Super Medieval! Visual Representations of "Medieval Superheroes"
Sponsoring Organization(s)
International Center of Medieval Art (ICMA) Student Committee
Organizer Name
Stephanie Marie Rushe Chapman
Organizer Affiliation
Univ. of Missouri-Columbia
Presider Name
Stephanie Marie Rushe Chapman
Paper Title 1
No Medieval Superhero Is an Island: A Case Study of Hedwig of Silesia
Presenter 1 Name
Allison McCann
Presenter 1 Affiliation
Univ. of Pittsburgh
Paper Title 2
Defending Christianity: Constantine the Great in Fifteenth-Century Moldavia
Presenter 2 Name
Alice Isabella Sullivan
Presenter 2 Affiliation
Univ. of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Start Date
15-5-2015 10:00 AM
Session Location
Schneider 1145
Description
Modern-day superheroes, such as Superman and Captain America, are the descendants of a long tradition of positive super-beings, including the ancient Greek hero and demi-god Herakles, the Norse god Thor, and the biblical figures of Samson and Moses. These super-beings share many traits, such as extreme strength or another extraordinary power, a moral personality, the desire to fight against evil, an unusual birth/upbringing or traumatic origins, and dedication to their homeland. Many are the epitome of their culture’s views on masculinity (or femininity). Superheroes embody what we believe is the best in ourselves, and they offer reassurance in a complicated world. And yet, many super beings retain at least one human fault or weakness, such as Samson’s long hair or Superman’s weakness to kryptonite. This panel is dedicated to exploring visual depictions of ‘superheroes’ in all media and from both the western and eastern medieval world. Potential topics might include: saints, biblical figures, historical figures, mythic heroes, romance heroes, gods/goddesses, God, and Christ (the ultimate ‘superhero’), as well as ‘superhero sidekicks.’ Papers should speak to how the notion of ‘super’ is distinguished as extraordinary in medieval visual and material culture through either the representation of ‘superheroes’ or their actions.
Jennifer N. Grayburn
Super Medieval! Visual Representations of "Medieval Superheroes"
Schneider 1145
Modern-day superheroes, such as Superman and Captain America, are the descendants of a long tradition of positive super-beings, including the ancient Greek hero and demi-god Herakles, the Norse god Thor, and the biblical figures of Samson and Moses. These super-beings share many traits, such as extreme strength or another extraordinary power, a moral personality, the desire to fight against evil, an unusual birth/upbringing or traumatic origins, and dedication to their homeland. Many are the epitome of their culture’s views on masculinity (or femininity). Superheroes embody what we believe is the best in ourselves, and they offer reassurance in a complicated world. And yet, many super beings retain at least one human fault or weakness, such as Samson’s long hair or Superman’s weakness to kryptonite. This panel is dedicated to exploring visual depictions of ‘superheroes’ in all media and from both the western and eastern medieval world. Potential topics might include: saints, biblical figures, historical figures, mythic heroes, romance heroes, gods/goddesses, God, and Christ (the ultimate ‘superhero’), as well as ‘superhero sidekicks.’ Papers should speak to how the notion of ‘super’ is distinguished as extraordinary in medieval visual and material culture through either the representation of ‘superheroes’ or their actions.
Jennifer N. Grayburn