USI: English Department-

Medieval Studies Forum

"where medievalists mingle"

Book of Hours; Kentuckiensis III - fols. 61v-62, c1475-1500;
NE Italy, School of Ferrara
Gift of J. Christian Bay; University of Kentucky Special Collections

What is the Medieval Studies Forum?
Associated Links
Schedule of Meetings
Archive of Past Discussion Topics

What is the Medieval Studies Forum?

The USI Medieval Studies Forum is a monthly meeting where faculty, staff, and students can gather in a friendly and informal environment to share their interests in medieval topics, discuss current works-in-progress or future ideas, and generally learn more about the interdisciplinary possibilities for study of the medieval world.

If you have a work-in-progress, a pet research project, item for show-and-tell, or a fully-fledged presentation on some aspect of medieval studies that you'd like to share at a future meeting, please see below for contact information. Better yet—come to the next meeting; we look forward to having you join us!

We are also on Facebook now! Check out the “Medieval Studies Forum” site and become a “fan” to get updates. STUDENTS: You also have the opportunity to become involved in the new student medieval organization, “Medieval Geeks” (also on Facebook!). See Bonnie Hobgood (bjhobgood@mail.usi.edu) or Dr. Passmore for more details.

For more information and/or to be added to the mailing list, please contact Dr.
S. Elizabeth Passmore, Assistant Professor, English Department (LA3025B; Email: epassmore).

Associated Links

Schedule of Meetings

The USI Medieval Studies Forum invites you to the presentations of the 2009-2010 academic year!

Tentative Schedule for 2009-2010 Academic Year

Printer Friendly Schedule...

Wednesday, March 3, 2010, 5-6 p.m., location TBA
David Black, USI Communications Dept., and S. Elizabeth Passmore, USI English Dept. will present on astrolabes & other astronomical devices in medieval literature & culture

Wednesday, April 21, 2010, 5-6 p.m., location TBA
Bonnie Hobgood Troupe will produce Rachel Layne's modernization of Chaucer's "Wife of Bath's Tale".

Archive of Past Discussion Topics

2009

November: Annette Parks, University of Evansville History Department: "The Damsel and The Pearl: How Can We Recover Their Stories?"
October: Dan Scavone, USI History Dept. Emeritus: "The Myth of the Vampire"
September: Dan Craig, USI Music Dept.: "Medieval Music: Sacred and Profane"
April: Chris Keegan, Vincennes U Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting Programs: “Medieval Surgery”
March: Dr. Jason Hardgrave, USI History Dept.: "The Catapult Connection: The Invention of and Inventing in the Middle Ages"
February: Mr. John Gibson, USI Classical and Modern Languages Dept.: “The Medieval Imagined: The East Anglian Landscape and its Buildings”

2008

December: Dr. Margaret Skoglund, USI Art Dept.: "Isabel la Catolica's Art as Solidification of a Questionable Reign"
November: Ms. Patricia Aakhus, USI English Dept.: “Alchemy: the Great Work”
October: Leslie McCrary and Ashley Mewes, USI English majors, “Chaucerian Forgeries”
April: Dr. Paula Von Loewenfeldt, USI English Dept., “Mapping Late Medieval British Drama”
March: Dr. Dan Scavone, USI Professor Emeritus of History, “The Mystery of the Holy Grail: Crossing the Sword Bridge to a Solution”
February: Marcia Mishler, USI MALS graduate student, “The History and Development of Chess in the Middle Ages”
January: Dr. Lisa Nicholas, USI English Dept., “Chivalry's Defects in Chretien de Troyes’ Perceval (The Story of the Grail): A Re-reading of Gornemant’s Instructions to Perceval”

2007

November: Ms. Virginia Poston, USI Art Dept., demonstrates how to plumb the scholarly depths of the ArtStor database (available through Rice Library) for medieval manuscript images.
October: Dr. S. Elizabeth Passmore continues her demonstrations of the interactive CDs for medieval studies produced by the University of York on the topics of Pilgrims & Pilgrimage and Images of Salvation.
September: Dr. S. Elizabeth Passmore, USI English Dept., demonstrates the classroom and research possibilities of two interactive CDs for medieval studies produced by the University of York on the topics of Pilgrims & Pilgrimage and Images of Salvation.
April: Our topic of discussion will be drawn from the following topics as they are manifested in medieval literature, history, and art: pilgrimage & the cult of relics; crusades & inter-cultural contact; chivalry & knighthood
March: Our topic of discussion will be King Arthur and Arthurian legend in medieval literature, history, and art.
February: Ms. Lisa Nicholas, USI English dept., discusses her research on Chretien de Troyes, the twelfth-century romance writer who popularized tales of King Arthur and his knights.
January: Craig Fehrman, USI English major, discusses his current work-in-progress concerning the use of anthologies in literature courses.

2006

November: Our topic of discussion will be the Black Plague of 1349 and its impact on history, art, and literature.
October: Inaugural meeting of the Medieval Studies Forum: Our topic of discussion will be the illuminated manuscripts of the Middle Ages.