Monday, May 6, 2019

CFP Roundtable on Medieval Undead/Undead Medievalisms (6/30/2019; MAPACA Pittsburgh 11/7-9/2019)

Call for Papers for Medieval Undead/Undead Medievalisms (A Roundtable)


A session sponsored by the Association for the Advancement of Scholarship and Teaching of the Medieval in Popular Culture for the Medieval & Renaissance Area of the Mid-Atlantic Popular & American Culture Association

2019 Annual Conference of the Mid-Atlantic Popular & American Culture Association

Pittsburgh Marriott City Center Hotel, Pittsburgh, PA

7-9 November 2019


Proposals due by 30 June 2019


Undoubtedly, the modern concept of the zombie is a recent phenomenon, with origins in Haitian folklore and American film and fiction (notably George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead and Richard Matheson’s “I am Legend”). Nevertheless, the zombie is also indebted to horrors of earlier ages, including the revenants of medieval folklore and literature; although, enthusiasts of present-day zombies often overlook this heritage. Meanwhile, some modern creators of representations of zombie menaces seem to tap into to this tradition in bringing to life new undead creatures that mash the medieval with the modern by allowing more familiar zombies and zombie-like entities to shamble across medieval landscapes. Despite the variety and vitality of these traditions, both the medieval undead and undead medievalisms remain largely neglected by scholarship.


Through this roundtable session, the Association for the Advancement of Scholarship and Teaching of the Medieval in Popular Culture seeks to bridge the apparent divides between modern and medieval and medieval and modern. We endeavor to foster discussion that allows the undead of the medieval past and the zombies found in medieval-inspired narratives of today to come into contact through our teaching and research. The topic is especially relevant to this conference, given that its “unofficial” theme of is “Pittsburgh: Zombie Capital of the World” in honor of Romero and his work.



Presentations will be limited to 10-15 minutes depending on final panel size.

Interested individuals should, no later than 30 June 2019, notify the organizers of their topic via email directed to MedievalinPopularCulture@gmail.com using “Medieval Undead/Undead Medievalisms” as their subject heading. Please send both an abstract of no more than 300 words and an academic biographical narrative of no more than 75 words. Accepted participants will also need create a web account with the Mid-Atlantic Popular & American Culture Association at https://mapaca.net/conference in advance of the deadline. Be advised that roundtable presenters may also present a paper in a regular session of the conference.

Again, please send inquiries and copies of your submissions to the organizers at MedievalinPopularCulture@gmail.com using “Medieval Undead/Undead Medievalisms” as the subject heading.

In planning your proposal, please be aware of the policies of the Mid-Atlantic Popular & American Culture Association (available at https://mapaca.net/help/conference/submitting-abstracts-conference).


Further details on the Association for the Advancement of Scholarship and Teaching of the Medieval in Popular Culture can be found at its website: https://medievalinpopularculture.blogspot.com/.

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