Memory and Material in Early Modern England seeks to continue a conversation, building on recent work in early modern studies about the many ways in which early modern literature and culture imagine and articulate the relationship between memory and materiality. This conference considers both of its key terms broadly, interested in memory in its physiological, cultural, and personal manifestations, and in the myriad ways materiality emerged as a shaping force in early modern life. We aim to bring together a diverse group of scholars drawing on comparative literary and cultural studies, ecocriticism, queer theory, and critical race studies, among other approaches, to pursue these questions from as many methodologies and perspectives as possible in a single-day conference. The conference is accompanied by an exhibit hosted by the Columbia Rare Book and Manuscript Library, based in Butler Library but also published as a digital collection on the Library's website.
Conference website: www.memoryandmaterialconference.com.
The digitized rare book exhibit accompanying the conference is now live, and can be viewed at: https://exhibitions.library.columbia.edu/exhibits/show/memory-and-material
