The special events of the 57th International Congress on Medieval Studies at Western Michigan University (live-on-the-internet Monday, May 9, through Saturday, May 14, 2022) include two plenary lectures; the annual Lecture on the Reception of the Classics in the Middle Ages; a performance of "Le Roman de Fauvel" followed by an interview with Mary Springfels; a series of behind-the-scenes visits to museums; the Richard Rawlinson Center Congress Speaker session; and a virtual talent show. Details are posted as they are finalized.
Concert with interview
Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, MS fr. 146, fol. 15v (detail)
"Le Roman de Fauvel"
Lusty music with dazzling images from the fourteenth-century epic satire of political influence and utter incompetence
performed by Mary Springfels and Severall Friends
followed by an interview with Mary Springfels
Monday, May 9
5 p.m. EDT
sponsored by the Medieval Institute
(with the performance available on demand as recorded content Monday, May 16, through Saturday, May 28)
F.A.U.V.E.L: Flattery, Avarice, Vileness, Varieté (fickleness), Envy, Lascheté (cowardice). These are the character traits of Fauvel, a medieval hybrid creature, part human, part equine. He is the incongruous “hero” of an epic French satire, Le Roman de Fauvel. Fauvel, despite his utter incompetence, rises to the heights of political influence with the aid of Lady Fortune and her vacuous daughter, Vainglory. Toadies rush to his side to “curry fauvel,” the original form of the term “curry favor” still in use today. This early critique of the abuse of power is razor-sharp, appalling, and very funny. The fabulous early fourteenth-century manuscript which preserves Fauvel includes thousands of lines of poetry, brilliant illustrations, and every kind of music, from drunken song-refrains to cutting-edge motets by Philippe de Vitry. Our concert-length performance is illuminated by images from and translations of the Fauvel manuscript (Paris, Bibliothèque national de France, MS fr. 146). Performing are Drew Minter, voice and harp; Shira Kammen, medieval fiddle; Mark Rimple, cittole and gittern; Mary Springfels, citole and vielle; Tracy Cowart, harp and voice; Spiff Wiegand, hurdy-gurdy and percussion.
Mining the Collection: Kalamazoo Edition
The Medieval Institute has teamed with the International Center of Medieval Art (ICMA) to offer a series of live-on-the-internet visits behind the scenes at five North American museums broadcast exclusively for those registered for the Congress. Each event highlights carefully selected medieval objects from the permanent collections, with commentary by museum professionals and other experts and with ample time allowed for questions from and discussion with attendees.
Five museums in five days!
sponsored by the Medieval Institute and the International Center of Medieval Art (ICMA)
Aga Khan Museum (Toronto)
Monday, May 9
1 p.m. EDT
(with the event available on demand as recorded content Monday, May 16, through Saturday, May 28)
J. Paul Getty Museum (Los Angeles)
Tuesday, May 10
1 p.m. EDT
(with the event available on demand as recorded content Monday, May 16, through Saturday, May 28)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York)
Wednesday, May 11
1 p.m. EDT
(with the event available on demand as recorded content Monday, May 16, through Saturday, May 28)
Dumbarton Oaks Museum (Washington, DC)
Thursday, May 12
1 p.m. EDT
(with the event available on demand as recorded content Monday, May 16, through Saturday, May 28)
Cleveland Museum of Art
Friday, May 13
1 p.m. EDT
(with the event available on demand as recorded content Monday, May 16, through Saturday, May 28)
Plenary lectures
Geraldine Heng
"An Ordinary Ship and Its Stories of Early Globalism"
followed by a discussion with the speaker
Geraldine Heng
University of Texas at Austin
Tuesday, May 10
3 p.m. EDT
sponsored by the Medieval Academy of America
(note that this lecture will not be available for on-demand viewing)
Ruth Mazo Karras
"Threatening That He Would Break Her Bones: Compulsion in Late Medieval Marriage"
followed by a discussion with the speaker
Ruth Mazo Karras
Trinity College Dublin
Thursday, May 12
11 a.m. EDT
sponsored by Medieval Institute Publications and De Gruyter
(with the lecture available on demand as recorded content Monday, May 16, through Saturday, May 28)
Reception of the Classics in the Middle Ages Lecture
Christopher Baswell
"The Book of the World Split Open: The First Line of the Medieval Georgics"
Christopher Baswell
Barnard College
with a response by Marjorie Woods (University of Texas at Austin)
Saturday, May 14
1 p.m. EDT
endowed in memory of Archibald Cason Edwards, Senior, and Sarah Stanley Gordon Edwards
(with the lecture and response available on demand as recorded content Monday, May 16, through Saturday, May 28)
Richard Rawlinson Center Congress Speaker lecture
Joanna Story
"Insular Vellum: Using Biocodicology to Understand Manuscript Production in the Insular World, ca. 650–850"
Joanna Story
University of Leicester
Richard Rawlinson Center Congress Speaker
Matthew Collins
Wednesday, May 11
9 a.m. EDT
(with the lecture available on demand as recorded content Monday, May 16, through Saturday, May 28)
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 through the week of live events (Monday through Saturday, May 9-14); 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 28.
We remind you that in registering for the congress you agree 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.