Conference To Expose History Of Medieval Underwear

[ER]

http://medievalnews.blogspot.com/

(Excerpts)

A topic that has received little attention from historians gets its moment in the open tomorrow when Binghampton University hosts a one day conference on The Evolution of Underwear from the Middle Ages. The conference will look at various aspects of undergarments from the medieval to the early modern periods.

Carole Frick of Southern Illinois University will tackle  "The Curious Case of Codpieces."

Few have given thought to what lies beneath, which, having a functional role, comprises a system that tells much with respect to social mores and shifting views of the body.

This conference aims to explore the evolution of undergarments from the Middle Ages through the early modern era in a variety of contexts, from the material forms of the garments themselves to their symbolic associations and latent meaning.

The conference takes place on April 24th, from 1:00 to 5:00 pm. The lectures will be followed by an undergarment exhibit and dinner.

[Rev. Powell]

[Insert Trevor's underpants joke here]

[Joe the Destroyer]

Sounds like a show you wouldn't want to skid by. 

[Newt]

http://medievalnews.blogspot.com/
(Excerpts)

...Few have given thought to what lies beneath

They haven't been here, have they!

... which, having a functional role, comprises a system that tells much with respect to social mores and shifting views of the body.

Not so sure I am on board for the whole "shifting views of the body" thing...

This conference aims to explore the evolution of undergarments...in a variety of contexts, from the material forms of the garments themselves to their symbolic associations and latent meaning.

Hooboy: raises such loaded questions as: Have Trev's undergarments yet evolved so far as to achieve sentience?  What 'other contexts'?  As for the rich field of 'symbolic associations and latent meaning' - divination by skidmarks?? - associations (EW!)?? and 'latent' how, exactly...'hidden', 'dormant' or 'potential'?  Could get scary! 

[Trevor]

Hooboy: raises such loaded questions as: Have Trev's undergarments yet evolved so far as to achieve sentience? 

In a word: yes. They're like the baby born in Demon Seed as a result of inter-action between Julie Christie and a computer. Instead of having a baby encased in a robot shell, it is a baby encased in used, cruddy underpants. When all the crud is scraped off, the baby says: "I breathe!" 

[Ed, Ego and Superego]

Actually it sounds rather interesting

[BoyScoutKevin]

Actually it sounds rather interesting

Indeed, it does, as long as they do not give short shrift to the human peacock, the male.

Going beyond the topic of medieval underwear, while I cannot say much about human fashion in this century, as we are less than a decade into it, last century, the 20th was--for me--one of the worst centuries, if not the worst century, for male fashion in the past 1000 years. On the other hand, the previous century, the 19th was--again for me--one of the best centuries,  if not the best century,  for male fashion in the pass 1000 years. Male fashion in medieval times, excluding underwear, falls somewhere between these two extremes.

Unfortunately, I won't be able to attend.