Courtly Site » Works on Courtly Love

Holding it Straight: Sexual Orientation in the Middle Ages

cortesia — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 17:50:03 +0000

Historians tend to be reticent about applying the phrase ‘sexual orientation’ to periods before the nineteenth century, but should we be so quick to dismiss the concept? Focusing on depictions of virgins and sodomites — two seemingly opposing categories — this talk explores how medieval encounters with sex were shaped by concepts of space and orientation. (From Soundcloud)

A lecture by Dr Robert Mills, UCL History of Art, Autumn 2013 (video)

Bob Mills also appeared in Inside Medieval Mind BBC documentary series, episode Sex, speaking about medieval sodomy.

Representing sodomy in the Middle Ages – Dr Bob Mills

cortesia — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 17:18:51 +0000

While sodomy in Medieval Britain and Europe was seemingly regarded as unmentionable, artists developed strategies of depicting taboo practices. Dr Robert Mills (UCL History of Art) examines an era of art history that has hitherto been much neglected in studies of forbidden sexual practices and images of judgment and punishment. (From Soundcloud)

Bob Mills also appeared in Inside Medieval Mind BBC documentary series, episode Sex, speaking about medieval sodomy.

Music:
‘Pange Lingua Gloria’ by Josquin des Pres (1440-1521)
‘In Principio Erat Verbum’ by Josquin des Pres
‘Mystery of the Runes’ by Paul Mottram

Inside Medieval Mind: Sex by Robert Bartlett

cortesia — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 23:43:49 +0000

Leading authority on the Middle Ages, Professor Robert Bartlett presents a series which examines the way we thought during medieval times. He unearths remarkable evidence of the complex passions of medieval men and women. The Church preached hatred of the flesh, promoted the cult of virginity and condemned woman as the sinful heir to Eve. Yet this was the era that gave birth to the idea of romantic love. (BBC)

Robert tells the tragic story of the real life lovers Abelard and Héloise – Abelard the great scholar, Héloise the niece of a canon at the Cathedral of Notre Dame. Their love letters from the 12th century are astonishing in their frankness, passion and willingness to break conventions. (OpenUniversity)

The Troubadour’s Lady Reconsidered Again by Don A. Monson

cortesia — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 23:19:22 +0000

The Troubadour’s Lady Reconsidered Again
Author(s): Don A. Monson
Source: Speculum, Vol. 70, No. 2 (Apr., 1995), pp. 255-274
Published by: Medieval Academy of America
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2864893

This article can be retrieved from JSTOR digital library.

Courtly Love and Courtliness by A. Denomy

cortesia — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 22:48:00 +0000

A substantial article for understanding key characteristics of Courtly love and its distinction from Courtliness. You will learn about its origins, influences, crucial terms, and its principles demonstrated by quotations of significant authors.

Courtly Love and Courtliness
Author(s): Alexander J. Denomy
Source: Speculum, Vol. 28, No. 1 (Jan., 1953), pp. 44-63
Published by: Medieval Academy of America
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2847180

This article can be retrieved from JSTOR digital library.