Queer Medieval Materialities and Material Cultures in the Middle Ages

Sponsoring Organization(s)

Society for the Study of Homosexuality in the Middle Ages (SSHMA)

Organizer Name

Graham N. Drake

Organizer Affiliation

SUNY-Geneseo

Presider Name

Graham N. Drake

Paper Title 1

Casa de Pilatos: Hiding the Queer in Plain Sight

Presenter 1 Name

Felipe E. Rojas

Presenter 1 Affiliation

West Liberty Univ.

Paper Title 2

"Luf-tacen": Emotions, Material Culture, and Hrothgar's Gifts of Love to Beowulf

Presenter 2 Name

Christopher Vaccaro

Presenter 2 Affiliation

Univ. of Vermont

Start Date

12-5-2019 10:30 AM

Session Location

Bernhard 211

Description

The Society for the Study of Homosexuality in the Middle Ages (SSHMA) invites all papers that explore any queer topic within works that discuss (1) medieval materiality and/or (2) material culture. While medieval studies have been grappling with the concept of materiality, the very thingness of art and culture. The material of the medieval world, be it parchment, precious metal, books, statues and symbols, has emerged as a spearheading topic. This session will investigate the different ways in which medieval people (noblemen, laymen, artists, theologians, authors, etc.) used goods, materials, and other elements to create “queer” art, literature, symbols and architecture. Why did medieval people preserve, conserve, and/or create art and materials? SSHMA encourages abstracts from all disciplines of the medieval world. Some of the disciplines that we hope to involve in this discussion include but are not limited to vernacular and Medieval Latin literatures, political theory, philosophy, theology, architecture and art history. Graham N. Drake