Call for Chapters: Sacred, Sinful, or Necessary? Touch and Its Cultural Meaning, 300–1600
Abstracts submission deadline: 31 October 2025
This volume, originating from a session at the International Medieval Congress (IMC) 2025, aims to bring together diverse studies on the role of touch in the medieval and early modern periods. In addition to contributions presented at the conference, we welcome further research that sheds new light on the cultural significance of the sense of touch.
The publication will focus on the intentional use of touch, whereby the active touching subject seeks to convey or receive meaning from the passive touched object or person. We are particularly interested in studies that demonstrate how touch functioned as a vehicle of cultural, social, and political meaning, as well as a medium through which to explore the mentality of the period.
We particularly encourage proposals from disciplines such as history, philosophy, theology, art history, and literary studies, as well as contributions extending beyond Western Europe. The language of publication is English.
Please submit a 600–800 word abstract (PDF or Word format), outlining the main argument, sources, and potential outcomes of your paper, together with a short bio (including affiliation, academic activity, and research interests), by 31 October 2025 to Karolina Białas (km.bialas@uw.edu.pl) and Łukasz Żak (l.zak@pusc.it). For any questions, please feel free to contact the editors.
The edited volume will be submitted to the Brepols series: The Senses and Material Culture in a Global Perspective. Submitted abstracts will be subject to selection, and the acceptance of an abstract does not guarantee publication. All papers will undergo peer review and may be declined by the editors, reviewers, or series editor.
