The Medieval and Renaissance Forum, held this Friday and Saturday in PSU, has a rich history behind it. Since its conception in 1980, the Forum has garnered attentions from scholars worldwide. The Clock has reported on this prestigious conference, held yearly, since its beginning.
In 1980, the Forum took place on April 24-25. An article published in the Clock by an unnamed writer gave the basic details of the event.
“Scholars, teachers and students interested in the Middle Ages will gather… to hear some 75 scholarly papers read and participate in discussions dealing with many aspects of medieval life.
The Forum’s keynote address will be delivered by Professor Joseph O’Callaghan of Fordham University, an internationally known expert on the Middle Ages in Spain. His book, “A History of Medieval Spain” is considered the first comprehensive history of medieval Spain published in English in the last 50 years.”
This Forum was not unlike the one that Plymouth students and visitors can experience today “The two-day event will feature a medieval banquet, demonstration of medieval calligraphy, two plays, a performance of Renaissance music and a display of musical instruments of the period.
The early Music Ensemble of St. Lawrence University, which specializes in the performance of sacred and secular, vocal and instrumental music of the Middle Ages, will present an informal afternoon concert and demonstration…The ensemble will also demonstrate musical instruments from the Emily Romer Collection of Medieval Renaissance Instruments. The collection includes a hurdy-gurdy, bagpipe, vielle, rebec, pipe and tabor, nakers and bells.”
A pair of plays were also presented at this early version of the Forum, and a calligraphy demonstration was given by illuminator and cartoonist Marc Drogin from Exeter, NH.
“We have planned this forum as a gathering where teachers, scholars, and students interested in the Middle Ages can come to learn from each other,” said the article, quoting Dr. Richard M. Chisholm, coordinator of the conference at the time.
In the 1984 article “Medieval Forum Schedule Full and Interesting, another unnamed writer gave a description of the events, centered around the Spanish King Alfonso X. Alfonso X, astronomer, scholar and father of the Castilian language, was chosen as a theme because it was the 700th anniversary of his birth.
“The Plymouth State forum is expected to be the site of the reading of the largest number of scholarly papers on Alfonso X in the United States this year,” says the article, marking an interesting distinction.
“The academic program will include the presentation of over 125 scholarly papers.” This is a great leap from the 75 papers entered in the Forum of 1980.
The ninth Medieval Forum in 1988 showed the Forum growing to be an even more prestigious event. With the spread of technology, the Forum felt its influence. In the 1988 article “Ninth Medieval Forum” Kate Binder writes, “Each year the Forum brings medievalists from all over North America to listen to scholarly papers and see workshops, demonstrations and displays on topics from courly love and illuminated manuscripts to computer games with a medieval setting… There will be an ongoing demonstration of role-playing computer games with a medieval context on Friday in Rounds 104 from 9:30 a.m. to noon and from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Games which have a medieval focus, such as King’s Quest II and The Bard’s Tale, will be available on Apple computers.”
Other events of the 1988 Forum included “a workshop on Islamic geometric puzzles from designs in medieval manuscripts,” a ” demonstration of the art of illumination in all its steps,” and “the third annual medieval dance workshop.”
In 1994, the Forum continued the great traditions of the event by featuring “a series of lectures, discussions, workshops, readings, performances, and exhibitions culminating in medieval feast.” The article “Plymouth State’s Medieval Forum” says that topics of presentation included “Art History, Theater, Romance, Philosophy, Chaucer, Rome in Folktale and Elegy, Old English, History, Teaching the Middle Ages, Music, Children, Literary and Linguistic Themes, Women, Hispanic Studies, Medieval Themes – Modern Views, Religious Studies, Dante and Virgil, French Literature, Genial Comedy, Textual Criticism, Saints, The Body and the Medieval Mind, Eroticism, and Engaging the Eddas.”
The article notes Plymouth’s standing as one of the only colleges in the United States to have a degree in Medieval Studies. “Successful completion of the major requires students to focus on culture and society from the fall of the Roman Empire to the 16th century through the study of art, history, literature, music and philosophy.”
The Forum of 2001 featured Celtic harp playing, juggling and many other avenues of entertainment.
The Forum lasted from Friday through Saturday evening, and haad attractions of all sorts for people to ocheck out and participate in. This year attendees could go to different booths and tables, operated by both students and staff to see a variety of events.
One such event was a demonstration on chain mail by Allyson Cunningham and Peter May. Also, there was a table featuring Lauren Morreau, a first year student, playing Celtic harp. “On Friday at noon, the Terminal Hip Dane Co., performed Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales on stage, followed by the guest speaker, Dr. John Riddle from the University of North Carolina.
The following evening, there was a feast to close out the forum, featuring a pig roast and a mock castle, all to add atmosphere for the event. Seth Warren played trumpet to announce the serving of the courses, while there was music by PSC faculty members Rick Pfenninger and Paul Bourgelais, as well as Lauren Morreau on her Celtic harp again,” said Otto Kinzel in his article “Medieval Forum Comes to PSC”The article placed heavy emphasis on the effort that went into developing and executing the forum activities. “The entire weekend required assistance from everyone involved, and students and staff alike worked ’round the clock to make sure everything went off without a hitch. A group of people putting in long hours made the difference according to Dr. Eleanor Congdon, director of the Medieval Forum. “They gave so much time and energy; we couldn’t have done it without them,” she said.”
Despite the boasting about being one of the only universities with a Medieval Studies major, in 2005 the major was eliminated due to lack of interest. The Medieval Forum continued on, however, as did the Medieval Studies minor.
In the article “Medieval Forum is a Go; Medieval Major Cancelled Until Further Notice,” Lori Giguere explains the Medieval Studies major.
“Because Medieval studies is an Interdisciplinary major covering such a wide range of topics, from the 500’s to the mid 1600’s, classes are taught in many departments. These departments include English, Art History, Computer Sciences, History, Archaeology, Foreign Languages, and Philosophy to name a few.”Of the Forum, Giguere said, “Despite canceling the major, the Medieval Forum is still going strong. This year’s Medieval Forum took place last weekend, and included events such as a medieval feast, calligraphy courses, and medieval dance lessons.”
This year’s Forum promises to be a great one as well. Whether it’s presentations or feasting, this event is certainly a unique and fascinating one.