Modern Medieval: A NWMSN Postgraduate Podcast

Animation and the medieval seem to go together like peanut-butter and jelly, from illustrated books to Disney to Netflix's series 'Disenchantment.' However, Meaghan & Elo are not quite sure how "enchanted" they are by the Netflix series. This week, we delve into the animated series and ask some broad questions about the appeal of the medieval for television as a whole. Make sure to listen through...

Everyone could use a laugh! This week, we keep it short and sweet, sharing a select few medieval jokes that have surviving ancestors today. Enjoy! . . . Icon image is a still from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail". 

Modern Medieval is incredibly excited to share this week's episode with you about Roland Betancourt's "Byzantine Intersectionality: Sexuality, Gender, and Race in the Middle Ages". We touch upon transgender saints' lives; eunuchs as a third gender; slut-shaming; and so much more!    So brace yourselves, its time to get Modern Medieval! . . . Icon image: "Mary of Egypt." Church of the Panagia Phorb...

It's 2021 and Modern Medieval is back! To start off the new year, Meaghan & Elo share some modern medieval thoughts on films and series watched over the holidays before pivoting into a discussion about historic insurrections, coup d'etats, and the attack on the United States Capitol. So brace yourselves, it's time to get Modern Medieval.     Icon image: Painting by François Dubois, a Huguenot pain...

In a special episode Meaghan & Elo read two medieval poems to get into the spirit of Christmas: "I Syng of a Mayden" (c. 1400), which is considered one of the first Christmas carols; and "Dream of the Rood" preserved in the Vercelli Book.   Enjoy and Happy Holidays! . . . Episode icon is late fifteenth-century illuminated miniature by Jean Bourdichon, V&A miniature (E.949-2003) of the Nativity fro...

FINAL EPISODE OF 2020!!!   As our final episode we decided to briefly look at Chanukah, Diwali, and some Muslim holidays that fall during the Autumn/Winter months as an attempt to expand beyond the Christian/Eurocentric scope. This week is by no means perfect or fully comprehensive, bur rather the beginning to hopefully numerous invigorating conversations in the future. . . . Icon: A View of the f...

Fa la la la laughs! This week we broadly discuss some of the origins of Christmas like Christmas Trees, St. Nicholas, and how everything is actually pagan in one way or another. Sprinkled in are little surprises like a much loved Vine, female rights, and much more! So brace yourselves -- its time to get Modern Medieval!  . . . Icon this week is 'The Nativity', window XI, south quire triforium, Can...

Why do knights appear in wartime propaganda? How do conceptions of "medieval masculinity" manifest itself today? Is Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade a modern medieval text? Well, in this week's exciting episode, we suit up and start the conversation with the lovely Paola Medina-Gonzalez. From homosocial spectacles at tournaments to Nazis dressed in drag, we take the deep dive. So brace yourselve...

This week we keep it lighthearted, sharing a few fun facts with one another about the Middle Ages. From animals on trial to accidental marriages, this week covers a wide span on medieval magic. So brace yourself - its time to get Modern Medieval! . . . This week's icon is: Saint Catherine, Gualenghi d'Este Hours, Ferrara, Taddeo Crivelli, about 1469.

This week we look at a few medieval connections in Disney's animated film about Dia de Muertos -- "Coco" -- like the allegorical appearance of Dante Alighieri, patron saints of music, and images of Death. We also discuss the recent unveiling of the Mary Wollstonecraft statue in London, making connections between this object of memory and others throughout time, asking ourselves: "What does it mean...

In honour of the historic presidential election victory in the United States with the people choosing President-Elect Joe Biden & VP Kamala Harris, toppling the megalomaniacal Trump Administration, we have decided to discuss some of the most notorious and ruthless rulers throughout history. From Caligula to Queen Ranavalona, we trace the rivers of blood, stories of insanity, and wicked doings that...

This week we do our best to explore the origins of Hallowe'en, All Saints' Day, and All Souls' Day around the world. A slightly chaotic ride, we touch upon Samhain, Dziady, Dia de Los Muertos and more! . . .  Icon is "The Forerunners of Christ with Saints and Martyrs" by Fra Angelico, 1420s. 

It is Spooky Season! To fit the time of year we decided to discuss medieval memento mori -- reminders of Death-- and how they are depicted in the middle ages. We also think about Death in our current moment, as well as how we relate to and contemplate Death in our own lives.  . . .  Icon image is a fragment from "Death and the Usurer," Hieronymus Bosch, ca. 1485-1490. Part of a triptych. 

In this episode Elo & Meaghan consider Disney's "Princess & the Frog" and its loose connections to the medieval as a prelude to their forthcoming episode on medieval images of Death.

This week we discuss all things Bardcore with the lovely Emilia Pearce! So buckle up and get ready to get Modern Medieval! (Bardcore!) . . . You can find Emilia and her band Entropies on Instagram: @emi_in_london & @entropiesband . . . Icon this week is a screenshot of Hildegard von Blingin's Youtube icon: https://www.youtube.com/c/Hildegardvonblingin/featured . . To read the i-D article about Bar...

This week is a casual episode. We blindly share share two of our favourite medieval short tales/legends, making connections between the two tales along the way and discovering modern medieval threads. . . . Icon image: Melusine as a serpent with wings from Le Roman de Mélusine by Jean d’Arras, fifteenth-century manuscript, Bibliothèque Nationale de France. Paris, BNF, Français 24383, (1401-1500),...

We are back! Having survived submitting our MA dissertations, we return to Modern Medieval: The Podcast to talk all things Shrek (2001). So dust off those cobwebs because it's time to get Modern Medieval!

Hey Everybody! . If you were wondering where we have been just take a look at our icon for this week! It is an apt depiction of the two of us as we toil away at our MA dissertations due September 21. . But have no fear! We will be returning the week of September 28 with exciting new episodes and life updates. Until next time! . Icon image is 'Smiling Skeleton' from the Ars bene moriendi, France, 1...

Keeping in theme with our discussions about strong women defying the patriarchy and traditional forms of storytelling, in this week's episode we explore the legend of Hua Mulan, historic female warrior of the Chinese Northern & Southern Dynasties period via Disney's 1998 animated film.  . . .    Icon image is 'Mulan (木蘭)' from Gathering Gems of Beauty (畫麗珠萃秀), Qing Dynasty. Currently locate...

What if we were to say that Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a Modern Medieval text, and that Buffy is a modern day saint, where 'saint' does not necessarily imply religion or notions of faith, but rather someone who has had a lasting impact on the people, culture & society around them? Or what about Twin Peaks' Laura Palmer? Penny Dreadful's Vanessa Ives? Intrigued? Then tune in this week to hear co-H...

Ever wondered what a patron saint is? Or why people celebrate them? Regardless the answer, we've got you sorted! On this week's episode we (briefly) talk you through the lives of some of our favourite saints! Tune in to learn more about Saint Rosalia, Saint Francis of Assisi, Benedict of Nursia, and Saint Walburga. . . In our introduction, we mention acoustic archaeology project led by Stanford Ar...

Sicily is far more than the birthplace of the mafia -- who'd have thought that an island so small would have so many different invasions that cultivated a truly unique, accepting culture? On today's episode, we will be contrasting medieval stereotypes by looking into the intricate and fascinating medieval history of Sicily, birthplace of none other than our wonderful Co-Host Elo Narbone! Join us i...

Did last week's episode leave you wanting to know more about architecture, especially 'Medieval' architecture?  Have you ever walked around London and wondered what century buildings like St. Pancras or The British Library were built in and why they are built that way? If the answer is 'Yes!' to any of these questions then tune in for this week's episode where we talk to fellow Modern Medievalist...

Ever wondered what constitutes medieval architecture? Ever wanted to learn more about architecture so you're not that tourist who roams around cities unaware of what they're seeing? Us too! But don't worry, this week's episode sheds light on just that: we have the wonderful architectural historian Nick Mols who will chat to us about the basics of architecture, medieval & early modern architecture,...

Wonder how Disney uses notions of the medieval to storytell? On this week's episode we discuss the modern medieval classic Sleeping Beauty (1959) with our very first guest and dear classmate, Geanina Beres. Throughout our conversation, we touch upon influential 'medieval' inspiration such as the 19th century Bavarian Neuschwanstein Castle or the 1950's modern design of illustrator Eyvind Earle.   ...