This week we have something a little different, as medievalists Lucy Barnhouse and Winston Black join Sarah to talk about how medieval medicine is represented in popular culture. Lucy and Winston are the editors of the new volume Beyond Cadfael: Medieval Medicine and Medical Medievalism. Join us as we explore the most common tropes of medical medievalism, from leeches to orientalism. Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Purchase Beyond Cadfael here: htt...
Jan 07, 2024•52 min
Sarah and Media-eval’s Netflix Christmas Correspondent Meghan Griffin return to the Netflix Extended Christmas Universe to talk about medievalism in A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby. Yes, the film features a medieval treaty - and a medieval curse! - but more importantly, it raises all sorts of questions about the medieval past of these fake kingdoms whose entire personality is Christmas and that have apparently taken over most of Central-Eastern Europe. Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/media...
Dec 24, 2023•1 hr 57 min
He may be in decline but he still knows a good movie when he sees it so Ollie returns to argue with Sarah on the merits or lack thereof in the movie Apocalypto(2006). Is it hi-octane action? Yes! Does it have a paper thin plot? Absolutely! Does the politics it represents leave a bad taste in your mouth? Possibly! Sit back and enjoy as two friends discuss a movie one loves and the other doesn't while both agreeing that the director is a POS.
Dec 10, 2023•2 hr 8 min
Sarah and returning Media-eval Doctor Who correspondent Lily Bonnemann are back to tackle their first episode of the New Series, in honor of the 60th Anniversary! Join us for our discussion of The Shakespeare Code, where we explore race, medical practices, and architecture in Elizabethan England. Further Reading: April Fool’s! Love’s Labour’s Won at the Globe: https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/discover/blogs-and-features/2021/04/01/shakespeares-globe-uncovers-long-lost-shakespeare-play/ Deborah ...
Nov 26, 2023•1 hr 26 min
Sarah and returning guest Peter Konieczny return to the world of the Three Kingdoms with 2022 anime series Ya Boy Kongming! Join us as we discuss the life story of Zhuge Liang Kongming, premodern Chinese concepts of hell, and the challenges of time travel narratives. CW for reference to suicide attempt Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Find Peter at medievalists.net
Nov 13, 2023•1 hr 25 min
It's the spookiest time of the year and I'm not talking about Tax Season. Sarah want's to talk about a modern "Horror" movie that on the surface doesn't seem to be from the medieval period but when one of the major plot points is about the Spanish Inquisition and the movie seems to absolve certain people of guilt, you can bet they are going to have thoughts!
Oct 29, 2023•2 hr 12 min
Sarah and returning guest Tracy Tanoff delve into the everyday lives of nuns in our conversation on Lauren Groff’s novel Matrix. Join us as we explore the work of Marie de France, illness and disability in monasteries, faith and mysticism, and the real stories of queer nuns through a discussion of Groff’s 2021 novel. CW for reference to sexual assault (not graphic) Read the novel Matrix by Lauren Groff: https://bookshop.org/p/books/matrix-lauren-groff/16278801?ean=9781594634505 Check out a take ...
Oct 15, 2023•1 hr 58 min
Sarah and fellow medievalist Ryan Szpiech take the podcast to Spain with 2012 Spanish-language miniseries Toledo, Cruce de Destinos. Join us as we explore the life of Alfonso X and his sons, the lived experience of Jews, Christians, and Muslims living in medieval Castile, and the popular understanding of the idea of convivencia in this soap opera-style take on the 13th century. CW for sexual assault, violence Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Find Pr...
Oct 01, 2023•2 hr 9 min
Media-eval is back and this time we are tackling one of the most famous movies that can come under our remit- Gladiator directed by Ridley Scott. This movie won all the oscars and is a beloved fan favourite BUT did Sarah like it? She has brought Ollie back to argue the merits or lack thereof for this popular movie. Is Russel Crowe any good? Does Joaquin Phoenix eat enough ham? Is Kingdom of Heaven really better than this? Is it a fridging if they arent even a character? This might be the closest...
Sep 16, 2023•2 hr 54 min
The podcast will be going on hiatus til September so Sarah can spend the summer focusing on research for her new book project! See you in a few months!
Jun 03, 2023•1 min
Sarah brings Ollie back to the pod to talk about the second season of The Legend of Vox Machina. At the end of the first season our heroes seemed to be in a lot of peril so join us as we see if they can escape and defy the odds yet again to win the day and save the realm. One thing we do know is that if they do they'll have a great sweary time doing it!
May 28, 2023•2 hr 20 min
Sarah and fellow medievalist Dr. Raissa von Doetinchem de Rande explore medieval al-Andalus and the life of philosopher ibn Rushd in 1997 film Destiny! Join us as we discuss medieval philosophy, translation, and why this film is inexplicably about how the caliph’s son just wants to dance. Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Find Dr. Raissa von Doetinchem de Rande and learn more about her work: https://www.rhodes.edu/bio/raissa-von-doetinchem-de-rande R...
May 13, 2023•1 hr 24 min
Sarah and returning guest Lily Bonnemann are back at Doctor Who with 2002 audio drama - and loose Three Musketeers adaptation - The Church and the Crown. Join us as we explore the Paris sewage system and do a deep dive into George Villiers, the First Duke of Buckingham! Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Find Lily on Twitter: twitter.com/LizzieStrider and on Tumblr: www.tumblr.com/shadow-academic Rate, review, and subscribe!
May 01, 2023•1 hr 50 min
Chris Pine has a new movie out that is inside our wheelhouse so that means our special Pine Correspondent, Tracy Tanoff, is back to talk about her favourite guy. And she brought Ollie with her! Join us as we discuss this new movie that is currently in cinemas. Is it good? Yes. Does it make us happy? YES!
Apr 15, 2023•2 hr 54 min
Sarah and guest Erika Harlitz-Kern turn to Bohemia and the life of Jan Žižka as we tackle the 2022 film that is, generically, just called Medieval. Join us as we explore the doctrine of Jan Hus, the complex politics of the Holy Roman Empire, and how modern Czech nationalism uses the medieval past - and as Sarah literally splutters with rage over the portrayal of women in this film. CW for suicide and fridging. Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Find E...
Apr 01, 2023•1 hr 55 min
Sarah and returning guest Peter Koniezcny of Medievalists.net explore medievalism in the anime Naruto! Join us as we discuss how Masashi Kishimoto blends medieval and modern elements in his world-building. We get into the history and legend surrounding ninja, the folkloric history of the nine-tailed fox, the use of technology, and whether ramen would have been available in pre-modern Japan. Just as a note: this episode focuses only on the first arc of a (very long!) series. Social Media: Twitter...
Mar 22, 2023•2 hr 24 min
Sarah and returning guest Morgan Morales delve into 2021 film The Tragedy of Macbeth - and award Ralph Ineson the official Media-eval MVP. Join us as we explore magic, gender, why Shakespeare is bad at history, and the historical Macbeth and Gruoch, aka Lady Macbeth. By the way, Macbeth does NOT pass the Ifft Decker. CW: we make several mentions of suicide in the context of the film. We also discuss sexual assault in the film The Last Duel at around the 1hr44min mark. Social Media: Twitter: twit...
Mar 06, 2023•1 hr 51 min
Media-eval tackles another book this week! Join Sarah and guest Ben Paul as we discuss Lapvona, a 2022 novel by Ottessa Moshfegh. This intense and wide-ranging novel allows us to explore medieval disability studies, miraculous lactation, and why everyone is so insistent on making medieval people eat potatoes. CW: the novel includes depictions of sexual assault, child abuse, and cannibalism, which we discuss on the episode. To learn more about medieval disability studies: Wendy Turner’s remarks: ...
Feb 20, 2023•1 hr 34 min
Media-eval is back this week with another new (ish) release as Sarah and returning guest Lily Bonnemann tackle the first season of the Willow TV series. We’ve definitely got a difference of opinion on this one, so whether you loved the show, hated it, or haven’t watched it (but don’t mind being spoiled!) come and check out our conversation. Join us as we get into books bound in human (or satyr) skin, possums, and the biblical and medieval associations between evil, temptation, women, and serpent...
Feb 05, 2023•1 hr 57 min
Join Sarah and fellow medieval historian Abbey Agresta as we tackle 2022 release Catherine Called Birdy! We talk about our own history with the book as young wannabe medievalists, menageries for exotic animals, the 1290 expulsion of the Jews from England, and medieval European marriage practices. Spoiler alert: we're ... not that into Lena Dunham's take on this. Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Find Abbey on Twitter: twitter.com/AbigailAgresta Rate,...
Jan 22, 2023•2 hr 9 min
Sarah brings Ollie back from exile to talk about the Amazon series "Rings of Power". Did the show nail the feeling of Tolkien? Did the actors make you believe in them? Should an elf be thinking about making love to a perfectly normal human man? Find out all of this and more in the latest episode of Media-eval!
Jan 08, 2023•2 hr 35 min
Happy Holidays from Media-eval! Join Sarah and her dad Richard as we stretch the definition of medieval to talk about Ghostbusters II, featuring the imaginary early modern dictator Vigo the Carpathian. Check out the perhaps surprising medieval content of the film, including traditions of portraiture, references to Vlad the Impaler, and the concept of living paintings in medieval culture. Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Rate, review, and subscribe!...
Dec 25, 2022•1 hr 59 min
Join Sarah and guests Clio and Mireille, of Clio/Mireille: A Fanfiction Podcast as we discuss the ultimate work of Shakespeare fanfiction: 1998 Oscar-winning film Shakespeare in Love! We talk literary analysis, the canonicity of Shakespeare, Elizabethan dental hygiene, and all the queer overtones that this film is desperate for its audience not to notice. Enjoy this episode? Listen to Sarah, Clio, and Mireille talking Lord of the Rings fanfiction on their podcast! CW: We briefly discuss Harvey W...
Dec 11, 2022•1 hr 56 min
The “King Arthur Babies” miniseries continues (and ends), as Sarah’s mom Beth Greenfeld comes on to discuss 2019 film The Kid Who Would Be King! Join Sarah and Beth as they grapple with the challenges of importing chivalry into the 21st century, do a deep dive on the Lady of the Lake, and have a classic Media-eval Latin grammar lesson. Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Find Beth on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bethg20904 Rate, review, and subscribe!...
Nov 29, 2022•2 hr 40 min
Jessica Bluemke Greiff of Friendly Atheist Podcast is back to discuss A Kid in King Arthur’s Court! Join Sarah and Jessica for some 90s childhood nostalgia—in a film that might not totally hold up to adult viewing. Come for our in-depth review of the film, stay for our discussion of the use of “mutton” as an insult and an excellent medieval recipe for goat’s head. Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Find Jessica on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JessBlue...
Nov 14, 2022•2 hr 19 min
Happy Halloween from Media-eval! Sarah and guest Elizabeth Bonnemann discuss the first two seasons of animated series Castlevania. Join us as we talk vampires and demons (the reason for the season), as well as the recent discovery of a real Romanian medieval library, the historical Vlad Tepes Dracula and how he became connected with vampire lore, and why it is in fact historically accurate for the Belmont family to have a box of spells about penises. Social Media: Twitter: twitter.com/mediaevalp...
Oct 30, 2022•2 hr 13 min
Buy The Medievalist now! https://www.lulu.com/shop/phil-adamo/the-medievalist/paperback/product-7mvp64.html?q=Phil+adamo&page=1&pageSize=4 Sarah is joined by medievalist and author Phil Adamo for a conversation about his new book, The Medievalist. We explore the white supremacist uses and misuses of the medieval past and some of the challenges facing medievalists today grappling with these issues, and get into the history of the Voynich Manuscript, medieval forgeries, and (of course) the...
Oct 16, 2022•1 hr 48 min
Sarah is once again joined by guest Elizabeth Bonnemann as we dive back into Doctor Who with our first audio drama! Join us as we tackle 2000 audio serial “The Marian Conspiracy” and explore Catholic-Protestant conflicts, ale and beer in Early Modern English taverns, and the not-quite-medieval history of the cardigan. Social Media: Twitter @mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Find Elizabeth on Twitter @LizzieStrider and on Tumbler at Shadow Academic Rate, review, and subscribe!
Oct 01, 2022•2 hr 1 min
Ollie said he would return for DnD....Sarah just didn't tell him which DnD it would be! Join us as we discuss season 1 of the Amazon Prime adaptation of Critical Roles Vox Machina campaign. Can some voice actors improv a better story with more pathos and drama than most highly paid hollywood screenwriters? you bet your sweet butts they can!
Sep 17, 2022•2 hr 53 min
Media-eval is back this week with something a little different! Join Sarah and guest Erika Harlitz-Kern, of The Boomerang, as we discuss what it means to be public medievalists - and discuss Erika's future appearance to discuss the upcoming film Medieval! Social Media: Twitter @mediaevalpod E-mail: media.evalpod@gmail.com Find Erika on Twitter @eh_kern and at The Boomerang (ehkern.com) Rate, review, and subscribe!
Sep 04, 2022•1 hr 31 min
