From the Pages to the Screen: Investigating Depictions of the Middle Ages

Course Description

Depictions of the Middle Ages are everywhere in today’s society. But what do they mean? Why are they used? Do they portray the medieval world well? Students will have the opportunity to investigate medieval imagery to answer all these questions. This investigation will delve into modern popular culture such as advertisements and films. Additionally, students will be introduced to historical sources such as paintings and engravings to give an idea of the evolving depictions of the Middle Ages. This will provide an opportunity to sharpen critical thinking, while also introducing skills from the historian’s craft such as historiography, paleography, and iconography.