International Congress on Medieval Studies

The International Congress on Medieval Studies is an annual academic conference held for scholars specializing in, or with an interest in, medieval studies. It is sponsored by Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan and is held during the first weekend of May. The Congress is the largest annual gathering in the field, regularly attracting over three thousand registered participants. [cite news | first = Kristen | last = Shamus | title = Education in every direction| publisher = Detroit Free Press| date = 2007-06-03] [cite news | first = Meehan | last = Chris | title = Medievalists make annual Kalamazoo pilgrimage | publisher = Kalamazoo Gazette | date = 2006-05-03] The most recent one took place May 8-11, 2008.

History

In 1962, the newly-established Institute for Medieval Studies at Western Michigan University organized a biennial gathering known as the Conference on Medieval Studies. By 1970, participation had grown significantly and the gathering was made an annual affair. Unusual for the time, the organizers issued calls for papers which were open to all in the field who were interested, including graduate students (see Scope and Participation, below).cite web| url = http://www.wmich.edu/medieval/about-us/history.html | accessdate = 2007-06-18 | title = A Brief History of the Medieval Institute | publisher = Western Michigan University]

In 1973, the Institute for Cistercian Studies was established at Western Michigan, and began to hold its annual Cistercian Studies Conference as a sub-set of the International Congress on Medieval Studies.

The Medieval Academy of America has held its annual meetings at the Congress in 1974 and 1982. [cite web| url = http://www.medievalacademy.org/annualmeetings/annualmeetingpast.htm | publisher = Medieval Academy of America | accessdate = 2007-06-18 | title = Medieval Academy of America Past Annual Meetings] . The Academy began sponsoring a plenary session in 1992 and maintains a committee for this purpose. [cite web| url = http://www.medievalacademy.org/committees/committee_kalamazoo.htm | publisher = Medieval Academy of America | accessdate = 2007-06-18 | title = Medieval Academy of America Kalamazoo Program Committee ]

Structure

The Congress is typically held during the first week of May, and runs from Thursday morning through Sunday afternoon. [ cite web | url = http://www.wmich.edu/medieval/congress/ | title = International Congress on Medieval Studies | accessdate = 2007-06-14 | work = Medieval Institute | publisher = Western Michigan University] Most events are held on the West Campus of Western Michigan University.

An [http://www.wmich.edu/medieval/Assets/pdf/congress/Thurs07.pdf excerpt] from the schedule of the 42nd International Congress on Medieval studies, held in May 2007, illustrates the structure and events of the Congress as described below.

Sessions

Sessions form the bulk of the activity at the Congress. cite web | url = http://www.wmich.edu/medieval/Assets/pdf/congress/Thurs07.pdf | format = PDF | accessdate = 2007-06-14 | title = 42nd International Congress on Medieval Studies Schedule for May 9th and 10th | publisher = Western Michigan University] There are three main types of sessions:
*The vast majority of sessions are presentations of research. These sessions typically consist of between two and four presentations given by scholars in the field who present papers or other updates on the findings of their current research. Each of these sessions is organized around a theme under which the constituent presentations fit.
*A minority of sessions are organized as roundtable discussions, in which a discussion on a predetermined topic takes place in at least a partially spontaneous manner. Short, prepared presentations are sometimes given as part of the roundtable.
*A few sessions are organized as workshops, in which attendees are active participants. These focus on the teaching and practice of new skills.

Each session has a sponsoring group. Many of the sessions are sponsored by academic associations, universities, or publishers, while others are arranged by ad-hoc groups which are interested in a particular topic. [cite web|url = http://www.wmich.edu/medieval/Assets/pdf/congress/Sponsor_Index.pdf|title = 42nd International Congress on Medieval Studies Index of Sponsoring Organizations | accessdate = 2007-06-14 | publisher = Western Michigan University | format = PDF]

Approximately six hundred sessions are held across twelve different time slots during the four days. Each session is scheduled to last ninety minutes.

Plenary Lectures

Two plenary lectures are given during the conference, at the beginning of the day on Friday and Saturday.

Exhibits Hall

The exhibits hall is open during the length of the Congress, and is composed primarily of book publishers selling their latest titles in the field of medieval studies. A minority of the hall also features handcrafts, music, and foodstuffs for sale. In 2007, approximately seventy exhibitors participated. cite web | url = http://www.wmich.edu/wmu/news/2007/05/010.html | title = More than 3,000 expected to attend medieval congress | work = WMU News | publisher = Western Michigan University | accessdate = 2007-06-14 | date = 2007-05-04]

Meetings

The Congress serves as a rare chance for international societies of medieval specialists to gather in person, and dozens of business meetings are conducted during breaks between sessions. Many groups use the opportunity to plan for their presentations later in the summer at the International Medieval Congress held at Leeds University.

Entertainment

The Congress typically features a film festival, screening movives which have a medieval setting or theme. There are also performances of medieval music and theater. [ cite web | url= http://www.wmich.edu/wmu/news/2004/0404/0304-359.html | title = Medieval congress draws scholars from around world| work = WMU News | publisher = Western Michigan University | accessdate = 2007-06-18 | date = 2004-04-29] cite web | url= http://www.wmich.edu/wmu/news/2003/0305/0203-329.html | title = Medievalists make annual pilgrimage to Kalamazoo| work = WMU News | publisher = Western Michigan University | accessdate = 2007-06-18 | date = 2003-05-02]

Some participating organizations sponsor social gatherings in the form of wine hours or open bar receptions.

Scope and Participation

The Congress is very broad in scope, being open to all topics related to the medieval period and to participants from any background. This has served to set it apart from other meetings in the field. Topics may range from discussions of mysticism, numismatics, and medieval latin, to modern medieval-themed video games, the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, and the teaching of medieval studies in the classroom.

Such being the case, participants come from a broad variety of educational backgrounds. Most are professors and graduate students, but a significant minority is composed of architects, monks, undergraduate students, fiction authors, and other independent scholars and enthusiasts. Presenters are not necessarily experts in medieval history; scholars of literature, theater, religion, and art frequently give presentations.

Criticism

There have been some complaints that the congress allows for too many papers to be given, since it makes it difficult for a participant to attend all the sessions they want to — the several hundred sessions are split among only twelve time slots. Others argue that the quality of some papers is not adequate.

Notes

ee also

*Conferences in Medieval Studies

External links

* [http://www.wmich.edu/medieval/congress/ International Congress on Medieval Studies]
* [http://www.medievalists.net/features/kalamazoo2007.htm Report on the 42nd congress, held in May 2007]