The Quest for the Holy Portrayal: Medieval Women in Film
Document Type
Panel Presentation
Start Date
19-4-2018 9:15 AM
End Date
19-4-2018 10:30 AM
Keywords
women, medieval, film
Biography
Kathryn Thompson graduated from Marshall University in December 2017, with bachelor’s degrees in History and Creative Writing. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Marshall’s English Department. Upon graduation, she hopes to continue her study with a Ph.D. in medieval history and literature. Her ideal job is to teach at the university level and be a writer and artist on the side, all while staying in West Virginia: she believes this state has great potential for economic and artistic growth, and she is excited to be a part of it.
Major
English
Advisor for this project
Dr. Montserrat Miller
Abstract
“The Quest for the Holy Portrayal: Medieval Women in Film” explores the evolution of the portrayal of early medieval women of the British Isles in film. The piece examines this depiction of women in films about the early medieval era, in conjunction with scholarly research on the lives of women in this period, combining historical analysis with modern pop culture. Besides exploring the historical accuracy of their depiction in film, this essay also looks at the four types of women often portrayed—the noblewoman, the nun, the witch, and the warrior—and discusses the modern inventions of these categories. Finally, the essay attempts to understand the changing roles of women in these types of films in conjunction with women’s changing roles in society, and looks forward to the possible evolution of women in film as society continues to change.
The Quest for the Holy Portrayal: Medieval Women in Film
“The Quest for the Holy Portrayal: Medieval Women in Film” explores the evolution of the portrayal of early medieval women of the British Isles in film. The piece examines this depiction of women in films about the early medieval era, in conjunction with scholarly research on the lives of women in this period, combining historical analysis with modern pop culture. Besides exploring the historical accuracy of their depiction in film, this essay also looks at the four types of women often portrayed—the noblewoman, the nun, the witch, and the warrior—and discusses the modern inventions of these categories. Finally, the essay attempts to understand the changing roles of women in these types of films in conjunction with women’s changing roles in society, and looks forward to the possible evolution of women in film as society continues to change.
