Greek Matters

This one-day workshop will consider the intersection of Hellenism and material culture in the early modern world (1400-1800). Expanding upon recent interest in the influence of Greek antiquity on early modernity, this workshop sets out to foster an interdisciplinary dialogue that explores the reception of texts alongside other encounters with the past: the circulation of images, the collecting of antiquities, archaeology, architecture, epigraphy, etc. From difficulties in printing the Greek alphabet to developments in Neoplatonism, is there a special dialogue between Hellenism and the engagement with matter and material form that emerges for the early modern period? How is the memory of ancient Greece imagined and reconstructed across different media? We are interested in materiality understood in its broadest sense and welcome proposals on anything from book historical approaches to those considering Hellenism in dialogue with art, architecture, the material world or the philosophy of matter. The early modern period is the intended focus but we welcome proposals from beyond this time period that engage with this intersection.

Abstracts are invited for 10 minute papers on the topic of the reception of Greek in the Renaissance at the intersection with materiality. The format invites scholars to give short presentations on work in progress with time for extended discussion. Proposals should take the form of 150 word abstracts and be sent to Camilla.Temple@york.ac.uk and Jane.Raisch@york.ac.uk by Friday 11^th May 2018. There may be some funding available to contribute towards the travel expenses of junior scholars (PhD students and those within 5 years of submission): if you would like to be considered for this funding then please let us know in your submission email. Proposals for presentations that are accepted but which cannot be given for financial reasons will still be considered in future publication plans, so do please contact us or submit a proposal even if you will not be able to attend.