Chainmail, elegant dresses, painted banners and some archery and sword fighting will be seen around the Plymouth State University campus this weekend as students and professors from around the world gather for the annual Medieval and Renaissance Forum.
The 29th annual forum, featuring academic discussions and various presentations and activities from the Medieval and Renaissance periods, kicked off on Friday.
Members of the PSU Medieval Society, clad in period garb and carrying banners, lead a procession of forum attendees from Rounds Hall into the Fireplace Lounge of the Hartman Union Building.
"I really am hoping to see so many new faces and friends," said forum Director Naomi Klein, later saying of this year's event, "I think it's going to be better than ever. The students involved is what makes it important."
"Hosting an event like this is part of what a university does," said PSU President Sara Jayne Steen, who has taught English Renaissance literature at the university level. Steen compared the event to a line from Shakespeare's "The Tempest" where a woman sees other people after spending her life on an island. "May you too find wonder in the world," she said.
The opening ceremony also included a poem by Prof. Phillip O'Mara and Scott Chico of Bridgewater College, a reading from Chaucer by professor Robin Bowers, and the traditional forum signing of "Gaudeamus Igitur."
The opening ceremonies ushered in a day of academic presentations and medieval activities by visiting scholars and students. The theme of this year's forum is "The Secular Realm in the Age of Faith" and presentations were made on such topics as religion and morality in Early Modern Literature, medieval drama, and discussions on women and bodies and identities in the period.
Dr. Frederic Billet, a medieval music professor from the Sorbonne in Paris, was this year's keynote speaker and gave a talk entitled "Some Sounds of Silence: Music to Illustrate Sculptured Scenes in Medieval Choir Stalls."
"This is one of the few opportunities that graduates and undergraduates have to present their research," said forum Assistant Director Karolyn Kinane, who said the 110 people in attendance this year is "a little bit larger than in past years. Overall the sense of community is what I hear about."
Other activities included a dinner dance with a performance and dancing demonstration by the Ken Pierce Baroque Dance Company.
The PSU Medieval Society held a longbow presentation at the field house and a live chess match in front of the HUB. The society will also hold a chainmail workshop on Saturday.
For present and past members of the Medieval Society, Medieval Forum is a highlight of the year.
"I think it's just fun," said Medieval Society Vice-President Jennifer Jones. "Every year just gets better and better and next year's the 30th (forum) so it will be great. It makes us proud, we're so happy to be able to do this. It's very unique. We get to help do this, bring everyone to help support Medieval studies."
Jones is a senior this year, but said she plans to return for the 30th forum next year.
Natalie Traber of Milford was a Medieval Society member who graduated from Plymouth State in 1999. Since 2000, she has returned every year to sell creations from her home-based company Maranatha's Creations, including T-shirts, chainmail and embroidery designs as well as teddy bears dressed in Medieval and fantasy clothing among others.
"This is something I always enjoyed as a student and (medieval studies) was my reason for coming to Plymouth, so it's something I want to keep going," Traber said.
The 29th annual Medieval Forum continues through Saturday afternoon, ending with the annual feast at 5 p.m.
