Borderlines XXI, Authority in the Medieval and Early Modern World, University College, Cork, 14th-16th April, 2017

We are pleased to announce the call for papers for Borderlines XXI: Authority in the Medieval and Early Modern World. This conference will be held in University College Cork, 14th-16th April 2017. Proposals for both papers and panels are welcomed from postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers in the fields of both Medieval and Early Modern studies.

This conference will explore the concept of authority in both the Medieval and Early Modern periods. As Sir Philip Sidney has said, ‘there is nothing sooner overthrows a weak head than opinion by authority, like too strong a liquor for a frail glass’ (Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney). Much like today’s society, authority and resistance to authority can be found in all aspects of Medieval and Early Modern societies, such as the religious, political, social, and the literary.

Borderlines XXI invites papers that address the social, historical, literary, religious and cultural significance of these roles. We welcome papers from researchers in the fields of Anthropology, Archaeology, Codicology, Drama, Digital Humanities, Folklore, History, History of Art, Geography, Languages, Literature, Music, Palaeography, Philosophy and Theology. Topics may include (but are not limited to):

Political and/or religious authority
Literary authority
Authority of the book
Gendered authority
Lack of authority
Translation of authority
Class/Societal authority
Rejection of authority
Liminal figures/places
Authority as autonomy
Structures of authority
Development of authority through the ages
Depictions of authority in art

Abstracts of 250 words for a 20-minute paper and a short biography are welcomed from postgraduates and early career researchers (MA, PhD and Postdoctural students), as are proposals for panels, and should be submitted by Friday 3rd February 2017 to borderlinesXXI@gmail.com.