This session seeks to explore the intersections of embodiment and environment in the Middle Ages, considering how bodies—organic and inorganic, human and non-human, material and immaterial—constitute, shape, and envelop one another. By “naturing” bodies, we seek to erode neat divisions between humans and the natural world to uncover the earthy entanglements linking humans to the environments they shape and are shaped by. Attuning to John Scotus Eriugena’s claim that nature is the name “for all things, for those that are, and those that are not,” we invite papers that reflect on the fundamentally relational ontology of humans, non-humans, and environments.

We encourage contributions that navigate the various multiplicities of both “nature” and “bodies” to conceptualize modes of environmental thinking that probe the continuities between human bodies and bodies of nature. Such methodologies may include Ecocriticism, Ecofeminism, Indigenous studies, and Animal studies. We are especially interested in approaches from trans studies, queer theory, and queer ecology, as the natured body is often an emergent one. Such methodologies are conducive to thinking about the greater social structures, cultures, and hierarchies of our environments that we encourage in our session.

This session is sponsored by Medieval Ecocriticisms and will be held in person at the 61st International Congress of Medieval Studies. Paper abstracts of 300 words must be submitted to the ICMS proposal portal no later than September 15th, 2025. The portal can be found here: https://icms.confex.com/icms/2026/prelim.cgi/Session/7271. If you have any questions, please contact Hunter Phillips (hap48@cornell.edu) and Asher Courtemanche (ac2457@cornell.edu). 

We especially invite work by scholars interested in developing paper topics into an edited volume on the topic. Following the conference, panelists will have the oppurtunity to expand their papers into book length chapters to form the core of an edited volume for Bloomsbury's 'Ecocritical Theory and Practice Series.'