This session seeks papers that bring queer methodologies to the study of medieval visual culture. Case studies from across the medieval globe are welcome as are a broad range of approaches. Among the questions for consideration are the following: Under what circumstances does queerness become apprehensible within the visual field? What contextual factors allow it to be sensed, consciously or unconsciously? And once queerness is found to reside within the medieval artwork, does it then have some kind of agency? Instead of addressing accusations of anachronism, the papers in this session look to the past for new directions in queer scholarship. These contributions not only disrupt prevailing assumptions about the Middle Ages, but also highlight what medieval visual and material culture can teach us about more fluid or expansive perspectives on gender, sexuality, masculinity, and femininity.
Proposals for papers are due by September 15, 2023 and must be submitted through the Kalamazoo website. Go to https://icms.confex.com/icms/2024/cfp.cgi and scroll to the bottom of the page to choose “Sponsored and Special Sessions of Papers.”
Questions can be directed to Gerry Guest (geraldbguest@gmail.com). General information about the Kalamazoo conference can be found at https://wmich.edu/medievalcongress.
Medieval Art Research 