Gardens and Social Space in Medieval Spain:

Conventional expressions of identity were insufficient to express the unique geographical, political, religious and cultural context that defined medieval Spanish society between the 12th and 15th centuries. Social considerations around Spanish gardens that emerged in response to these needs can be gauged by their persistence as a motif in Spanish literature.

Accordingly, this session hopes to sketch the parameters of garden imagery in medieval Spain that emerged in the course of the reconquista. By considering garden space, we aim to address new or little-explored visual modes occasioned by the reorganization of social space. With this goal in mind, appropriate topics include (but are not limited to) the organization of garden space in medieval Spain, manifestations of cultural memory or religious identity predicated by the interaction of different religious confessions in the garden space, commemoration of the past, and articulations of loss or desire.

Abstracts and inquiries should be directed to: Adriano Duque, Adriano.duque@villanova.edu