Workshop on Medieval Manuscripts hosted by the Departments of French and Italian and Classics - Literary Materiality in the Middle Ages: How did it really work?

Workshop on Medieval Manuscripts hosted by the Departments of French and Italian and Classics: Literary Materiality in the Middle Ages: How did it really work? 

Joint Summer School - University of Zurich and The Ohio State University

May 15-18, 2023

The Department of Classics with the collaboration of the University of Zurich will host a workshop on the materiality of medieval manuscripts from May 15-18, 2023. The workshop focuses on how texts were actually written and transmitted in Latin and vernacular manuscripts and features talks by Frank T. Coulson on script, Anna A. Grotans on vernacular manuscripts, Sarah-Grace Heller on Fashion and Clothing in manuscripts, and talks from faculty of Romance Languages and Classics from the University of Zurich.  Please contact Professor Coulson (coulson.1@osu.edu) for further details.

​​​​​​​Topic 

One recurring question that arises when one is confronted with premodern textual culture is "'How did this really work?", i.e. what were the material conditions in which these texts were produced, received, and transmitted? How did the audience have access to the texts: through listening, reading, or even watching a performance? The present Summer School addresses some of the major issues regarding reading and writing in a manuscript culture, both in Latin and in the vernacular. Furthermore, it deals with medieval material culture as reflected in texts. Clothing and armor are a good examples of the problems with which scholars are confronted, since the vocabulary and the reality to which it refers have changed considerably over the centuries. Within the scope of the Summer School, introductory lectures will alternate with practical exercises. The evenings are reserved for the discussion of problems that the participants have encountered in their work. The event also offers the possibility for young scholars to meet with academics from both European and North American traditions.
 

Monday, May 15th - Writing, Reading, Listening 

Morning lntroductory Lectures:

• Manuscript Culture, The Script (Prof. Frank Coulson, OSU)
• Manuscript Culture, The Codex (Prof. Carmen Cardelle de Hartmann, UZH)

Afternoon Practical Exercises:

• Describing a Codex (the students will split into five groups supervised by Prof. Carmen Cardelle de Hartmann (UZH), Dr. Lisa Ciccone (UZH), Prof. Frank Coulson (OSU), Prof. Anna Grotans (OSU), Prof. Richard Trachsler (UZH)

Evening:

• Presentation and discussion of case studies from the participants' research.
   

Tuesday, May 16th - Performing Literature

Morning lntroductory Lectures:

• Reading and Commenting on the Authors (Prof. Anna  Grotans, OSU)
• Performing Vernacular Literature (Prof. Richard Trachsler, UZH; Dr. Marco Veneziale, UZH)

Afternoon Practical Exercises:

• Tracking Orality in Manuscripts (student will select the most relevant Workshop for them): Germanic Languages (Prof. Anna Grotans, OSU) - Romance Languages (Prof. Richard Trachsler, UZH) - Latin (Prof. Carmen Cardelle de Hartmann, UZH; Dr. Lisa Ciccone, UZH; Prof. Frank Coulson, OSU) 

Evening:

• Presentation and discussion of studies from the participants' research.

Wednesday, May 17th - Fashion 

Morning lntroductory Lectures:

• Fashion Theory (Prof. Sarah-Grace Heller, OSU)
• Workshop: Talking about Fashion in Literary Texts

Afternoon Workshop:

• Writing an Academic Essay (Prof. Sarah-Grace Heller, OSU)

Thursday, May 18th - Heraldry

Morning Lecture/Workshop:

• Heraldry and Armory (Prof. Richard Trachsler, UZH) 
• Workshop: Describing and Inventing Arms (Prof. Richard Trachsler, UZH)
   

Conclusion/Departure