IMC 2024: Sessions

Session 1320: Magic in Times of Crisis: Means to Explain, Heal, and Harm, II - Concepts and Mentalities, Where Magic and Theology Coincide

Wednesday 3 July 2024, 16:30-18:00

Organiser:	Therese Thuv, Fakultet for samfunnsvitenskap, Nord Universitet, Bodø
Moderator/Chair:	Miriam Tveit, Historie, kultur og media, Nord Universitet, Bodø
Paper 1320-a	Research on Magic in the Nordic Middle Ages: Where Crisis and Possibilities Meet (Language: English) Therese Thuv, Fakultet for samfunnsvitenskap, Nord Universitet, Bodø Index terms: Bibliography, Historiography - Modern Scholarship, Language and Literature - Scandinavian and Mentalities
Paper 1320-b	Towards the Crisis: The Role of Canon Law in the Construction of Belief in Magic in the 14th Century (Language: English) Christian Zendri, Facoltà di Giurisprudenza, Università degli Studi di Trento Index terms: Canon Law, Law, Mentalities and Theology
Paper 1320-c	Necromancy, fama, and Crisis in the High Middle Ages (Language: English) Thomas Heebøll-Holm, Institut for Kultur- og Sprogvidenskaber, Syddansk Universitet, Odense Index terms: Language and Literature - Latin, Philosophy, Politics and Diplomacy and Rhetoric
Paper 1320-d	A Crisis of Masculinity?: Manliness and Necromancy in 13th-Century Exempla (Language: English) Davide Politi, Department of Medieval Studies, Central European University, Budapest/Wien Index terms: Gender Studies, Language and Literature - Latin and Religious Life
Abstract	Throughout most of the medieval period, the magical arts were placed in the intersection between pagan and Christian beliefs. As a part of a belief system as well as traditions, repercussions against magic is found in various secular laws, as well as in canon laws. This gives proof that both intellectuals and commoners had thoughts and ideas concerning belief in magic. This second session will focus on magic envisioned and conceptualised by the theologues, both in canon law and as propaganda in power struggles between popes and kings. The “deviant male” will be addressed, proposing a new view on how male performers of magical arts could be perceived by church intellectuals. A presentation of the historiography and research traditions on magic in the Nordic countries will also be presented, with “crisis” as a factor of analysis. Combined, these papers will present a broad spectre of the ongoing research on medieval magic, exemplified by both wider, overarching perspectives along with specific case-studies.