Performing the End Times: Medieval and Medievalism

Sponsoring Organization(s)

Medieval and Renaissance Drama Society (MRDS)

Organizer Name

Jill Stevenson

Organizer Affiliation

Marymount Manhattan College

Presider Name

Jill Stevenson

Paper Title 1

Play It Again: The Manuscripted (After)Life of the Ludus de Antichristo

Presenter 1 Name

Kyle A. Thomas

Presenter 1 Affiliation

Univ. of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign

Paper Title 2

Struggle to the After Life: The Trouble with Being Dead on the Medieval Stage

Presenter 2 Name

Jesse Njus

Presenter 2 Affiliation

Univ. of California-Santa Barbara

Paper Title 3

The Admiral of Sackcloth and Cord: Christopher Columbus Performs the End of Times

Presenter 3 Name

Christopher Swift

Presenter 3 Affiliation

New York City College of Technology, CUNY

Start Date

10-5-2013 1:30 PM

Session Location

Schneider 1335

Description

In the Middle Ages and thereafter, apocalyptic fantasies have had a powerful attraction and, at particular historical moments, gained remarkable cultural traction. Performance is an especially valuable tool for imagining, expanding upon, and making “real” apocalyptic theology. Medieval plays and other kinds of performative genres (sermons; images; etc.) have helped to construct extremely evocative visions of the End Times. This panel showcases work that examines medieval performances of the End Times and their resonances across, and relevance to, later periods. (Jill Stevenson)