*The Total Library: **Aspirations for Complete Knowledge in the Middle Ages
and Renaissance*
The 27th Biennial Conference of the Medieval and Renaissance Studies
Program of Barnard College
Barnard College, New York City
December 5, 2020
*Plenary Speakers:*
Ann Blair (Harvard University)
Elias Muhanna (Brown University)
According to Borges, “The fancy or the imagination or the utopia of the
Total Library has certain characteristics that are easily confused with
virtues.” This one-day conference will explore the aspiration for complete
knowledge in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, an aspiration expressed
in atlases, herbals, encyclopedias that were meant to mirror and maybe tame
the diversity of the earth by including in their pages everything. Whether
virtuous or problematic, the fantasy of the complete mastery of knowledge
created utopias of learning. In our current moment when the value of
knowledge is under question, we invite scholars of multiple disciplines
(art history, history, literary studies, religion, history of science) to
raise questions about the technologies, social structures, and modes of
thought that shape what knowledge means at a given moment.
Please submit an abstract of 250-300 words and a 2-page CV by *May 15, 2020* to
Rachel Eisendrath, reisendr@barnard.edu.
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
Friday, January 24, 2020
> *Translation and the limits of Greek-Latin bilingualism in Late Antiquity
> (ca. 300-600 CE)*
>
> Panel at the 13th Celtic Conference in Classics, Lyon 15-18 2020
>
> Abstract submission deadline: *March 20, 2020*
>
> *Confirmed speakers:*
>
> Eleanor Dickey (University of Reading)
>
> Adam Gitner (*Thesaurus Linguae Latinae*, Bayerische Akademie der
> Wissenschaften)
>
> Bruno Rochette (Université de Liège)
>
> Alison John (Universiteit Gent)
>
> Alan Ross (Columbia University)
>
> Bilingualism between Latin and Greek sits at odds with the major scholarly
> re-evaluations of Late Antiquity that characterize this period as an age of
> cultural, political and religious transformations, as opposed to an era of
> decline and fall. Being expert *utraque lingua* ‘in both languages [i.e.
> Latin and Greek]’, had been an integral part of Roman intellectual culture
> and identity since the late Republic; but, according to conventional
> interpretation, by the end of the fourth century CE, the decline of Greek
> education in the west (evidenced by the rise in Latin translations of Greek
> texts, especially by Christians), and the relegation of Latin to the
> language of law and the bureaucracy in the East, were inescapable signs of
> cultural decline. By the fifth century, a linguistic divide reinforced the
> political division of the empire between east and west, Greek and Latin
> (Millar, 2006; Riché, 1976; Jones, 1964; Marrou, 1948). When bilingualism
> in Late Antiquity has recently been studied more positively, it has been
> often been from a multilingual perspective, between Latin or Greek and
> other languages of the Mediterranean world, Coptic, Syriac, or Punic
> (Rigolio 2019; Mullen and James, 2012; Adams, Janse, and Swain, 2002).
>
> In the absence of any sustained study of Greek-Latin bilingualism and
> translation practice in the late antique period, this panel seeks to
> examine the function and prevalence of Greek-Latin bilingualism and to
> explore the connections between language communities and intellectual
> cultures across the empire from the Tetrarchy to the reign of Justinian.
> Particularly it wishes to question the assumed negative correlation between
> a decline in bilingualism and a rise in translation, and to do so from the
> perspective both of Latin in a Greek context and Greek in Latin.
>
> Proposals are sought for papers that approach the topic from a wide range
> of perspectives: not just linguistic but literary, codicological, legal,
> political or historical. Papers that address one or more of the following
> questions would be especially welcome:
>
> · How regionalized or uniform were changes in educational practices
> in Greek and Latin language-learning? How did these change between the
> fourth and sixth centuries?
>
> · What counts as ‘being bilingual’ in Late Antiquity?
>
> · What effect did the increase in the imperial bureaucracy in the
> fourth century have upon the extent of the knowledge and use of Latin in
> the east?
>
> · As bilingualism became rarer, to what extent did it become a
> sought-after skill? Did any new opportunities present themselves for
> someone expert *utraque lingua*? How did such opportunities affect normal
> power relations, e.g. between a monolingual emperor or governor and a
> bilingual advisor?
>
> · What were the motivations for translation, and why were certain
> works deemed necessary for translation and others not?
>
> · How were newly translated texts received by other (monolingual)
> authors, and to what extent did they inspire subsequent compositions?
>
> · To what extent did linguistic translation also entail cultural
> translation between Greek and Latin, east and west, or vice versa (cf.
> Jerome’s statement that in translating Eusebius’ *Chronicle* he also
> added western events omitted by the eastern Eusebius)?
>
> · How closely implicated was a decline in bilingualism with societal
> problems, e.g. doctrinal conflicts between Christians, or problems of legal
> interpretation and practice?
>
> · How do Greek texts composed in the West, or Latin texts composed in
> the East affect our picture of changing levels of bilingualism or
> expectations of their initial audiences’ linguistic skills?
>
> · How was scribal practice affected by changes in bilingualism?
>
> · To what extent does evidence for bilingualism or translation in the
> epigraphic and material record align with that of literary texts?
>
>
>
> We welcome proposals for papers of 35 minutes. Please submit an abstract
> of approximately 400 words and a proposed title by *March 20, 2020*.
> Papers may be in either English or French. Please include your
> institutional affiliation in your email.
>
>
> Submissions and questions can be directed to either Alison John (
> alison.john@ugent.be) or Alan Ross (alan.ross@columbia.edu
> <ajr2242@columbia.edu>).
>
>
> For more information about the Celtic Conference in Classics:
> www.celticconferenceinclassics
>
>
>
> The panel convenors,
>
>
>
> Alison John (Universiteit Gent, Belgium)
>
> Alan Ross (Columbia University, New York)
Thursday, January 23, 2020
Call for Papers
*The Twenty-Third Biennial Conference of the International Society for the
History of Rhetoric (ISHR) Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands
July 27-31, 2021*
The Biennial Conference of ISHR brings together several hundred specialists
in the history of rhetoric from around thirty countries.
*Scholarly Focus of the Conference*
The Society calls for twenty-minute conference papers focusing on
historical aspects of the theory and practice of rhetoric. This year’s
specific conference theme or focus is “Topics and Commonplaces in Antiquity
and Beyond.”
Topical invention originated in ancient Greece and was developed and used
throughout the western intellectual tradition as a systematized method of
finding arguments to discuss abstract, philosophical questions, as well as
specific questions determined by circumstances of time and space.
Commonplaces are part of topical invention. They reflect commonly accepted
views and ideas such as the benefits of peace vs. the harm caused by war,
and can be geared to provide arguments which confirm, suggest, or create
consensus. Studying topics and their application from a historical
perspective thus highlights how persuasive texts reflect and contribute to
the shaping of the intellectual and sociocultural contexts in which they
are situated. We invite papers on the theory and practice of topics in all
regions, periods and cultures. But of course we also welcome papers on both
the theory and the practice of rhetoric in all periods and languages, and
on its relationships with poetics, philosophy, politics, religion, law, and
other aspects of the cultural context.
*Procedure for Submission*
Proposals are invited for 20-minute presentations delivered in one of the
six languages of the Society, viz. English, French, German, Italian, Latin
and Spanish. The Society also welcomes panel proposals consisting of three
or four speakers dealing with a common theme, so as to form a coherent set
of papers. The chair of the proposed panel may also be one of the speakers.
Each speaker in a panel should submit a proposal form for his or her own
paper, clearly specifying the panel to which it pertains. In addition, the
panel organizer is expected to complete and submit a separate form
explaining the purpose of the proposed panel and naming the participants.
Please note that proposals for panel papers will be considered on their
individual merits by the Programme Committee, and there is no guarantee
that all papers proposed for a panel will be accepted.
Each person may only appear once as a speaker on the programme. Only one
proposal for presentation per person can be accepted, including also
presentations as parts of panels. Persons serving as (non-presenting)
chairs are not affected by this rule.
Proposals for papers and for panels must be submitted on-line. Please
complete the on-line form carefully and fully. For any questions please
contact the chair of the programme committee, *Prof. Lucía Díaz Marroquín
(ldiazmar@ucm.es <ldiazmar@ucm.es>), or myself (m.v.d.poel@let.ru.nl
<m.v.d.poel@let.ru.nl>).* Please note that submitting a paper implies
making the commitment to attend the conference if your paper is accepted.
Guidelines for the preparation of proposals are provided at the bottom of
this message. The length of the abstracts must not exceed 300 words.
*Deadline for Proposals*
The deadline for the submission of proposals is *15 May 2020*.
The submission website will be open for submission by *February 2020*. An
alert will appear on the ISHR website and in your mailbox.
Notifications of acceptance will be sent out by September 2020. For
participants who require an earlier acceptance date in order to secure
funding, we will try to accommodate their requests if they are made with
appropriate documentation.
Information about the Conference, including hotel accommodation, will be
provided at the beginning of the academic year 2020-2021. The conference
registration fee is still to be determined, but the Nijmegen organizers
will endeavor to ensure that this is kept as low as possible. Graduate
students and scholars from underrepresented countries pay reduced
registration fees and may be eligible for travel grants. *Click HERE to
apply.
<https://urldefense.proofpoint
I am very much looking forward to welcoming you to Nijmegen in 2021!!!
Marc van der Poel,
*President of the International Society for the History of Rhetoric*
*Guidelines for the preparation of proposals*:
The members of ISHR come from many countries and academic disciplines. The
following guidelines are intended to make it easier for us to come together
and understand one another’s proposals. The Program Committee recommends
that all proposals contain:
1. a definition – accessible to a non-specialist – of the field of the
proposal, including its chronological period, language, texts and other
sources;
2. a statement of the specific problem that will be treated in your
paper; its place in relation to the present state of research in the
general field under consideration; and its significance for the history of
rhetoric;
3. a summary of the stages of argumentation involved in addressing the
problem; and
4. conclusions and advances in research.
International Society for the History of Rhetoric
<https://associationdatabase.c
International Society for the History of Rhetoric
<https://associationdatabase.c
*The Twenty-Third Biennial Conference of the International Society for the
History of Rhetoric (ISHR) Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands
July 27-31, 2021*
The Biennial Conference of ISHR brings together several hundred specialists
in the history of rhetoric from around thirty countries.
*Scholarly Focus of the Conference*
The Society calls for twenty-minute conference papers focusing on
historical aspects of the theory and practice of rhetoric. This year’s
specific conference theme or focus is “Topics and Commonplaces in Antiquity
and Beyond.”
Topical invention originated in ancient Greece and was developed and used
throughout the western intellectual tradition as a systematized method of
finding arguments to discuss abstract, philosophical questions, as well as
specific questions determined by circumstances of time and space.
Commonplaces are part of topical invention. They reflect commonly accepted
views and ideas such as the benefits of peace vs. the harm caused by war,
and can be geared to provide arguments which confirm, suggest, or create
consensus. Studying topics and their application from a historical
perspective thus highlights how persuasive texts reflect and contribute to
the shaping of the intellectual and sociocultural contexts in which they
are situated. We invite papers on the theory and practice of topics in all
regions, periods and cultures. But of course we also welcome papers on both
the theory and the practice of rhetoric in all periods and languages, and
on its relationships with poetics, philosophy, politics, religion, law, and
other aspects of the cultural context.
*Procedure for Submission*
Proposals are invited for 20-minute presentations delivered in one of the
six languages of the Society, viz. English, French, German, Italian, Latin
and Spanish. The Society also welcomes panel proposals consisting of three
or four speakers dealing with a common theme, so as to form a coherent set
of papers. The chair of the proposed panel may also be one of the speakers.
Each speaker in a panel should submit a proposal form for his or her own
paper, clearly specifying the panel to which it pertains. In addition, the
panel organizer is expected to complete and submit a separate form
explaining the purpose of the proposed panel and naming the participants.
Please note that proposals for panel papers will be considered on their
individual merits by the Programme Committee, and there is no guarantee
that all papers proposed for a panel will be accepted.
Each person may only appear once as a speaker on the programme. Only one
proposal for presentation per person can be accepted, including also
presentations as parts of panels. Persons serving as (non-presenting)
chairs are not affected by this rule.
Proposals for papers and for panels must be submitted on-line. Please
complete the on-line form carefully and fully. For any questions please
contact the chair of the programme committee, *Prof. Lucía Díaz Marroquín
(ldiazmar@ucm.es <ldiazmar@ucm.es>), or myself (m.v.d.poel@let.ru.nl
<m.v.d.poel@let.ru.nl>).* Please note that submitting a paper implies
making the commitment to attend the conference if your paper is accepted.
Guidelines for the preparation of proposals are provided at the bottom of
this message. The length of the abstracts must not exceed 300 words.
*Deadline for Proposals*
The deadline for the submission of proposals is *15 May 2020*.
The submission website will be open for submission by *February 2020*. An
alert will appear on the ISHR website and in your mailbox.
Notifications of acceptance will be sent out by September 2020. For
participants who require an earlier acceptance date in order to secure
funding, we will try to accommodate their requests if they are made with
appropriate documentation.
Information about the Conference, including hotel accommodation, will be
provided at the beginning of the academic year 2020-2021. The conference
registration fee is still to be determined, but the Nijmegen organizers
will endeavor to ensure that this is kept as low as possible. Graduate
students and scholars from underrepresented countries pay reduced
registration fees and may be eligible for travel grants. *Click HERE to
apply.
<https://urldefense.proofpoint
I am very much looking forward to welcoming you to Nijmegen in 2021!!!
Marc van der Poel,
*President of the International Society for the History of Rhetoric*
*Guidelines for the preparation of proposals*:
The members of ISHR come from many countries and academic disciplines. The
following guidelines are intended to make it easier for us to come together
and understand one another’s proposals. The Program Committee recommends
that all proposals contain:
1. a definition – accessible to a non-specialist – of the field of the
proposal, including its chronological period, language, texts and other
sources;
2. a statement of the specific problem that will be treated in your
paper; its place in relation to the present state of research in the
general field under consideration; and its significance for the history of
rhetoric;
3. a summary of the stages of argumentation involved in addressing the
problem; and
4. conclusions and advances in research.
International Society for the History of Rhetoric
<https://associationdatabase.c
International Society for the History of Rhetoric
<https://associationdatabase.c
Monday, January 6, 2020
41st Annual Medieval and Renaissance Forum:
Scent and Fragrance in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance
Keene State College
Keene, NH, USA
Friday and Saturday April 17-18, 2020
Call for Papers and Sessions
We are delighted to announce that the 41st Medieval and Renaissance
Forum: Scent and Fragrance in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance will
take place on Friday, April 17 and Saturday April 18, 2020 at Keene
State College in Keene, New Hampshire.
We welcome abstracts (one page or less) or panel proposals that
discuss smell and fragrance in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
Papers and sessions, however, need not be confined to this theme but
may cover other aspects of medieval and Renaissance life, literature,
languages, art, philosophy, theology, history, and music.
This year’s keynote speaker is Deirdre Larkin, Managing Horticulturist
at The Cloisters Museum and Gardens from 2007 to 2013, who will speak
on “Every Fragrant Herb: The Medieval Garden and the Gardens of The
Cloisters.”
Deirdre Larkin is a horticulturist and historian of plants and
gardens. She holds an MA in the history of religions from Princeton
University and received her horticultural training at the New York
Botanical Garden. She was associated with the Gardens of The Cloisters
for more than twenty years and was responsible for all aspects of
their development, design, and interpretation. Ms. Larkin was the
originator of and principal contributor to the Medieval Garden
Enclosed blog, published on the MMA website from 2008 through 2013.
Ms. Larkin lectures frequently for museums, historical societies, and
horticultural organizations. In 2017, she was a Mellon Visiting
Scholar at the Humanities Institute of the New York Botanical Garden,
where she researched the fortunes and reputations of medieval European
plants now naturalized in North America. Her gardens in upstate New
York serve as a laboratory for further investigations in the field.
Students, faculty, and independent scholars are welcome. Please
indicate your status (undergraduate, graduate, or faculty),
affiliation (if relevant), and full contact information (including
email address) on your proposal.
For the first time this year, all graduate students will be eligible
for consideration for the South Wind Graduate Student Paper Award. The
winner of the South Wind Graduate Student Paper Award will be
announced at lunch on Friday, April 17, 2020.
We welcome undergraduate sessions, but ask that students obtain a
faculty member's approval and sponsorship.
Please submit abstracts, audio/visual needs, and full contact
information to Dr. Robert G. Sullivan, Assistant Forum Director at
sullivan@german.umass.edu.
Abstract deadline: January 15, 2020
Presenters and early registration: March 15, 2020
As always, we look forward to greeting returning and first-time
participants to Keene in April!
Scent and Fragrance in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance
Keene State College
Keene, NH, USA
Friday and Saturday April 17-18, 2020
Call for Papers and Sessions
We are delighted to announce that the 41st Medieval and Renaissance
Forum: Scent and Fragrance in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance will
take place on Friday, April 17 and Saturday April 18, 2020 at Keene
State College in Keene, New Hampshire.
We welcome abstracts (one page or less) or panel proposals that
discuss smell and fragrance in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
Papers and sessions, however, need not be confined to this theme but
may cover other aspects of medieval and Renaissance life, literature,
languages, art, philosophy, theology, history, and music.
This year’s keynote speaker is Deirdre Larkin, Managing Horticulturist
at The Cloisters Museum and Gardens from 2007 to 2013, who will speak
on “Every Fragrant Herb: The Medieval Garden and the Gardens of The
Cloisters.”
Deirdre Larkin is a horticulturist and historian of plants and
gardens. She holds an MA in the history of religions from Princeton
University and received her horticultural training at the New York
Botanical Garden. She was associated with the Gardens of The Cloisters
for more than twenty years and was responsible for all aspects of
their development, design, and interpretation. Ms. Larkin was the
originator of and principal contributor to the Medieval Garden
Enclosed blog, published on the MMA website from 2008 through 2013.
Ms. Larkin lectures frequently for museums, historical societies, and
horticultural organizations. In 2017, she was a Mellon Visiting
Scholar at the Humanities Institute of the New York Botanical Garden,
where she researched the fortunes and reputations of medieval European
plants now naturalized in North America. Her gardens in upstate New
York serve as a laboratory for further investigations in the field.
Students, faculty, and independent scholars are welcome. Please
indicate your status (undergraduate, graduate, or faculty),
affiliation (if relevant), and full contact information (including
email address) on your proposal.
For the first time this year, all graduate students will be eligible
for consideration for the South Wind Graduate Student Paper Award. The
winner of the South Wind Graduate Student Paper Award will be
announced at lunch on Friday, April 17, 2020.
We welcome undergraduate sessions, but ask that students obtain a
faculty member's approval and sponsorship.
Please submit abstracts, audio/visual needs, and full contact
information to Dr. Robert G. Sullivan, Assistant Forum Director at
sullivan@german.umass.edu.
Abstract deadline: January 15, 2020
Presenters and early registration: March 15, 2020
As always, we look forward to greeting returning and first-time
participants to Keene in April!
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