>>>CALL FOR PAPERS--GETTING MEDIEVAL ON TELEVISION <<<

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THE SOCIETY FOR THE STUDY OF POPULAR CULTURE AND THE MIDDLE AGES =
<http://PopularCultureandtheMiddleAges.org> invites proposals for 15- to =
20-minute papers on any aspect of the medieval in television programming =
to be included in sessions devoted to the topic of "Getting Medieval on =
Television" to be held at the 42nd International Congress on Medieval =
Studies, which convenes at Western Michigan University from 10-13 May =
2007. In addition, submissions will also be considered for inclusion =
in an essay collection on the same topic. For potential topics and a =
bibliographic guide to the medieval on film and television, please visit =
THE MEDIEVAL STUDIES AT THE MOVIES web site at =
<http://MedievalStudiesattheMovies.org>. =20

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Please submit abstracts of 250-500 words and complete contact =
information, by 15 September 2006, to the session organizer at the =
following address:

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Michael A. Torregrossa

34 2nd St

Smithfield, RI 02917-3627

Michael.A.Torregrossa_at_gmail.com

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SESSION RATIONALE:

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With the success of Kevin J. Harty's THE REEL MIDDLE AGES (1999), most =
medievalists and enthusiasts of the medieval period are now familiar =
with the wide variety of medieval-themed films that have been produced =
since the late nineteenth century, yet relatively few of these =
individuals know about the equally active world of medieval-themed =
television programming in existence since the 1950s. For the initiated, =
it is fascinating world, which includes animated series (GARGOYLES), =
comedies (MR. MERLIN), documentaries (TERRY JONES' CRUSADE), =
made-for-television movies (MERLIN, MISTS OF AVALON, ROBIN HOOD), =
reality programming (WARRIOR CHALLENGE), science fiction series (BABYLON =
5, DOCTOR WHO, STARGATE SG-1), and westerns (BONANZA) in addition to the =
expected action adventure and fantasy series (ADVENTURES OF SIR =
LANCELOT, CHARMED, GUINEVERE JONES, MYTHQUEST). =20

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Like film medieval-themed television has produced some disappointments, =
such as the appearance of the "B. O. Wolf" in an episode of the =
BEETLEJUICE animated series or the extraterrestrial dragons that attack =
medieval Carpathia in the telefilm DRAGONSTORM, but, also like medieval =
film, medieval television has its gems--characters Frasier Crane and =
Daphne Moon's appearance as Geoffrey Chaucer and the Wife of Bath on =
NBC's FRAISER, the BBC's CADFAEL, and Nelvana Ltds's BLAZING DRAGONS, an =
animated series co-created by Terry Jones, come most immediately to =
mind. The purpose of these panels is to let the spotlight shine =
briefly on this ephemeral cousin to medieval film and allow those who =
know these works most intimately to share them with the wider audience =
that they deserve. =20

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Received on Wed Jul 12 2006 - 16:31:21 EDT