In addressing the issue of the circulation of objects and ideas in the Middle Ages related - above all - to saints and relics, the principal aim is to provide valuable information about the function of these objects in their new location or the identity of this location after receiving the items.

The conference “Circulation as a factor of cultural aggregation: relics, ideas and cities in the Middle Ages” will be held on May 7 – 11, 2014 in Telč, Southern Bohemia, in international cooperation of the Department of Medieval Art of the Institute of Art History at the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, the Centre of Early Medieval Studies, Department of Art History of Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic, and the Department of Art History at University of Lausanne, Switzerland.

Argument

The central topic of the international and interdisciplinary conference is the study of motion (the transfer of persons as well as objects such as reliquaries, books, altars, ivory diptychs) as a cultural factor. Attention will be paid to the objects produced and/or used in relation to the cult of relics and/or deads, as well as to the models of ideal or holy cities perceived as a realization of the kingdom of heaven.

The conference aims to raise and assess a variety of questions related to:

1) how does the object change its function in connection with its relocation;

2) how do the important objects and ideas change the identity of the place that accepts them;

3) the impact that the ideas and sacred objects may have on the social and the spiritual topology of a city.

The conference will be held in English, French, Italian. Conference proceedings will also be published in these languages.

Submission guidelines

Candidates may submit proposals that should include an abstract (max 2500 characters) and a brief biography.

To offer a paper, please contact the secretary of the conference (Alzbeta.Filipova@gmail.com or Laina.Berclaz@unil.ch).

The final date for receipt of proposals is November 30, 2013.

Participants will be notified of the acceptance of their proposals by December 20, 2013.

Scientific committee

• Serena Romano
• Klara Benešovska
• Ivan Foletti

Organization committee

• Klára Benešovská,
• Ivan Foletti,
• Serena Romano

Secretary

• Laïna Berclaz
• Alžběta Filipová