Dr Perkins gives a talk for the 2013 Oxford Alumni Weekend.
Medieval Romance and the Gift of Narrative
Dr Nicholas Perkins curated the 2012 Bodleian exhibition 'The Romance of the Middle Ages'. In this illustrated lecture (also intersecting with the ongoing 'Magical Books' exhibition in the Bodleian) he reflects on medieval romance through the gifts and exchanges that structure its stories: gifts such as rings, swords or the girdle Sir Gawain accepts in return for dangerous kisses; exchanges between men and women, families or enemies. These dynamics are still at work, from The Winter's Tale to The Lord of the Rings. Examining storytelling itself as a form of exchange, Dr Perkins suggests how medieval romances explore ideas of identity, value and the power of narrative to shape human relations.
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The annual Oxford University Alumni Weekend aims to showcase the Collegiate University as a whole, giving prominence to a range of current research and its application to real world situations, as well as recognising the achievements of Oxford men and women.
This series also includes podcasts from other alumni events including study days and the Oxford European Reunion.
Past themes include "A Global Oxford" (2008), "Equal Citizenship" (2009) and "Shared...