World's medievalists coming to Kalamazoo for annual congress

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Medieval scholars from around the world will return to Kalamazoo this month for the 54th celebration of the Western Michigan University International Congress on Medieval Studies.

The event, which has become a rite of spring in the Kalamazoo community, runs from Thursday, May 9, through Sunday, May 12. It will attract some 2,750 scholars from around the world. Among the attractions this year are sessions on topics ranging from medieval herbal medicine and military technology to Norse mythology.

Attendees will include professional scholars, most with university appointments; students; independent scholars; librarians; museum curators; and enthusiasts. Hundreds will live in campus residence halls, and hundreds more will fill area hotels.

The event will feature more than 550 sessions in locations across the WMU campus. The sessions are in a variety of formats, many taking the form of academic paper presentations. Others are panel discussions, roundtables, demonstrations and workshops.

Annual lecture

An annual lecture on the reception of the classics in the Middle Ages will be given by Dr. David Townsend of the University of Toronto. He will address he question of "Mentioning the Unmentionable: 'Praeteritio' and the Legacy of Roman Satire in Aelred of Rievaulx" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 9, in the Fetzer Center's Kirsch Auditorium. The lecture series is endowed in memory of Archibald Cason Edwards Sr. and Sarah Stanley Gordon Edwards.

Special plenary lectures

Special plenary lectures are scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday, May 10 and 11, in the Bernhard Center's East Ballroom:

• On Friday, the talk is titled "Icons of Sound and the Exultet Liturgy of Southern Italy," presented by Dr. Bissera V. Pentcheva, professor of medieval art at Stanford University.
• On Saturday, the plenary address title is "Mastering Humiliation in Medieval Literature" by Dr. Bonnie Wheeler, associate professor and director of medieval studies at Southern Methodist University.

Mostly Medieval Theatre Festival

The Mostly Medieval Theatre Festival is a biennial performance festival showcasing and invigorating the global heritage of drama, music, dance and performance styles from late antiquity through the Renaissance. Performances will begin at 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, May 8-11, at the Gilmore Theatre Complex and be followed by a talkback—an opportunity to ask questions and share knowledge among the audience and performers.

Exhibition of medieval manuscripts

On display in Waldo Library will be 21 manuscripts on loan from Les Enluminures as part of their "Manuscripts in the Curriculum" program. Dating from the Middle Ages and later, they include a variety of Christian religious texts, an early French register of oaths, an illustrated treatise on heraldry, an Elizabeth genealogy of royalty and a calligraphic alphabet.

Exhibits

The exhibits hall is a favorite gathering place for Kalamazoo residents, as well as the visiting book dealers, publishers and sellers of medieval sundries, from souvenir T-shirts and tea towels to hand-crafted musical instruments and jewelry.

Community attendance

Kalamazoo County residents and those with a valid WMU ID may attend the WMU International Congress on Medieval Studies at no cost. Local attendees may register on-site in the lobby of the Goldsworth Valley 3 residence halls if they have not pre-registered. 


WMU's Medieval Institute 


The Medieval Institute is a center for instruction and research in the history and culture of the Middle Ages and ranks among the top 10 North American institutes, centers and programs that focus on medieval studies. Its pioneering function was to introduce the first Master of Arts in medieval studies offered at a state-supported university in the United States. The medieval congress began as a biennial conference in 1962. Sponsored by WMU's Medieval Institute, also established in 1962, it grew to become an annual event in 1970 and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2012.

View complete details on all WMU International Congress on Medieval Studies events.

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