Daily Archives: 24 July 2018

CFP: The Body and the Text at IMC Leeds, 1-4 July 2019

Proposals are invited for sessions on The Body and the Text: Medical Humanities and Medieval Literature, c. 1150 – 1550, to be convened at the Leeds International Medieval Congress, 1-4 July 2019.

Recent years have witnessed a surge in scholarship in the field of the Medical Humanities. In considering medicine in its cultural and social contexts, the Medical Humanities has symbolised a ‘paradigm shift away from what might be called medical reductionism to medical holism, where patients are not reduced to diseases and bodies but rather are seen as whole persons in contexts and in relations’ (Cole et al, 2015:8). In seeking to merge disciplines and foster interactive dialogues, this area of research is inherently inclusive, dynamic, and elastic. Furthermore, since the topics of science, medicine, physiology, religion, astrology, and magic were often discussed within the same medieval texts and contexts, the multidisciplinarity of the Medical Humanities is particularly apt for Medieval Studies.

We therefore seek to put together a session or sessions on Medieval Literature and the Medical Humanities. Our focus is global and will include proposals from two complementary directions: how are medicine, health and wellbeing represented in medieval and early modern literature? How may literary texts from this period contribute to training and practice in the Medical Humanities?

Proposals may include but are not confined to the following:
 
  • Representations of health and sickness in literary texts;
  • Depictions of medical knowledge, practice and practitioners in literary texts;
  • Representations of the senses and / or emotions;
  • The relationship between medicine and religion in the Middle Ages;
  • Engagement with texts (reading and listening) as a therapeutic practice in the Middle Ages;
  • A consideration of how medieval literature might contribute to training and practice in the Medical Humanities;
  • Defining the Medical Humanities in a medieval context.

Abstracts of no more than 300 words should be submitted to the session organisers DrAlison Williams (a.j.williams@swansea.ac.uk) and Dr Laura Kalas Williams (l.e.williams@swansea.ac.uk) by 31 August 2018.

 

CFP: 2019 British Legal History Conference 2019

Abstracts are invited for the 2019 British Legal History Conference taking place at the University of St Andrews, Scotland, 10-13 July 2019. The conference theme is comparative legal history.

The theme builds upon F.W. Maitland’s famous observation that “history involves comparison”, and that those who ignore every system but their own “hardly came in sight of the idea of legal history”.[1] The aim is to examine differences and similarities across a broad time-period to produce better approaches to the subject of legal history, combining depth of analysis with historical contextualization. Rather than comparing individual rules or searching for universal systems, the theme will take an intermediate approach the topic of comparative law, investigating patterns in legal norms, processes, and practice.

The papers accepted for this conference may themselves take a comparative approach. However, there is no requirement that each paper is explicitly comparative, as the sessions will be designed to allow comparative perspectives to emerge between individual papers.

We welcome proposals from historians in all fields of legal history, whether doctrinal or contextual, domestic or transnational. Proposals which inform our understanding of the Common Law through comparison with other legal systems (e.g. civil or canon) as well as geographical comparisons are particularly welcome.

Proposals from postgraduate and early career researchers are encouraged.

Please email abstracts (strict maximum 250 words) to blhc2019@st-andrews.ac.uk by 15 September 2018.

Further information on the conference, travel, and accommodation can be found on the following website: www.blhc2019.uk

[1] F.W. Maitland, “Why the History of English Law is not Written”, In H.A.L. Fisher, ed., Collected Papers (Cambridge, 1911), i, 488.

New Zealand Historical Association 2019 conference

The NZHA is proud to announce that next year’s conference will be entitled ‘Kanohi-ki-te-Kanohi: Histories for our Time’. The theme welcomes explorations from all types of historical backgrounds and topics, with a particular focus on ‘Face to Face / Kanohi-ki-te-Kanohi’ encounters. The conference will be held at Victoria University, Wellington in November 2019.

Further details will be announced shortly. Sign up to receive email notifications about the conference and other NZHA events at https://nzha.org.nz/

Australian School of Celtic Learning upcoming study days

The Australian School of Celtic Learning has a range of study days and seminars coming up in Sydney and Canberra during August.

SYDNEY

Saturday 4 August
Lughnasadh study day

In the week of the Celtic festival of Lughnasadh, we will look first at historical events involving the Celts at this time of year, then turn our attention to the ancient Celtic seasonal festivals, discussing how they were marked at various points in history.  We discuss the traditions specific to Lughnasadh, which occurs at the beginning of Autumn in the northern hemisphere.  We will conclude the day by sharing some music and tales specific to Lughnasadh.
Schedule
10.00-11.30 – 4 August in Celtic history
11.45-1.00 – marking the Celtic seasons
2.00-3.15 – Lughnasadh traditions old-new
3.30-5.00 – Lughnasadh music and tales
Venue
Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts, 280 Pitt Street, Sydney
Cost
AU$95 ($65 student/unwaged) – please register in advance
includes morning and afternoon teas and booklet
Download Lughnasadh study day registration form

Saturday 25 August
Holy Islands – Iona seminar

At the centre of Saint Columba’s federation of monasteries and churches, the island of Iona was a centre of learning.  We will spend the morning with this beautiful island and its intriguing history.  In particular, we will discuss the complicated history of the church in Saint Columba’s time, and investigate the many early medieval and later artefacts associated with Iona.
Schedule
10.00-11.30 – Saint Columba and Iona
11.45-1.00 – stone crosses and artefacts
Venue
Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts, 280 Pitt Street, Sydney
Cost
AU$50 ($35 student/unwaged) – please register in advance
includes morning tea and booklet
Download Holy Islands – Iona registration form

Saturday 25 August
Holy Islands – Lindisfarne seminar

Established by monks from Iona at the invitation of the king of Northumbria, the tidal island of Lindisfarne came to be of central importance for Christianity in the north of England.  In this seminar, we will explore the background of Lindisfarne’s establishment and its role in the development of Christianity in England.  Lindisfarne is the place of origin for many important early medieval manuscripts including the Lindisfarne Gospels, and we will look closely at these manuscripts and other artefacts from Lindisfarne and the surrounding areas.
Schedule
2.00-3.30 – history and place
3.45-5.00 –  manuscripts and artefacts
Venue
Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts, 280 Pitt Street, Sydney
Cost
$50 ($35 student/unwaged) – please register in advance
includes afternoon tea and booklet
Download Holy Islands – Lindisfarne registration form

Holy Islands full day package
AU$95 ($65 student/unwaged)
Download Holy Islands registration form

CANBERRA

Sunday 12 August
Book of Kells Study Day

The Book of Kells is a beautiful, illuminated manuscript made around 750.  In this day-long event, we will consider the context of the church in Ireland and Scotland, and the relationship of the Book of Kells to Saint Columba.  We will spend time investigating the long traditions of Celtic art, and the materials, construction, decoration and content of the Book of Kells itself.  Join us for a look at the manuscript, its background and its decoration.  We will have many photographs of details from the manuscript and other objects.

Schedule
11.30-1.30 – Iona, Kells and Saint Columba
2.30-4.00 – the Book and its decoration
4.30-6.00 – artistic influences on the Book
Venue
Canberra Irish Club, 6 Parkinson Street Weston
Cost
AU$95 ($65 student/unwaged) – please register in advance
includes lunch, afternoon tea and booklet 

Sunday 2 September
Early Irish Law Study Day

The legal system of early Ireland is remarkable: it is the best-documented vernacular legal system in pre-modern Europe, and remained in use for over a millennium.  Careful attention was given to proving not only guilt and innocence, but intentionality and culpability based on a combination of factors.  A delicate balance of family and community responsibilities and entitlements compelled compliance, taking the place of a police force.  Join us to explore some of the most interesting, unexpected and ingenious aspects of early Irish law, and to trace its fascinating development.

Schedule
11.30-1.30 – early Irish law and society
2.30-4.00 – intentionality, culpability and other provisions
4.30-6.00 – intrusions by the church
Venue
Canberra Irish Club, 6 Parkinson Street Weston
Cost
AU$95 ($65 student/unwaged) – please register in advance
includes lunch, afternoon tea and booklet 

For more coming events in Sydney, Download Lughnasadh Term Sydney Event Calendar/Brochure