GW MEMSI spring semester events

by J J Cohen

If you live near DC, or are seeking an excuse to travel to the epicenter of political dysfunction, please join the GW Medieval and Early Modern Studies Institute at our spring events.

Should you possess a time machine, we'd highly recommend that you utilize the mechanism to attend Drew Daniel's presentation on January 28. His paper on political theology and sovereign marriage was terrific.

On February 11 Maghan Keita will join us for a conversation on two precirculated essays that examine medieval and early modern race. Keita is a historian of contemporary Africa who has been conducting recent research in a much earlier time period. I blogged about one of his journal essays (on the African presence in Malory) some time back.

On Thursday 2/24 at 4 PM, we will have a book launch celebration for Gil Harris (George Washington University) and Madhavi Menon (American University). Gil's excellent book Shakespeare and Literary Theory was recently published by Oxford, and Madhavi's fabulous edited collection Shakesqueer (containing pieces by many scholars familiar to ITM readers) was just released by Duke. The celebration takes place in the English Department seminar room, Academic Center 771 (801 22nd St NW).


March 11 and 12 is our paradigm altering and cataclysmic conference Animal, Vegetable, Mineral: Ethics and Objects in the Early Modern and Medieval Periods. Registration is limited to 50 and does require a fee to offset room rentals and catering. Most of the Friday events, including Jane Bennett's plenary, are free and welcome all who wish to attend; no registration necessary for those.


Friday April 1 at 9 AM is a breakfast seminar with Suzanne Miller, who this year joined the history department of the George Washington University. Her essay "Christiano non dicam rectore sed fidei perversore: Episcopal Resistance to Outside Rule in the North Adriatic and in Europe, c. 1100-1350" will be pre-circulated two weeks in advance.

Finally, you don't have to come to Washington to behold MEMSI in furious action. You can also travel to Kalamazoo, MI. We are sponsoring a glamorous roundtable there on -- what else? -- Objects, Networks and Materiality.

A complete calendar can always be found on the MEMSI blog. And, as always, if you are very rich and have grown weary of wasting your hoarded wealth on jets, champagne, and golden trinkets, MEMSI is always in search of assets.