On Wed, 22 Mar 2006, REBECCA BURCH wrote: > Okay, I can't stand it anymore. Where is this lecture? Is there a > mailing list to get on for notices for things like this and the big > conference somebody mentioned in Michigan? Kalamazoo, maybe?
OK, two different things here. Second question first. The International Congress on Medieval Studies is the world's largest interdisciplinary conference on the Middle Ages. Every May, thousands of scholars and students from around the world converge on Kalamazoo, Michigan for four days and nights of sessions and events devoted to medieval studies. This includes more than 500 sessions with an average of three paper presentations each, as well as meetings, receptions, concerts, book shopping, and more. Papers and session topics cover the full range of medieval studies, with strong emphases on literature (mostly English and other European languages), history (including political history, social history, economic history, etc.), art history, music, religion, and other traditional fields of study. Four of those 500-odd sessions are sponsored by DISTAFF, a group I organized with Gale Owen-Crocker for the sole purpose of sponsoring conference sessions on medieval dress and textiles. In addition, there are often other papers and even occasional sessions elsewhere on the Congress program that have a dress and textiles focus. This year I count eight such sessions total (including the four DISTAFF sessions) plus about a dozen individual papers scattered around other sessions. Kalamazoo is an academic conference, and geared to the academic researcher. It is not a re-enactment event. However, quite a few re-enactors who are interested in scholarly research in medieval studies do go there, with the understanding that they are there as students/scholars. The conference is hard to get to and expensive, but if this is up your alley, it is a heady and rewarding experience. Further information, including the full schedule of sessions, is at the Congress website, http://www.wmich.edu/medieval/congress/ . If you are interested in going, be aware that dorm space fills up FAST and may already be full. Preregistration ends April 15; cost at the door is slightly higher. Kalamazoo has a mailing list for sending the annual call for papers and registration materials. If you're specifically interested in costume sessions, you're welcome to e-mail me privately to get on the DISTAFF e-mail announcement list, and you'll get notices of what we're doing with our sessions both at Kalamazoo and the other major medieval conference in Leeds, England. I'll also be happy to answer questions about K'zoo via direct e-mail, but be warned I probably won't write you back till next week, since I'll be away lecturing this weekend. Which brings us to your other question. As a scholar of medieval dress and textiles, I do academic research and present my findings at conferences such as Kalamazoo. I'm not affiliated with a college or university, but occasionally I also am asked to do guest lectures. And sometimes I'm asked to speak for private groups, particularly the SCA and other costuming or re-enactment organizations. For these sorts of groups, I've taken a number of my scholarly presentations and adapted them for a re-enactor/costumer audience -- more information on construction, for instance. These are the lectures people on this list are talking about when they say they've heard me speak. Sometimes I give just one or two classes as an invited speaker at an SCA "university" event. Other times, a group brings me in to do a full day of lectures. That's what I'm doing this weekend in Portland, Oregon. The webpage about the event is here: http://www.ithra.antir.sca.org/idisplay.php?topic=classes&it=5433 ...but I'm afraid it's sold out. I always announce my public appearances on this list. You can also write me privately and tell me where you're located, and I'll put you on my list of people to contact if I'm going to be speaking in your area. If your group wants to discuss to bringing me in, e-mail me directly. --Robin ========================================================== Robin Netherton Editor, Medieval Clothing and Textiles [EMAIL PROTECTED] voice: (314) 439-1222 // fax: (314) 439-1333 Life is just a bowl of queries. _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
