arco Manuscript Workshop: "Texts in Motion"

February 8-9, 2008

The University of Tennessee in Knoxville announces a two-day workshop on manuscript studies to be held in February of 2008 and sponsored by the Marco Institute for Medieval and Renaissance Studies. The workshop, organized by Professors Maura K. Lafferty (Classics) and Roy M. Liuzza (English), is intended to be more a class than a conference; participants will be invited to share both their successes and frustrations, and to work together towards developing better professional skills for textual and paleographical work in Medieval Studies.

Last year’s workshop focused on how the non-textual aspects of manuscript presentation influence the way texts are read; this year’s workshop, “Texts in Motion,” will consider the effect of time on texts. Virtually all manuscript texts vary to some degree from one copy to another; some texts underwent more radical expansion, continuation, or revision, by their authors or others, and significantly different versions of the same text circulated alongside one another. These multiform texts raise a number of challenging questions for a modern editor: what is the relationship, both textual and contextual, between the different versions of the text? Which version should form the basis for an edited text? How can the range of textual differences be represented? How much of this material ought to be presented? Is it possible, finally, to capture the spirit of a medieval text in motion? We invite proposals for presentations by anyone working on texts that have undergone significant changes through time—abbreviation, expansion, continuation, excerpting, quotation in other texts, dramatic changes in format or context, even glosses and translations. The theme is meant to be understood as broadly as possible, and we welcome proposals that expand our definition of “text” to material objects besides manuscripts, such as images, inscriptions, relics, or buildings.

The workshop is open to scholars and students at any rank. Individual 90-minute sessions will be devoted to each presentation; participants will introduce their text and its context, discuss their approach to working with this material, and exchange ideas and information with other participants. We particularly invite proposals describing works in progress, unusual textual problems, practical difficulties, and new or experimental models for studying or representing texts. Presenters will receive a stipend of $500 for their participation.

The workshop is also open to scholars and students who do not wish to present their work but may be interested in learning more about manuscript research. Non-presenters will not receive a stipend, but are encouraged to participate in discussions and all other activities. A schedule of presentations will be posted on this page in December. The registration fee (which includes all materials, refreshments, lunches on Friday and Saturday, and a reception Friday evening) is $50 for faculty and $25 for students and independent scholars. Additionally, a dinner will be held Friday evening for an additional fee of $25.

Please direct inquiries or registration requests to Roy M. Liuzza, Department of English, U of Tennessee, 301 McClung Tower, Knoxville, TN 37996-0430, or (preferably) via email to rliuzza@utk.edu.

The deadline for registration January 15, 2008. If you wish to attend, please download the registration form, fill out the information requested, and return it with payment before this deadline.

PLEASE NOTE: We are unable to process credit cards. Payment must be made by check in US funds, payable to “The University of Tennessee” with the words “Manuscript Workshop” on the memo line. Please mail your registration form and payment to Professor Roy Liuzza at the address above."

Contact Information

Dr. Roy M. Liuzza
Department of English
University of Tennessee
301 McClung Tower
Knoxville, TN 37996
Email: rliuzza@utk.edu