Redefining Nation and Nationalism: A post-nineteenth century approach for a modern Medieval Studies
updated:
Tuesday, July 4, 2017 - 5:37pm
International Congress on Medieval Studies
deadline for submissions:
Sunday, September 10, 2017
The problematic use of ideas established in nineteenth century, using medieval literature and culture, to define nascent senses of nationalism lingers over the field of Medieval Studies. The nineteenth century saw the construction of Western European national identity using, for example, texts such as the Chanson de Roland, the Nibelungenleid, and the works of Thomas Malory. However, the biography of the French national hero Charlemagne was written by the German Einhard; the German national epic is about a group of Burgundians; and King Arthur has equal ties to his Celtic and French development as he does to his Englishness.