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The 1,000-year interval between antiquity and the renaissance is sometimes called the 鈥淢iddle Ages,鈥� presumably because it happened in the 鈥渕iddle鈥� of those two eras (thus making a history sandwich.) It鈥檚 also known as the 鈥淒ark Ages,鈥� partly due to a popular perception that its people were wont to spent their time smiting each other (true) to the exclusion of all other recreation (not true.)
Properly, this is the medieval period, and it was killer. Viking raids! The Plague! Crusades! King Arthur! (Maybe.)聽Yet the prejudice against this misrepresented epoch is rampant: even current fans are reformed doubters.聽
鈥淚 avoided medieval literature when I did my undergrad,鈥� admits Dal English professor (and surprise medievalist) Kathy Cawsey. 鈥淚 was forced into it in my fourth year.鈥�
Dr. Cawsey has not merely reconsidered her feelings on the subject since then 鈥� she鈥檚 gone on to publish papers and teach classes, dedicated to medieval literature. And three years ago, Dr. Cawsey (along with St. FX鈥檚 Donna Trembinski and Cory Rushton) co-founded the Atlantic Medieval Association. The association functions partly as a hub for medievalists at Atlantic universities, since many work at schools without medieval studies departments.
鈥淲e were a bit concerned... that we would feel a bit cut off,鈥� Dr. Cawsey says. The AMA unites 鈥淎tlantic鈥� medievalists 鈥� perhaps a misleading term in turn, since聽 members hail from as far away as Glasgow, Scotland. In the words of Dal professor Michael Fournier, this is 鈥淎tlantic, very broadly conceived.鈥�
The association also holds an annual conference - this year鈥檚 runs September 24 and 25 - and, for the first time, it鈥檚 being hosted by Dalhousie. Dr. Fournier, an AMA member, was the lead organizer.聽 Nearly a dozen professors from 黑料吃瓜网and the University of King鈥檚 College will join forces with visiting academics, presenting papers with such juicy subjects as 鈥淎ssassins and Suicides in Dante鈥檚 inferno鈥� (King鈥檚鈥� Dr. Thomas Curran鈥檚 offering.)
Topics include everything from history to music to archaeology. 鈥淭here are papers which cover the range, philosophy to literature... It covers a lot of different interests and approaches,鈥� says Dr. Fournier. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Stephen Gersh of the University of Notre Dame, presenting a paper entitled 鈥淗ellenism in 15th Century Philosophy: Two Case-Studies (Nicholas of Cusa and Marsilio Ficino.)鈥�
Dr. Fournier himself will present 鈥淧lanudes Reading Boethius Reading Euripedes.鈥� 鈥淚鈥檒l be going out of my usual area, in a way,鈥� Dr. Fournier says. 鈥淚鈥檓 giving a paper on a Greek translation of a Latin text.鈥� But it鈥檒l be a reunion of sorts with Boethius, the medieval Christian philosopher (bloodily executed, if that sort of thing interests you) on whom Dr. Fournier composed his PhD dissertation. Before the AMA conference, Dr. Fournier will take the paper for a trial spin at a conference in the Czech Republic (his return to 黑料吃瓜网Thursday nets him mere hours of downtime between the two gatherings.)
Aside from Dr. Fournier鈥檚 European detour, the AMA鈥檚 meeting should be quite straight-forward. 鈥淲hile we鈥檝e expanded the size of the conference itself... we鈥檝e kept things simple,鈥� says Dr. Fournier. 鈥淚鈥檓 encouraging undergraduates to come... the sessions for the most part are short, so it鈥檚 easy to come and go.鈥�
The talks are 鈥渁bsolutely free鈥� (though people attending a significant percentage are asked to join the Atlantic Medieval Association.)
Escaping labels like the 鈥淒ark Ages鈥� may be a daunting task (after all, we鈥檝e called it that for centuries) but Dr. Cawsey thinks popular interest in the medieval period may be on the upswing.
鈥淚t seems to go in waves,鈥� she says. 鈥淭here seems to be a resurgence in the popular culture... certainly there seems to be a new Beowulf movie every two years.鈥� But 2007鈥檚 Beowulf had Neil Gaiman鈥檚 magic touch 鈥� so maybe, when the right people are involved, popularity can be parlayed into lasting prominence.