“Texts in Motion” will consider the effect of time on texts. Virtually all manuscript texts vary to some degree from one copy to another; some texts underwent more radical expansion, continuation, or revision, by their authors or others, and significantly different versions of the same text circulated alongside one another. These multiform texts raise a number of challenging questions for a modern editor: what is the relationship, both textual and contextual, be-tween the different versions of the text? Which version should form the basis for an edited text? How can the range of textual differences be represented? How much of this material ought to be presented? Is it possible, finally, to capture the spirit of a medieval text in motion? We invite proposals for pres-entations by anyone working on texts that underwent significant changes through time: abbreviation, expansion, continuation, excerpting, quotation in other texts, dramatic changes in format or context, even glosses and translations. The theme is meant to be understood as broadly as possible, and we welcome proposals that expand our definition of “text” to material objects besides manuscripts, such as images, inscriptions, relics or buildings.

Individual 90-minute sessions will be devoted to each project; participants will introduce their text and its context, discuss their approach to working with this material, and exchange ideas and information with other participants. We particularly invite works in progress, unusual manuscript problems, practi-cal difficulties, and new or experimental models for studying or representing manuscript texts. Pre-senters will receive a stipend of $500 for their participation.