through Saturday, May 17-29).
Virtual talent show
We invite you to upload a short video to the virtual talent show. Entries are accepted for the period from the time the site opens (Friday, May 7) through the week of live events (Monday through Saturday, May 10-15); your video will be made available to congress registrants within two days. Express yourself through music (including karaoke and lip-synching), spoken word, dance, visual art, costume, floral arrangement, pet tricks, whatever! Videos remain available for viewing by congress registrants until Saturday, May 29.
We remind you that in registering for the congress you have agreed to comport yourself according to the values of nondiscrimination, dignity, and courtesy. These values must apply to your contribution to the virtual talent show.
Instructions for uploading video (1GB maximum; mp4, mov, or fbr), as well as tech support, are available on the meeting site hosted by Confex.