Medieval History
Teaching off the Grid: The Promise and Perils of Using Non-Canonical Texts in the Classroom
45th International Congress on Medieval Studies
May 13-16, 2010
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI
Canonicity is an increasingly embattled concept, and the lists of what texts are considered canonical for the medieval and early modern period are constantly growing. Despite this, every medievalist and early modernist can name at least three (and probably more) interesting or important texts that are considered non-canonical. This is not surprising. However open the canon seems, it is, by nature, exclusive and necessarily omits some texts. Many texts that have long been known to exist have, for one reason or another, simply not received the study that inclusion in the canon seems to require. Recently found texts, however significant they might be, face a similar obscurity and lack of attention.
Texts that, for one reason or another, are left out of what is currently considered the canon are often promising for use in the classroom. However, practical difficulties including departmental requirements, a lack of suitable editions, and the absence of pedagogical discussion about these texts often hampers their inclusion in our classes.
This session will attempt to remedy this dearth of discussion by exploring the pedagogical issues surrounding non-canonical texts of the medieval and early modern periods. Short (10-15 min.) papers will discuss the benefits and drawbacks of teaching non-canonical texts; approaches to teaching specific non-canonical texts; what unique insights non-canonical texts offer students; student reactions to non-canonical works; what we might lose by introducing non-canonical texts into our classrooms; and other topics with a pedagogical focus. The session will attempt to avoid papers which debate the canonicity of any particular text.
Please send proposals of no more than 300 words to Gina Brandolino ([email protected]) and Nate Smith ([email protected]) by Sept. 15.
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- Two Sessions On Pedagogy
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Medieval History
CFP: Teaching off the Grid: The Promise and Perils of Using Non-Canonical Texts in the Classroom
Teaching off the Grid: The Promise and Perils of Using Non-Canonical Texts in the Classroom
45th International Congress on Medieval Studies
May 13-16, 2010
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI
Canonicity is an increasingly embattled concept, and the lists of what texts are considered canonical for the medieval and early modern period are constantly growing. Despite this, every medievalist and early modernist can name at least three (and probably more) interesting or important texts that are considered non-canonical. This is not surprising. However open the canon seems, it is, by nature, exclusive and necessarily omits some texts. Many texts that have long been known to exist have, for one reason or another, simply not received the study that inclusion in the canon seems to require. Recently found texts, however significant they might be, face a similar obscurity and lack of attention.
Texts that, for one reason or another, are left out of what is currently considered the canon are often promising for use in the classroom. However, practical difficulties including departmental requirements, a lack of suitable editions, and the absence of pedagogical discussion about these texts often hampers their inclusion in our classes.
This session will attempt to remedy this dearth of discussion by exploring the pedagogical issues surrounding non-canonical texts of the medieval and early modern periods. Short (10-15 min.) papers will discuss the benefits and drawbacks of teaching non-canonical texts; approaches to teaching specific non-canonical texts; what unique insights non-canonical texts offer students; student reactions to non-canonical works; what we might lose by introducing non-canonical texts into our classrooms; and other topics with a pedagogical focus. The session will attempt to avoid papers which debate the canonicity of any particular text.
Please send proposals of no more than 300 words to Gina Brandolino ([email protected]) and Nate Smith ([email protected]) by Sept. 15.
- Multimedia And The Middle Ages
Before introducing any new strategy in the classroom, whether it involves technology or not, I think we must always ask ourselves: what is the pedagogical imperative? After all, just because we can do something, doesn?t mean we should. So, I?ll start...
- Teaching Off The Grid: The Promise And Perils Of Using Non-canonical Texts In The Classroom
Teaching off the Grid: The Promise and Perils of Using Non-Canonical Texts in the Classroom (Roundtable discussion) The ?canon wars? of the 1980s and 90s may seem a distant memory, yet literary canonicity continues to be a vexed and embattled concept....
- Two Sessions On Pedagogy
We invite proposals for two sessions on pedagogy that focus upon teaching oral theory and/or oral tradition in courses typically taught by medievalists. Though recent scholarship in the field of oral theory has made enormous strides in articulating the...
- Early Middle English Society
The Early Middle English Society, which seeks to promote the study and scholarly discussion of English literary and cultural production from the late twelfth century to the mid-fourteenth century, is sponsoring two sessions at the seventeenth International...
- The Hispanic Seminary Of Medieval Studies Cfp
Call for Papers 44th International Congress on Medieval Studies Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan, U.S.A. 7-10 May, 2009 The Hispanic Seminary of Medieval Studies is sponsoring the following two sessions at the 44th International Congress...