tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21165575.post2154605200316365821..comments2024-03-10T20:46:19.274-04:00Comments on In the Middle: The Medieval Supernatural [Course Syllabus]Cord J. Whitakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06224143153295429986noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21165575.post-25315588527240387872012-08-30T22:20:08.886-04:002012-08-30T22:20:08.886-04:00This looks like a wonderful course and the reading...This looks like a wonderful course and the reading list (at least secondary) could become huge. Especially if you go from the Medieval towards the Modern.<br />H.P. Lovecraft really "spooked" me out about 40 years ago (but he's a course in himself) as did the writings of Arthur Machen: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/389<br />And no reading list on the supernatural would be complete without a mention of The Fairy-Faith in Celtic Countries<br />by W. Y. Evans-Wentz:<br />http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/ffcc/index.htm<br />The mythographer Marina Warner ( whom you do have on your reading list) has another that should be mentioned:<br />No Go the Bogeyman: Scaring, Lulling, and Making Mock <br />"She explores the darker, wilder realm where ogres and giants devour children, where bogeymen haunt the night and each of us must face our bugaboos. No Go the Bogeyman considers the enduring presence and popularity of figures of male terror, establishing their origins in mythology and their current relation to ideas about sexuality and power, youth and age." (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/365908.No_Go_the_Bogeyman)<br />Love the syllabus and this growing list in the comments...your grad students should love this course.<br /><br />JimJim Strachannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21165575.post-64830030126008115642012-08-29T21:46:29.492-04:002012-08-29T21:46:29.492-04:00Farah Mendelsohn's Rhetorics of Fantasy, mostl...Farah Mendelsohn's <i>Rhetorics of Fantasy</i>, mostly for her thoughtful discussion of how the reader, author, and characters work together to engage the fantastic in different modes. Also possibly the first couple chapters of her <i>Short History of Fantasy</i>, plus the final chapter, when she and Edward James discuss the medieval fantastic, and then speculate about where fantasy's going in the future.<br /><br />Also perhaps M. Keith Booker's <i>Red, White, and Spooked: The Supernatural in American Culture</i> for reasons why America is so fascinated with the super-human, and the post-apocalyptic.<br /><br />I just taught a fantasy fiction course over at UCR--not quite the same as the supernatural--but we ended with China Mieville's short story "Familiar", and the students had some really interesting things to say about the deconstruction of gender, posthuman/inhuman/nonhuman heroes, the New Weird, and the power of language.Kristinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07958323486427668466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21165575.post-81224464661806416552012-08-29T12:25:49.742-04:002012-08-29T12:25:49.742-04:00The course sounds very cool - wish I had such thin...The course sounds very cool - wish I had such things on offer when I did my Medieval Studies course (about 20 years ago now!) I agree with you about a definition of the supernatural. Coincidentally I have just finished the first draft of a short story about the problem of placing it within fantasy or horror genres - several of my books tend to cover supernatural/occult things such as werewolves, necromancy, ghosts etc, but I don't think of them as horror, but rather as fantasy. Hopefully I'll have time to read through some of your curriculum notes in more detail and also some of your suggested readings. I have found Robert Bartlett's books very useful in the past, but I want to check out some of the others on your bibliography too.<br /><br />And if you don't mind I'm going to post a link to your post on my blog to remind me and others to visit it to get some good reading lists - in the comments as well as in your original post.Mark Lordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12108251848572830250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21165575.post-19778210583861134342012-08-29T10:20:41.974-04:002012-08-29T10:20:41.974-04:00Great syllabus, Eileen. I second the recommendatio...Great syllabus, Eileen. I second the recommendation of Daston & Park _Wonders and the Order of Nature_. And I'd add Bynum's article "Wonder" in the AHR, and Daston's article in Critical Inquiry, "Marvelous Facts and Miraculous Evidence in the Early Modern Period." I've also taught several versions of a course on medieval magic, and would be happy to send the syllabus to anyone who wants it. Respond off-list to etruitt@brynmawr.eduE. R. Truitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07608158637568836338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21165575.post-37182822842278417162012-08-29T09:06:18.643-04:002012-08-29T09:06:18.643-04:00I arrived at a not to dissimilar set of questions ...I arrived at a not to dissimilar set of questions after reading James I.V's demonology (as Jamie also seemed to be wondering here as well). Was looking specifically about repetition theft and disguise relating to Brownies and wild man but a careful chew through demonology with Jamie the Saxth sitting on my shoulder widened the question. <br /><br />Raised in particular questions relating to the fairy realm, supernatural, monsters etc.(pretty much what you covered).<br /><br />Later reading of Robert Kirks Secret Commonwealth of Elves Fauns and Fairies confirmed my inclinations to ignore historical boundaries.<br /><br />Micheal Hunters "The Occult laboratory: Magic Science and Second Sight in Late Seventeenth-Century Scotland<br /><br />Lawrence Normand and Gareth Roberts, Witchcraft in Early Modern Scotland: James V.I's Demonology and the North Berwick Witches<br /><br />Both late but both are a seriously excellent collection of sources, were central to me in not abandoning my interest and undergrad background in medieval History and simply moving to look at a later period in isolation. Series of sources that stand at an interesting moment. Allow you to move back, forwards up to clear blue sky's or downwards.<br /><br /><br /><br />Jebnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21165575.post-20923259687300426012012-08-28T12:33:50.831-04:002012-08-28T12:33:50.831-04:00Eileen, you know I love the look of this. For Man...Eileen, you know I love the look of this. For Mandeville, I'd suggest that you swap out the Penguin (cheep, I know, but the intro is massively problematic -- I have a new essay under review now that deals with why, if you are interested. Mostly to do with anti-Semitism, but also with notions of certitude, more generally). There are two much better versions available now, by Anthony Bale and by I.M. Higgins:<br /><br />http://ukcatalogue.oup.com/product/9780199600601.do<br /><br />and <br /><br />http://www.amazon.com/Book-John-Mandeville-Related-Texts/dp/0872209350.<br /><br />What about one of the texts on Wonder? I think that Bynum's, for ex., is interesting (though I don't agree with all of it).<br /><br />I was rather underwhelmed by Neverwhere (great idea, halfhearted execution, I thought: http://profmittmanreads.blogspot.com/2010/06/neverwhere-neil-gaiman.html). What is your plan for it? Seems that there are much more rich novels about the interface of the natural and supernatural out there. I'm always touting Sinisalo's Troll, as you've probably heard me do at some point (http://profmittmanreads.blogspot.com/2011/03/johanna-sinisalo-troll-love-story.html).<br /><br />I'd enroll!<br />Best,<br />AsaASMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11435943511202521086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21165575.post-11544665986973892652012-08-28T12:16:50.078-04:002012-08-28T12:16:50.078-04:00DITTO what Karl said! [eileenajoy@gmail.com]DITTO what Karl said! [eileenajoy@gmail.com]Eileen Joyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756965845120441308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21165575.post-24572946714735207752012-08-28T11:08:39.348-04:002012-08-28T11:08:39.348-04:00anon, could you send me the syllabus? Would be use...anon, could you send me the syllabus? Would be useful to share with my independent study student.medievalkarlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12440542200843836794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21165575.post-85883102345151770592012-08-28T11:06:35.341-04:002012-08-28T11:06:35.341-04:00I would love to take this course, and all of the s...I would love to take this course, and all of the suggestions above. I love to learn about things like that, especially supernatural, medieval, and medical practices, and death rites from ages past. You all are amazing for offering these to students instead of just laughing and dismissing the subject as though it can't teach us anything about the future and is uninteresting. I am going to find as many of the books as I can listed here, thanks! siredbyspikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10957353271553828714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21165575.post-16847702811665210342012-08-28T10:24:24.869-04:002012-08-28T10:24:24.869-04:00https://www.stanford.edu/dept/anthropology/cgi-bin...https://www.stanford.edu/dept/anthropology/cgi-bin/web/?q=system/files/lurmann_metakinesisfinal.pdf<br /><br />-dmfAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21165575.post-28695324201264293842012-08-28T10:19:00.986-04:002012-08-28T10:19:00.986-04:00I would second many of the recommendations above (...I would second many of the recommendations above (esp. Kieckhefer), and add Jane Bennett's The Enchantment of Modern Life and Park and Daston's Wonders and the Order of Nature as other possibilities. I am teaching a course this fall on medieval magic and would be happy to share the full syllabus if you're interested, Eileen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21165575.post-71933362240692861212012-08-28T09:20:26.826-04:002012-08-28T09:20:26.826-04:00Thanks for all of these suggestions, guy! Keep ...Thanks for all of these suggestions, guy! Keep 'em coming.Eileen Joyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756965845120441308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21165575.post-66528088292120581972012-08-27T22:46:42.080-04:002012-08-27T22:46:42.080-04:00Very cool, Eileen.
I might add a few anthologies ...Very cool, Eileen.<br /><br />I might add a few anthologies and secondary readings:<br /><br />Andrew Joynes, ed. _Medieval Ghost Stories: An Anthology of Miracles, Marvels and Prodigies_ (Boydell, 2006).<br /><br />Have you considered any of the Joan of Arc trial materials? See for instance _Karen Sullivan, The Interrogation of Joan of Arc_ (U Minnesota P, 1999).<br /><br />This study of healing stories (surrounding the shrine of Thomas Beckett) is more of a historicist work rather than about fantasy/speculative fiction per se, but it might be worth a look: _Rachel Koopmans, Wonderful to Relate: Miracle Stories and Miracle Collecting in High Medieval England_ (U Pennsylania P, 2010).Jonathan Hsynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21165575.post-38036739051809965912012-08-27T21:46:41.677-04:002012-08-27T21:46:41.677-04:00Perhaps of interest to your kids:
[from feminae, ...Perhaps of interest to your kids:<br /><br />[from feminae, medieval women and gender index] <br />9. Record Number: 13628<br />Author(s): Rider, Catherine.<br />Contributor(s):<br />Title : Between Theology and Popular Practice: Medieval Canonists on Magic and Impotence [The author argues that canon lawyers in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries created a set of rules to deal with impotence. Their writings indicate that they knew about lay magical practices. Some canonists urged those who were bewitched to seek magical cures. Title note supplied by Feminae.].<br />Source: Boundaries of the Law: Geography, Gender, and Jurisdiction in Medieval and Early Modern Europe. Edited by Anthony Musson . Ashgate, 2005. English Historical Review , 121., 491 (April 2006): Pages 53 - 66.<br />Year of Publication: 2005.<br /><br />Possessed, mad, or crossdresser? Maybe Jeanne d'Arc fits. <br /><br /><br />Bernard Gui's Inquisitor's manual may have some fun nuggets. <br /><br />The Malleus malefacorum seems it could work and be wackadoodle.<br /><br />The Cantigas de Nuestra Senora by Alfonso X, Alfonso the Wise have weird tales: a nun gets pregnant but when the archbishop arrives she can lift her skirts and show her tight belly because the Virgin has taken the baby away.<br /><br />I was just reading, or looking at the pics from, tacuinum sanitatis by ibn butlan. talking while you sleep, making herb broths, having sex well and healthily, cutting basil. etcc.VMWRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00999012186835821759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21165575.post-44271558041701266212012-08-27T17:47:17.939-04:002012-08-27T17:47:17.939-04:00Eileen, awesome. Fortuitously I just had a student...Eileen, awesome. Fortuitously I just had a student pitch to me an independent study on medieval magic. I pulled up a bunch of sources for him, which I will share with you, since I imagine this might be a subject that at least one of your students might want to look into.<br /><br />So -- here's the email, I sent after our meeting today, more or less unedited:<br /><br />a variety of texts to have some fun with -- Lynn Thorndike is the first major English language scholar -- http://archive.org/stream/historyofmagicex02thor#page/n7/mode/2up<br />but there's also MR James (famous for ghost stories, but also as a medieval scholar of magic and such things)<br /><br />Walter Map<br />Gervase of Tilbury<br />(classic texts for wonders)<br />[and to this I would add Caesarius of Heisterbach Dialogue of Miracles, which I think is available in English, in order to initiate a discussion of the fuzzy distinction between the supernatural and the miraculous) <br />Jean-Claude Schmitt Ghosts (possible source for theophilus legend)<br />werewolves -- Metamorphoses of the werewolf : a literary study from antiquity through the Renaissance<br />by Leslie A Sconduto<br /><br />Women's secrets : a translation of Pseudo-Albertus Magnus's De secretis mulierum with commentaries<br />by Albertus Magnus, helgen; Helen Rodnite Lemay. Albany, N.Y. State University of New York Press ©1992<br />and have a look at<br />http://www.inthemedievalmiddle.com/2012/04/beware-fireflies-and-corpse-candles.html<br /><br />Magic in the Middle Ages<br />by Richard Kieckhefer<br />(look for other books)<br /><br />Magic and superstition in Europe : a concise history from antiquity to the present<br />by Michael David Baileymedievalkarlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12440542200843836794noreply@blogger.com