Culture Wars, Mediterranean Seminar Winter 2017 Workshop/LAMS Conference, Pomona College, February 17–18, 2017

The Mediterranean Seminar and LAMS (“Late Antique-Medieval Studies” at the Claremont Colleges, California) are seeking proposals for papers to be workshopped at the 2017 Mediterranean Seminar Winter symposium to be held at Pomona College on 17 & 18 February 2017. The symposium will include keynote presentations by Michael Bonner (Professor of Islamic History, University of Michigan) and Yitzhak Hen (Anna and Sam Lopin Professor of History at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev).

In Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, the Mediterranean was characterized by the dynamic intersection, interaction, and integration of competing ethnic, religious, political, cultural and national communities. One of the paradoxes of Mediterranean history lies in the tension generated by simultaneous dynamics of convivencia, collaboration, and conflict; it is precisely the similarities between these various groups that have forced them to articulate the differences in their identities and culture.

For the workshop (to be held on Friday, 17 February), we invite abstracts of in-progress drafts of articles or book/dissertation chapters on any aspect of late antique or medieval Mediterranean “Culture Wars,” construed literally, or figuratively, relating to either events and processes themselves, or scholars’ attempts to come to grips with them. We seek papers in any relevant discipline, especially comparative or interdisciplinary work that uses the Mediterranean as a frame of analysis and addresses the topics of the event. All North American-based scholars (or foreign scholars who will be in the US at this time) working on relevant material are encouraged to apply. ABD PhD students, junior and non-tenure track faculty are particularly welcome to apply.

Participants will be expected to attend the entire two-day symposium. Pomona College will generously cover travel and lodging expenses for workshop presenters.