IMC 2012: Sessions
Session 112: Textual Boundaries of Human-Animal Interactions
Monday 9 July 2012, 11.15-12.45
| Sponsor: | Centre for Medieval & Early Modern Studies, University of Kent |
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| Organiser: | Patricia Stewart, St Andrews Institute of Mediaeval Studies, University of St Andrews |
| Moderator/Chair: | Alixe Bovey, School of History, University of Kent |
| Paper 112-a | Source Use and Modification in the Medieval Latin Bestiary (Language: English) Index terms: Language and Literature - Latin, Manuscripts and Palaeography |
| Paper 112-b | Fun, Puns, and Irreverence: Medieval Decorated Initials and Bestiary Animal Motifs - Some Canterbury Examples (Language: English) Index terms: Art History - General, Manuscripts and Palaeography, Religious Life |
| Abstract | During the Middle Ages a variety of rules were applied to human-animal interactions in various spheres, including physical, religious, mental, sexual, and dietary. The papers in this session will examine different aspects of these rules with regard to human-animal interactions in texts and manuscripts. The first paper focusses on the marginal portrayal of apes playing 'ring-a-ring-of roses' - a decidedly human activity. The second paper examines the ways in which sources were used to create different versions of the latin bestiary, and the extent to which the medieval authors felt free to modify - or not - these sources. Finally, the third paper demonstrates how religious members in a specific location, in this case Canterbury, incorporated bestiary motifs into decorated and inhabited initials. |