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International Medieval Congress to look at pleasure in the Middle Ages

The world’s medievalists are at the University of Leeds as the 20th annual International Medieval Congress begins tomorrow.

Medieval pleasures - photo courtesy University of Leeds

This year, the Congress will focus on the theme of pleasure and around 2,000 delegates will examine all aspects of medieval studies at the event, which culminates in the creation of a Medieval Village in the centre of the University.

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The Congress, organised by the Institute for Medieval Studies, is the biggest academic event of its kind in the UK and the largest medieval-themed academic conference in Europe. It runs from June 30th to July 4th.

According to Axel Muller, Director of the Congress, “Experts from around the world will discuss everything from the pleasure of food, music and literature to sex and spirituality. Although it was many hundreds of years ago, we can learn a lot from this period that is relevant to today’s society.”

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The International Medieval Congress, bringing significant investment and tourism to Leeds, has a comprehensive programme of lectures for visitors, as well as several public events including musical performances, food workshops and a lecture on the recent discovery of the skeleton of Richard III in Leicester by the team who found it.

The Medieval Village in University Square on Thursday 4 July will feature a range of activities including historical craft demonstrations such as chain mail production, spinning, textile production, dyeing and even an apothecary.

There will also be samples of medieval food, a falconry display, musicians and a storyteller. Some of the events at this year’s congress will include:

  • ‘Fetter strong madness in a silken thread’: Medieval Fingerloop Braiding Workshop
  • The Wool Merchant and the Harp, or ‘Learning the Harp, 15th-Century Style’
  • Francis, the Holy Jester
  • Open lectures on ‘The Pleasures of the Past: History and Identity in the Early Middle Ages’ and ‘What’s Bad About Pain?: Challenges for Representationalists’

Axel added, “We’re keen to involve the local community in this medieval extravaganza and have organised a myriad of different events for people to come along and join in and experience highlights of medieval culture, craft and cuisine.”

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Click here to visit the International Medieval Congress website

See also: Ten papers to look forward to at the International Medieval Congress 2013

Source: University of Leeds

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