Contents

Research Themes

The University's designated research theme 'Medieval Cultures' concerns all aspects of the literature, art, history, and thought of western European civilization between c.500 and c.1500. 'Culture' denotes not only higher-end artistic productions - the theatre, opera, art exhibitions and so on - but the whole complex of ways in which a society functions, thinks about itself, and expresses its identity.

'Cultures', the theme's signature term, is an elastic and open-ended word which invites discussion and collaboration among experts in different academic domains - literature, history, art, architecture, social history, folklore, religion and many others. It seeks to build on the track record of the Centre for Medieval Studies in interdisciplinary academic exchange.

The medievalist community at Bristol is widely recognised as having effected truly interdisciplinary ways of working in integrated ways, engaging in vigorous cross-disciplinary dialogues which permeate many aspects of research and postgraduate teaching.