Performing Texts

Building on the sessions given at the International Congress in 2006,  “The Performance of Memory and Memories of Performance in French and Occitan Literature” (organized by Michelle Bolduc) and “Performing Medieval Romance” (organized by F. Regina Psaki) Michelle Bolduc and Valerie M. Wilhite will be offering a platform for discussing performance, meta-performance, and performativity.  The dialogue will follow the medieval and modern inclination to push the significance and impact of performance beyond analysis of texts produced for performance.  Instead we will have the opportunity to hear about the performative aspects of non-lyrical pieces, the interpretation and significance given to courtly performance by the author of the French medieval roman Silence and by modern-day performers of medieval works. 

The three papers each come from authors who have dedicated much effort to drawing attention to the performative nature of medieval texts.  Wililam D. Paden and Frances Freeman Paden will discuss literary/medical performance.  Wendy Pfeffer will offer the results of her discussions with modern performers of medieval lyric.  Linda Marie Zaerr will outline the significance of performance in the Roman de Silence, a discussion which demands musical performance to happen in order to arrive at an understanding of it.

The paper titles are:
“The Oldest Poem in Occitan: Tomida femina, a Midwife’s Charm?”
William D. Paden and Frances Freeman Paden, Northwestern University

“Bringing the Troubadours to the Twenty-First Century”
Wendy Pfeffer, University of Louisville

“When Silence Plays Vielle: Metaperformance Dimensions of the Roman de Silence”
Linda Marie Zaerr, Boise State University
 

Abstracts are available by following the links below.

When Silence Plays Vielle: Metaperformance Dimensions of the Roman de Silence

Linda Marie Zaerr

Boise State University