The first International Conference 'Middle Ages and Screens' is taking place at the Rey Juan Carlos University (URJC) in Fuenlabrada, focusing on the various interpretations of the Middle Ages as depicted in contemporary media such as films, video games, and television series.
For many young people, their initial exposure to significant historical events from the Middle Ages, including the Crusades and Viking incursions, often comes not from traditional historiography but from popular culture, particularly video games like 'Assassin's Creed' and series such as 'Vikings'.
The conference aims to delve into these interpretations and the themes and codes they encompass. It has brought together a distinguished group of national and international experts, including Juan Francisco Jiménez Alcázar, a professor of Medieval History at the University of Murcia; Santiago Gutierrez García from the University of Santiago de Compostela; and Tomaso di Carpegna from the University of Urbino.
“We want the university to contribute expertise in a public conversation space alongside specialists,” said Alejandro de La Fuente Escribano, a professor in the Medieval History department at URJC and one of the conference organisers. “We are in a world where those who teach or disseminate knowledge about the Middle Ages engage with an audience that lives with screens.”
The conference will analyse works such as the 'Assassin's Creed' video game series and 'God of War', as well as cultural products like 'The Walking Dead', addressing issues such as power, identity, gender, and religion. In addition to the aforementioned experts, specialists from universities including Uppsala in Sweden, Zaragoza, and Complutense University will also participate.
Spanning two days, the event features a mix of presentations and communication panels. It is being held in a hybrid format, catering to both specialised audiences and students from various disciplines, including History, Communication, and Philology.
“This is the inaugural edition, and we aim to establish a stable forum on audiovisual medievalism at URJC,” explained Alejandro de la Fuente. Student participation will be recognised with RAC credits.
