Flyer for "University of Bristol Centre for Medieval Studies PGR Conference ‘Power and Performance"
The University of Bristol Centre for Medieval Studies is delighted to announce its call for papers for our annual medieval PGR conference, which will be held in-person on 30th March - 1st April 2026. This year, we invite proposals for papers and posters which engage with the theme of ‘Power and Performance’. We are especially interested in how people in the Middle Ages perceived, interacted with, and responded to the ideas of power and/or performance. Consideration of how the two topics intersect with one another is also encouraged.
Possible fields and topics may include, but are not limited to: How power relations shaped different aspects of medieval life (socio-cultural, historic, legal, literary, economic, religious etc.). How power relations and other key ideas were performed (on stage, in visual arts, in literary texts or music, and in material culture at large). The substance and significance of performance throughout the medieval world. Power in history (State, Church, battlefield, etc.) and of history (reception studies, the classical world in medieval thought, medievalism etc.). Religious influence(s), church ritual, and forms of devotion. Medieval law and legal enforcement. Power relations in literary texts. Linguistic power and/or performance. Geographies of power. Gender and sexuality. Literal and symbolic power. Authority and vulnerability. Disability studies. Court ritual and behaviour. Perception and composition of power. Medievalism and media. Creation and material studies.Instruction and adaptation.
We welcome papers from postgraduate researchers, Master’s students, early career researchers and independent scholars. Papers will be 20 minutes long, and we warmly welcome poster presentations. Poster proposals and paper abstracts should not exceed 300 words. Deadline for abstracts is Friday 16 January at 17:00.
⚠️ Important news! The deadline for the submission of abstracts is now Friday 16th of January at 17:00 GMT!
We know that the winter break is barely behind us, and want to give everyone a bit more time to write. Send all proposals and enquiries to cms-conference-enquiries@bristol.ac.uk
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