Unlock the mysteries of the Middle Ages with us as we welcome Paul B. Sturtevant, a distinguished public medievalist, to challenge prevailing myths and unveil the vibrant truths of this era. Often misrepresented in pop culture as a fairy-tale epoch or a dark, brutal time, we explore how these stereotypes emerged over time and why they persist.

Travel back to childhood inspirations, where David Macaulay’s works sparked a fascination with medieval architecture and life, and trace the evolution of medieval portrayals in Hollywood. From the adventurous charm of "Camelot" to the gritty realism of post-1970s cinema, we examine how these depictions reflect contemporary societal issues. The influence of J.R.R. Tolkien’s medievalist background on modern fantasy literature becomes clear, and Paul reveals how binary images of the Middle Ages might reflect more about our modern predicaments than they do about medieval history.

Some questions we tackle together include: Were the Middle Ages truly "Dark"? Are today's visions of medieval chivalry and masculinity accurate? And how have some modern extremist groups in Europe and the U.S. characterized race in the Middle Ages?

Finally, Paul shares about his role as Chief of Experiences at Stories Abroad Tours in Europe. Together with his wife and business partner, Arielle Gingold, he crafts narratives that challenge simplistic historical interpretations, offering a richer, more nuanced understanding of the past. Join us for an episode that promises to reshape your understanding of the Middle Ages in profound ways.

Show Notes
Medieval Marginalia examples – knights fighting snails, nun harvesting penises from tree, cat licking its butt
https://www.thegreatcat.org/the-history-of-the-cat-in-the-middle-ages-part-5/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marginalia
https://blogs.bl.uk/digitisedmanuscripts/2013/09/knight-v-snail.html

Part One of Pearl – a late 14th century Middle English poem written by a father who lost his young daughter. This version has been adapted to Modern English by an Anonymous author:
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/50055/pearl-section-i-modern-version

Full version of Pearl with an alternate modern translation, pages 1-27, here: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/english/currentstudents/undergraduate/modules/dreaminginthemiddleages/pearl_ms_prose_translation.pdf

Paul’s books
The Middle Ages in Popular Imagination: Memory, Film and Medievalism

The Devil’s Historians: How Modern Extremists Abuse the Medieval Past, co-written with Amy Kaufman
https://paulsturtevant.com/books/

The Public Medievalist
https://publicmedievalist.com

Stories Abroad Tours
https://storiesabroadtours.com

Paul Sturtevant on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/medievalistabouttown/

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Can learning about art and writing change the way we think? Join us as we explore this question with Caitlin Dalton, PhD, a lecturer at Boston University’s CAS Writing Program. Caitlin skillfully blends art history with writing education to inspire critical thinking among first-year students. On this episode, she shares how she uses contemporary art and social justice themes to spark curiosity and encourage students with diverse viewpoints, including those from STEM fields, to engage deeply with public art around Boston. Through this discussion, we uncover the unique ways art can challenge perceptions and stimulate intellectual and academic growth.

Our conversation goes further to investigate the impact of art on society and the methodologies that might capture its influence. How do artists use their work to provide counter-narratives to pressing issues such as gun violence and the refugee crisis? And can we analyze a painting like a scientist? We examine how interdisciplinary dialogue and ethnographic studies can enhance our understanding of art's reach, even when its effects are not easily quantified. This episode also highlights how art encourages multiple perspectives, offering a more nuanced approach to arguments and societal debates usually seen on the news and social media.

Finally, Caitlin and Lara tackle public narratives around higher education and the concept of safe spaces in academia. We address pundits’ claims that universities are brainwashing Gen Z into woke-ism and cancel culture. Caitlin shows, instead, that the college classroom is crucial in fostering an environment where challenging conversations can thrive without stifling viewpoint diversity. This episode promises an enlightening journey through the intersections of art and education, showcasing their power to shape perspectives, foster empathy, and inspire meaningful dialogue. Don't miss this thought-provoking exploration that underscores the importance of art and academia in our rapidly changing world.

About Caitlin Dalton
https://www.bu.edu/newbury-center/profile/caitlin-dalton/

Gun Violence Memorial, Boston
https://www.icaboston.org/exhibitions/gun-violence-memorial-project/

Yto Barrada’s art about refugees
https://smarthistory.org/yto-barrada-ceuta-border-illegally-crossing-the-border-into-the-spanish-enclave-of-ceuta-tangier/

Homeless Vehicle project by Krzysztof Wodiczko
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/how-exquisitely-designed-cart-homeless-people-inspired-wave-artists-activism-180968519/

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Are museums lying about their antiquities? Is the Gladiator film an accurate depiction of life in ancient Rome? Strap in for a wild ride with Liz Marlowe, archaeologist and whistleblower, as she uncovers the dirty truth behind the global trade of Roman antiquities, and describes what Hollywood gets wrong about ancient Rome.

Elizabeth Marlowe, Chair of the Department of Art and Professor at Colgate University, nominates brussel sprout ice cream as the worst flavor, kick-starting our episode with a laugh. But we quickly move to more pressing matters: the shadows cast over Roman antiquities and the ethical dilemmas museums face. Elizabeth shares eye-opening insights from her 2022 article, "When Will Museums Tell the Whole Truth About their Antiquities?" and we navigate the murky waters of artifact provenance and institutional responsibility.

Through Liz's investigative lens, we expose how many US museums have been less than transparent about the looted origins of their Roman collections. From photographing gallery labels to sparking legal actions that lead to the repatriation of artifacts to Turkey, this episode reveals the often-concealed truths behind those ancient treasures. We also dissect the broader implications of these practices, questioning how the illicit trade continues and what changing attitudes could mean for the future of artifact acquisition.

For the first time on a general media outlet, Liz shares the story of one of the most influential antiquities dealers in U.S. history – Jerome Eisenberg, who teamed up with an insurance salesman to market ancient artworks with promises of financial returns. We discuss the fallout that ensued when ethical norms about antiquities shifted between the 1980s and 2000s.

Finally, we turn our attention from the allure of artifacts as investments to Hollywood’s portrayal of ancient Rome. Liz critiques Hollywood's romanticized yet historically flawed depictions of ancient Rome and we discuss how these portrayals feed into modern ideologies, sometimes with negative consequences. This episode promises to challenge your understanding of cultural heritage and the ethics of preserving our past. Don't miss it!

Elizabeth Marlowe in Hyperallergic
“When Will Museums Tell the Whole Truth About Their Antiquities?”
https://hyperallergic.com/760120/when-will-museums-tell-the-whole-truth-about-their-antiquities/

“A Cleveland Museum’s Bad Bet on a Looted Roman Statue”
https://hyperallergic.com/862516/cleveland-museum-bad-bet-looted-roman-statue/

Jale İnan, Turkish archaeologist - Biography
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jale_İnan

Liz’s email contact:
emarlowe@colgate.edu

Liz on X:
https://x.com/ElizMarlowe

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