The Second Annual John N. King Lecture in Medieval and Renaissance Studies will feature Paul Whitfield White (Purdue University), presenting "Mapping, Geopolitics, and London Playhouses."
This paper will address ways in which GIS mapping can help us appreciate more clearly the relationship between early modern London playhouses and their surrounding neighborhoods, particularly as illustrated by the Fortune in the parish of St. Giles Cripplegate. Among matters being considered: 1) the process and challenges of building an open-access, interactive GIS map for theater historians; 2) jurisdictional boundaries (parochial, civic, manorial; clearly or vaguely demarcated, often overlapping) and the geopolitics of the playhouse “district” 3) the reciprocity and conflict that defined relations between playhouses and nearby landmarks and institutions (e.g., aristocratic residences, churches, almshouses); and 4) residential playgoers and play producers (e.g., actors and other theater workers) and local identity.
Paul White specializes in Shakespeare, medieval drama, and early modern drama and literature. In 2008 he published Drama and Religion in English Provincial Society, 1485-1660 (Cambridge UP). His other books include Theatre and Reformation: Protestantism, Patronage, and Playing in Tudor England (Cambridge UP, 1993); Marlowe, History, and Sexuality: New Critical Essays on Christopher Marlowe (AMS, 1998), which he edited for the Marlowe Society of America; and Shakespeare and Theatrical Patronage in Early Modern England (Cambridge UP, 2002), co-edited with Suzanne R. Westfall.
Winner of the Department of English Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching, he has taught Introduction to Graduate Studies (50100), Early English Survey (Engl 24000), Introduction to Drama (23500) Shakespeare (Engl 44200), Medieval Drama in English Society (Engl 52700), and Carnival and Early English Theater (Engl 63300). Professor White served as Director of Graduate Studies from 2000 to 2003.
This event is free and open to the public. Co-hosted by the Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies and the OSU Humanities Institute.
The Humanities Institute and its related centers host a wide range of events, from intense discussions of works in progress to cutting-edge presentations from world-known scholars, artists, and activists, and everything in between. In our current moment of riding the unpredictable currents of the pandemic, we reaffirm the value of in-person engagement. We strive to amplify the energy in the room. But we also recognize the need to be careful and the fact that not all our guests will be able to visit our space. We, therefore, will continue to offer Zoom access to all our events upon request. If you wish to have such access, please send your request to cmrs@osu.edu or moriarty.8@osu.edu.