IMC 2004: Sessions
Session 1205: Modern Myths about the Middle Ages
Wednesday 14 July 2004, 14.15-15.45
Organiser: | Bettina Bildhauer, School of Modern Languages - German, University of St Andrews |
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Moderator/Chair: | Katherine J. Lewis, Department of History, University of Huddersfield |
Paper 1205-a | Mid-Evilisms: The Dark Ages of Textbook and Popular Culture (Language: English) Index terms: Historiography - Modern Scholarship, Medievalism and Antiquarianism |
Paper 1205-b | Why are the Dark Ages Dark?: Cultural and Cinematic Functions of a Key Metaphor (Language: English) Index terms: Historiography - Modern Scholarship, Medievalism and Antiquarianism |
Paper 1205-c | Hagar the Hilarious: Vikings as Comic Figures in Contemporary Culture (Language: English) Index terms: Medievalism and Antiquarianism |
Abstract | Clash of Cultures in this year’s main theme; and medieval culture itself is often constructed as radically different from our own, clashing with and being superseded by modernity. This session aims to reflect on some of the recurring stereotypes and structures underlying our perception of the Middle Ages, and the functions of such constructions for ourselves. Papers explore in particular how modern scholarship and popular culture interact in constructing the Middle Ages as a validating Other; what is at stake in describing the Middle Ages so persistently as dark; and what is so funny about the hyper-masculine Vikings as represented in contemporary culture. |