The Ideology of Identity: Fashioning Self in the Medieval World

In medieval art the construction of identity has generally focused on images and/or objects in addition to the relationship between art and ideology. While illuminating, such approaches can be limiting as there were many other means (besides art) of fashioning identity in the medieval world, for example through the promotion of certain religious practices or beliefs (whether orthodox or heretical in nature) or social and political policy. In order to open up creative discourses and foster interdisciplinary approaches to this topic, this session seeks to bring together scholars who are interested in this process from both within and outside of medieval art. How and why did certain individuals or groups appropriate, adapt or invent images, beliefs, philosophies, rhetoric and/or rituals in order to fashion a sense of collective or singular identity? What were the social, religious and/or political ideological motives behind such appropriations, adaptations and inventions? To what extent were these ideological constructions successful? Especially welcome are papers that utilize interdisciplinary approaches to identity formation in medieval culture and/or papers that deal with medieval Italy.

Abstracts of not more than 300 words are due 15 September 2005; participants will be notified of their acceptance by 25 September 2005. Please include contact information along with your abstract.