Paul Megna’s paper for the Middle English Forum at MLA 2022 invoked a Public Books piece by Irina Dumitrescu in order to prompt contemporary medievalists to ponder the events of 1/6/2021. How might 1/6/2021 cause us to reconsider the scholarly lenses through which we have typically interpreted the events of Rising of 1381 and their literary ma…[Read more]

Medieval studies is in a moment in which it is re-examining the long-held categories that have traditionally defined its boundaries. As this reconceptualization of the field progresses, Trans Studies offers a number of scholarly methodologies and insights that are changing the way medievalists consider their field and, more specifically, Trans…[Read more]

This session seeks to build upon the growing appreciation for the complex and multifarious discursive engagements between late medieval English literary texts and Islamicate or Persianate culture, society, language, or literature. Recognizing that such engagements include much more than direct literary representations of the individual Islamicate…[Read more]

The Chaucer Forum warmly invites submissions for our MLA 2023 (San Francisco, January 5-8) sessions:

Chaucer’s Ornamentalism and Gimmickry

This roundtable session brings Anne Anlin Cheng’s concept of ornamentalism and Sianne Ngai’s work on the gimmick into conversation with Chaucer’s work. For instance, in The Squire’s Tale, Canacee’s…[Read more]

Guaranteed Session: Infinite Variety? Antony and Cleopatra, Then and Now 

This is a call for papers on Antony and Cleopatra. we are open to a diverse array of critical interests, including but not limited to: premodern critical race studies, histories of empire and racial capitalism, early modern trans and sexuality studies, disability studies,…[Read more]

Dear colleagues,

The Bibliography & Scholarly Editing Forum is seeking self-nominations for a new member of the forum’s executive committee, to serve a five-year term starting in January 2023.

The executive committee organizes at least one MLA conference session each year and nominates a representative to the MLA Delegate Assembly. If you’re int…[Read more]

Dear Members of the LLC 16th-Century English Forum:

The members of the current Executive Committee for the LLC 16th-Century English Forum invite nominations/suggestions of names of people serve on the Executive Committee. This is a great opportunity to shape panels at MLA and the field generally Please send questions or suggestions to committee…[Read more]

LLC Shakespeare members are presenting at three sessions at the MLA Annual Convention in DC in January:

1. “Re-Reading Timon of Athens” (Friday, 8.30-9.45, Marriott Marquis Dogwood)

2. “Who Owns Shakespeare?” (Friday, 10.15-11.30, Marriott Marquis Gallaudet)

3. “Shakespeare and White Supremacy” (Friday, 1.45-3, Marriott Marquis Dogwood).

You…[Read more]