Admission requirements
This course is a core module for students of the MA Book and Digital Media Studies, or exchange students admitted to this programme. Students from other programmes are welcome to approach the course coordinator for admission, but this will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Description
Medieval manuscripts are carriers of text, but also valuable testimonies to the historic contexts and craft practices which informed their production. This course focuses on the European medieval manuscript as a significant cultural artefact, exploring how the parchment, paper, and – latterly – digital pixels through which we encounter this artefact, contain a wealth of knowledge about the status and perceived affordances of the book in the medieval period. Students shall be introduced to the processes involved in the creation of a medieval manuscript – its materials, common scripts and decoration. They will also examine traces of the long history of the use of manuscripts: by their medieval contemporaries along with their later owners (personal and institutional). They will examine how particular genres of manuscript were produced to serve particular readerly needs. Exploring traditional and contemporary (digital) research methods and tools, students will be introduced to the field of manuscript studies, and learn how to describe and analyse aspects of the medieval book.
A number of sessions will be held at the University Library where students will get to work with manuscripts from Leiden's world-leading collection. The course offers, therefore, a unique chance to learn about and interact with handwritten books from the early Middle Ages to the dawn of print, through the eyes of the digital present.
Course objectives
Students will:
develop a critical understanding of how medieval manuscripts were produced and used in medieval Western Europe;
learn about and employ traditional and digital research methods and tools used to describe and study medieval manuscripts;
examine the ‘long life’ of the medieval manuscript, from point of production to present day;
investigate the contribution of the manuscript book to the broader history of communication and media.
Timetable
The timetables are available through My Timetable.
Mode of instruction
Seminar
Assessment method
Assessment
Assignment 1 (descriptive analysis of manuscript (physical and digital) and catalogue information): 20%
Assignment 2 (photo essay with commentary, analysing use features of a manuscript): 20%
Assignment 3 (written assignment contextualising the production features and other characteristics of a particular manuscript): 60%
Weighing
The final mark for the course is established by determination of the weighted average. In addition to obtaining a weighted final average of 5.5 or above, students must receive at least 6.0 in the third assignment in order to pass the course.
Resit
The student will have to consult with the instructor to arrange a resit of one or all components.
Inspection and feedback
How and when a paper review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the paper results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the paper results, a paper review will be organised.
Reading list
A reading list will be provided at the start of the course.
Registration
Enrolment through MyStudyMap is mandatory.
General information about course and exam enrolment is available on the website.
Registration Exchange
For the registration of exchange students contact Humanities International Office.
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.
For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: Arsenaal.