[1]

From: Andrea-Bianka Znorovszky <andrea.znorovszkyunive.it>
Date: Sep 4, 2018
Subject: Re-defining the Monster

Deadline: Sep 15, 2018

The proposed session will discuss and debate on the various definitions of the concept of the “monster.” Defining the monster is a challenge. Monsters and monstrosity-related aspects have been topics of academic research either connected to identity or cross-cultural encounters, explored as ‘others’ in the context of voyages (real-imagined), as heritage from Antiquity, as races reflected in travellers’ reports inserted into Western art, philosophy, and theology.

What is a monster? What is monstrosity? How is the monster conceptualized by a given community? Can one define it or does the monster define itself? Does it offer any self-description? Did the medieval man write about monsters and how does this define the monster from a cultural perspective? Where and what is the “border” between human, “other,” and monster? This session seeks original research which investigates medieval scholarly debates in philosophical, theological, political, literary, visual contexts and/or sources in order to (re)define the concept of the monster/monstrosity. Reinterpretations of previous definitions are welcome in a debate on re-visualizing medieval monsters.

This session also aims to bring the intellectual outcome of these sessions into the attention of the general public by publishing the proceedings of the debates in the series “Picturing Women in the Middle Ages and Early Modernity” at Trivent Publishing, Budapest, Hungary.

Please submit a 250-word proposal for a 15-20 minute paper presentation by September 15th, 2018.

Contact information:
Andrea-Bianka Znorovszky, Ca’ Foscari University, Venice, Italy (andrea.znorovszkyunive.it)
Teodora C. Artimon, Trivent Publishing, Budapest, Hungary (teodora.artimontrivent-publishing.eu)

----

[2]

From: Andrea-Bianka Znorovszky <andrea.znorovszkyunive.it>
Date: Sep 4, 2018
Subject: Visualizing Women in the Apocrypha

Deadline: Sep 15, 2018

The proposed session is devoted to the construction and visualization of women as reflected in apocryphal sources with the aim of bringing into attention this generally neglected topic/sources which seem to be underrepresented. The existent literature, in the general field of apocrypha, indicates that there is space for debate on issues connected to gender in these sources.

Research in this field concentrates mostly on the textual tradition and transmission of apocryphal texts, yet aspects concerning the construction and function of women and gender still need to be addressed. Hence, we seek to examine issues related to the status, function, and identity of women who may be models and/or background figures in fields pertaining, but not limited to: theology, religious studies, textual studies, manuscript studies, art history in a transdisciplinary perspective.

Original work and research is welcomed starting from the Late Antiquity to the Late Middle Ages, both in the East and West. The sessions refer to the concept of ‘apocrypha/on’ as movable texts whose composition does not end in the fourth – fifth centuries in the context of the establishment and closing of the canon. This permits to address issues concerning the evolution, transmission, adoptation, and adaptation of sources.

This session also aims to bring the intellectual outcome of these sessions into the attention of the general public by publishing the proceedings of the debates in the series “Picturing Women in the Middle Ages and Early Modernity” at Trivent Publishing, Budapest, Hungary.

Please submit a 250-word proposal for a 15-20 minute paper presentation by September 15th, 2018.

Contact information:
Andrea-Bianka Znorovszky, Ca’ Foscari University, Venice, Italy (andrea.znorovszkyunive.it)
Teodora C. Artimon, Trivent Publishing, Budapest, Hungary (teodora.artimontrivent-publishing.eu)