Medieval and Early Modern Literary Environments

French I Session (Medieval and Renaissance)
South Atlantic Modern Language Association 86
“Sustainability and the Humanities”
Atlanta, November 7-9, 2014

Inspired by the special focus of the conference, “Sustainability and the Humanities,” this session will explore French medieval and 16th century representations of environment.
How do these literary environments construct notions of society and identity? Are there medieval and/or early modern expressions of sustainability? We welcome papers that offer innovative ways of rethinking the role of the environment in medieval and renaissance literary expression. Possible topics include but are not limited to:

• literary representations of rural and urban landscapes
• material resources and early book culture
• medieval and early modern environmental identities
• nature and humanity
• the desert, hermits and hagiography
• the environment and agrarian society
• eco-critical approaches to medieval and renaissance literature

Please email abstract (250 words) along with A/V requirements to Elizabeth Voss (eee2q@virginia.edu) by June 15, 2014.