CFP: Margins of Error

CFP: 44th International Congress on Medieval Studies,
Kalamazoo May 7-10, 2009

Margins of Error: On the Self-Correcting Medieval Manuscript

Sponsored by: The Research Group on Manuscript Evidence

In keeping with the Group’s mission to “apply an integrated, holistic
approach to manuscripts and texts in other forms” our session calls
for papers closely examining the materials in the margins of
manuscripts, especially those that not only comment upon the texts
which they surround, but which may offer alternative or even
“corrective” readings to a manuscript’s central text.
That is, while some marginal images exist to support a text (by
providing mnemonic aid, or by illustrating a scene in a “central”
story), others seem to exist at a disjoint to their neighboring text
(as with the rude grylles and shitten monkeys that pepper so many
holy works) and so may offer counterpoint or even contradiction to an
otherwise uncontested central text. We thus look for papers
discussing such potentially “self-correcting” marginalia in medieval
manuscripts: the images that, while often subordinate to the text,
still find a rebelliously self-reflexive voice.

The Research Group is especially interested in first-hand
(re)evaluations of medieval manuscripts and their marginalia, but all
readings with close textual focus are welcome.

Please submit abstracts and cover materials to Jeff Massey at
jmassey@molloy.edu by September 15th for full consideration.

Jeff Massey, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of English Language and Literature
The Royal English Department
1000 Hempstead Avenue
Molloy College
Rockville Centre, NY 11571-5002