Modern Medieval: A NWMSN Postgraduate Podcast

Divorced. Beheaded. Died. Divorced. Beheaded. Survived. In this episode Modern Medieval co-hosts Meaghan & Anna discuss the musical SIX about the six wives of Henry VIII. Anna leads the way with her knowledge of late medieval/early modern history, chronologies, costuming, and more!  In order, these women are: 1. Catherine of Aragon (m. 1509–div. 1533) 2. Anne Boleyn (m. 1533-beheaded 1536) 3....

Alicia Spencer-Hall is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at University College London. Their research interests include: medieval hagiography, disability, gender, digital culture, and film and media studies. Her first monograph, Medieval Saints and Modern Screens: Divine Visions as Cinematic Experience was published by Amsterdam University Press in 2018, and is now available Open Access .  Trans...

Hello & Welcome Back! After a very long hibernation, Modern Medieval is back with original co-host Meaghan Allen (University of Manchester) and new co-host Anna Probert (University of Liverpool). Let's get medieval!

Hey Everybody! We are back for a brief little episode this week to discuss the release of Disenchantment's Season 4 on Netflix.

This week we discuss Ridley Scott's epic historical drama 'The Last Duel' (2021), adapted from Eric Jager's book 'The Last Duel: A True Story of Trial By Combat in Medieval France', and is a story about hatred, betrayal, lies, and truth. *CONTENT WARNING* This episode discusses sexual assault and rape. . . . A link to more information about Eric Jager's book: https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition...

Hey Everybody & Happy New Year!!!  . Modern Medieval is still on a holiday break, but thought a wee little ghost story episode would be a fun way to usher in the new year.  . . . Icon: James le Palmer, Omne Bonum, London ca. 1360-1375 BL, Royal 6 E VI/1, fol. 267v . . . For more information on Andrew Joynes’s book’Medieval Ghost Stories: An Anthology of Miracles, Marvels, and Prodigies’ check out:...

This week on Modern Medieval Meaghan & Elo discuss Netflix's historical epic 'The King' (2019) starring Timothée Chalamet. Based partly on history and partly on Shakespeare's play "Henry V" (c. 1599), 'The King' is a captivating, tense film full of medieval and modern delights. . . Icon: Promotional image for 'The King' featuring Chalamet.

As the world darkens during the winter months we thought what better subject to discuss than Light? . . . Icon Image: Earth at the center of the spheres of the universe, Gossuin de Metz, The Image of the World. Copy of the XIII th century. Manuscript on parchment, 208 folios, 180 × 115 mm, BnF, Manuscripts department, French 14964, f. 117, National Library of France.  . . For an academic perspecti...

After a long hiatus, Modern Medieval is back in action! To get back into the swing of things, in this week's episode Elo asks Meaghan about her recent conference presentations about hagiography, the soul, and heaven in the television series 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'. WARNING: SPOILERS! . . If you want to read more, here is a link to the Greg Erickson article "'Religion Freaky' or 'A Bunch of Men...

WARNING: EXPLICIT SEXUAL CONTENT DISCUSSED This week we finally get around to discussing director David Lowry's film adaptation of medieval poem 'Sir Gawain & the Green Knight' starring Dev Patel and under the abstract title of 'The Green Knight' (2021). With beautiful cinematography, captivating costumes, and specific plot points, 'The Green Knight' allows for ample discussion. . Music by Trothga...

This week we begin our two-part modern medieval journey of the medieval romance poem 'Sir Gawain & the Green Knight' and its legacy by discussing the late medieval (late 14th century) poem itself. . Initially we intended our next episode to look at the new David Lowry film 'The Green Knight' and how its modern interpretation compares to the medieval source material, but due to the GB release being...

This week Meaghan & Elo decide to tackle the classic Old English epic poem 'Beowulf' and its contemporary cinematic version 'Beowulf (2007)'. . . . Icon: First page of the 'Beowulf' manuscript Cotton MS Vitellius A XV. Accessed from British Library.

WOWOWOOWOW!  . One Year! Thank you so much to our listeners & supporters for staying with us over this past year; we have so much more modern medieval magic to share with you!

Hey Everybody! We are back from our crazy life-induced hiatus with a short little episode about recent medieval-era discoveries cracking into mainstream news. . . . Icon Image:  Ngāi Tahu expert carver Fayne Robinson spearheaded the creation of this post for New Zealand's research base in Antarctica. (© A short scan of Māori journeys to Antarctica / Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand); im...

This week we discuss the beloved Cinderella retelling classic 'Ever After'. Full of witty medievalisms, acceptable anachronisms, and a fun touch of 90s humour, 'Ever After' has proven itself to be a beloved modern medieval tale. . . . Music by Trothgard https://trothgardmusic.bandcamp.com/ 

This week we are beyond delighted to share our conversation about living history with guest Ari, creator of the 'Turnip of Terror'.  . . . You can find out more about the 'Turnip of Terror' here: https://theturnipofterror.com/ . Music by Trothgard: https://trothgardmusic.bandcamp.com/  

This week we discuss Ken Russel's infamous 1971 film 'The Devils'. Banned in numerous countries, as well as by The Vatican, due to its lascivious content, Russel anachronistic take on the 1634 Loudun possessions .  . . . Icon images is a poster from the film's initial release in 1971. . Music by Trothgard .

This week we discuss the Jewish origins of Easter, as well as how bunnies and chocolates became synonymous with one of the most sacred days in the liturgical calendar. . . This is our last podcast until April 19, 2021! Happy Easter and "Chag Sameach"!!!

This week's episode features special guest Sarah Ifft Decker, host of Media-eval Podcast , who shares some of her fascinating research about medieval Jewish women's marriages in 13th century Catalonia. . Sarah is an Assistant Professor of History at Rhodes College in Memphis, TN. As a social historian, Sarah is 'invested in reconstructing and understanding the everyday lived experiences of ordinar...

This week we discuss perhaps one of the best-known saints world-wide, Saint Patrick, whose feast day is on March 17 (which also just happens to be Meaghan's birthday!). . . . Icon: Careful now! Depiction of St Patrick standing on a snake in Purgatory, from St Patrick's Purgatory: England, 1451, Royal MS 17 B XLIII, f. 132v. Sourced from the British Library https://blogs.bl.uk/digitisedmanuscripts/...

Words cannot describe how honoured and thrilled we are to share this incredibly special episode featuring Professor Emeritus Stephen Murray . Professor Murray is an evocative storyteller overflowing with fascinating historical tidbits about Gothic architecture, medieval clergy, the influence of electronic media and technology in architectural history research, and SO much more! We hope you enjoy!...

The season of Lent is upon on us and here at Modern Medieval we were asking ourselves: What does one give up during a pandemic? Tune in to listen to our thoughts on taking this opportunity to be mindful and appreciative of the smaller things rather than dwelling on the negatives of loss. . . . Icon: Diagram of the brain (c. 1300), Illumination on parchment, 21.7 x 14.2 cm (whole page), University...

WOWOWOW! Words cannot describe how excited we are to share Modern Medieval's 30th episode with special guest Joe Burton! Not only has Joe created the most wonderful little jingle for our podcast, but he has also recently released an amazing album titled 'Legends of Alderley' under the name 'Trothgard'. Throughout this episode we muse upon the 'thing-ness' of things, Sutton Hoo, medieval musical co...

This week Modern Medieval discusses the Netflix Original film 'The Dig' which is centred around the extraordinary 1939 Sutton Hoo Anglo-Saxon archaeological excavation. A beautiful film drenched in golden earth tones, Meaghan & Elo dig beneath the gilded veneer to discuss some of the gaps within the film. . . . Icon is a still of Edith Pretty (Carey Mulligan) and Basil Brown (Ralph Fiennes) from '...