UVa-Wise to host 21st annual Medieval Renaissance Conference

The 21st annual Medieval Renaissance Conference will take place at The University of Virginia’s College at Wise, with sessions beginning Thursday, Sept. 20, and lasting through Saturday, Sept. 22.

Bonnie Wheeler, associate professor of English and director of Medieval Studies at Southern Methodist University (Dallas, Texas) will serve as keynote speaker for the event. Wheeler will present “Absorbing Rumors: Sir Lancelot’s Reputation,” at 4:30 p.m. on Friday in the Chapel of All Faiths.

As editor of “Arthuriana,” the International Arthurian Society/North American Branch’s quarterly journal and the book series “The New Middle Ages,” Wheeler often appears as an historical and literary consultant for A&E Network, the History Channel and the BBC. She is a leading authority on medieval romance, Arthurian literature, and medieval women’s and gender studies.

Other session topics include: “Religion in Art,” “Shakespeare,” “Renaissance Literature,” “Development of the Romance,” “History and Histioriography,” “Gender and Rhetoric,” “Chaucer” and “Jewishness in Art and Literature.”

All sessions, including the keynote address, are free and open to the public.

Begun in 1986 by the late Professor Jack Mahony and Professor Richard Peake, the conference promotes scholarly discussion of all aspects of medieval and renaissance culture. Although a plurality of papers deal with literature and literary subjects, recent conferences have included an array of topics ranging from art history to religion and philosophy.

This year's conference features more than 40 presentations by professors, graduate students, undergraduates and independent researchers from across the nation.

For a complete schedule of events, click here (PDF), or for more information, contact Ken Tiller, chair of the Medieval Renaissance Conference Committee, at 276-376-4587.

Posted Semptember 20, 2007