CALL FOR PAPERS: The Scandalous and the Marvelous in Medieval Art 48th Internationa Congress on Medieval Studies, Kalamazoo

In the vein of the fantastical Kunstkammern found in the renaissance courts of Europe, this session seeks to explore the materiality, iconography, and significances of the scandalous and the marvelous in medieval art. This includes, but is not limited to, marginalia, courtly collections of curiosities, and miraculous objects. This media often presented fantastical renderings from the imagination such as exotic naturalia or even illicit figures in the margins. Medieval court culture fostered a taste for the exotic and the indulgent, as revealed in the luxurious objects often collected, such as rich fabrics, opulent gems, and metalworks. Bejewelled reliquary chapels and illuminated manuscripts with naughty couples and sneering devils, for example, delighted the privileged audiences of the courtly elite. Kings and queens also collected objects from the far reaches of their kingdoms and beyond in an effort to demonstrate their worldly, divinely-ordained authority.

For this session, we invite papers that address issues centred on the scandalous and the marvelous in medieval art, including the interest in the exotic, the miraculous, and the diabolical. Along these lines, papers could also explore the tensions between centre and peripheral regions and the wonders involved in cross/inter-cultural exchanges.

The Student Committee of the International Center for Medieval Art involves and advocates for all members with student status. As a committee that addresses the concerns of students, we see this session as a forum for discussion and informal mentorship within our field.    

Please send an abstract of no more than 500 words, along with a CV, to Lehti Mairike Keelmann at lehtik@umich.edu by the extended deadline: September 28, 2012.