Special Session for the 2004 MLA Convention (Philadelphia, PA)
The Rhizome and the Errant Self: Approaches to Medieval Romance and the Neo-medieval
The Latin verb erro, errare means "to wander" or "to err." In medieval romance, the erring path of the knight often conjoins both of these meanings as he wanders through various spaces, confronts the Other, and undertakes one or more quests. This erring path discloses a rhizome (Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari) in which identities are not rooted in a single origin, myth, or place. Networking plays an important role, whether in the creation of a single identity or in the exploration of alliances and links (between knights, kingdoms, shared quests, or particular sites where a challenge is presented). As well, the narrative can be interpreted as a kind of rhizome, one that has no beginning or end, but is always in the middle, between things. Narrative techniques might include the use of in media res, the episodic "and and...and" of the romance narrative, or the role of a particular site or motif as a linking structure for various stories, identities, or narrative perspectives.
This special session will explore how the rhizome can be applied to both medieval romance and neo-medieval texts (video games, MMORPGs, theatre, popular retellings of medieval romance, film adaptations, etc.). We are particularly interested in papers that present new readings of medieval romances, either by using a neo-medieval text to interrogate the medieval romance or by applying the theory of the errant self and the rhizome to medieval romance.
Please note: In accordance with procedures for special sessions at MLA conventions as set out by the MLA, this session is not yet approved for the 2004 MLA Convention. We are simply proposing this session for the Convention and, therefore, will submit an organized session proposal to the MLA Program Committee in April 2004 for review and approval. Panelists accepted for special sessions must be members of the MLA by April 7, 2004.
Two-page abstracts should be submitted by March 1, 2004, via email, fax, or regular mail to
Dr. Tamara F. O'Callaghan
Department of Literature & Language
Landrum 500
Northern Kentucky University
Highland Heights, KY 41099-1500
Email: ocallaghant@nku.edu
Fax: (859) 572-6093
The 2004 MLA Convention will be held in Philadelphia, PA. Please consult the Convention website for further information: http://www.mla.org/convention.