CALL FOR PAPERS: 41st International Congress on Medieval Studies
4-7 May 2006, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI

The Ideology of Identity: Fashioning Self in the Medieval World

In medieval art the construction of identity has generally centered on the
examination of images and objects, many times within a larger ideological
framework. While illuminating, such approaches can also be limiting as
there were many other means (besides art) of fashioning identity in the
medieval world, for example through the promotion of certain religious
practices or beliefs (whether orthodox or heretical in nature) or social
and political policy. In order to open up creative discourses and foster
interdisciplinary approaches to the topic of medieval identity
construction, this session seeks to bring together scholars who are
interested in this process from both within and outside of medieval art.
How and why did certain individuals or groups appropriate, adapt or invent
images, beliefs, philosophies, rhetoric and/or rituals in order to fashion
a sense of collective or singular identity? What were the social,
religious and/or political ideological motives behind such appropriations,
adaptations and inventions? To what extent were these ideological
constructions successful? Especially welcome are papers that utilize
interdisciplinary approaches to identity formation in medieval culture
and/or papers that deal with medieval Italy.

Abstracts of not more than 300 words are due 15 September 2005.
Participants will be notified of their acceptance to the session by 25
September 2005. Please send abstracts and contact information to:

Michelle Duran-McLure
Art Department
University of Montevallo
Montevallo, AL 35115
205.665.2686 TEL
205.665.6383 FAX
duranmmontevallo.edu