The So What
@thesowhat.bsky.social
A public-facing, digital publication focusing on the ‘whys’ and ‘so whats’ of medieval studies and pedagogy. Affiliated with Arthuriana.
It's Wednesday, & you're wondering: "What were the smallest, & the largest, annual eel-rent in 12th C. England?" Well, I'm here to help! The smallest was 22 eels, from Hoddeston, for Sir Geoffrey Mandeville. The largest was 75,000 eels, from Harmston, for Earl Hugh of Chester. 🗃️🧪
The brand new, social media-focused issue of TSW just dropped! /1 #medievalsky #arthuriansky
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Applications are open for the 2026/2027 Arthuriana Editorial Fellowship, beginning fall of 2026. Fellows will work with the Arthuriana team to understand the nuances of publishing an academic journal.
The So What welcomes your articles! Email thesowhatpub@gmail.com with your submissions exploring the ‘so whats’ of medieval studies and medievalisms, as well as short, pedagogical and/or creative pieces.
Also coming up, the deadline for proposals for the Arthurian games issue! 3/31! Don’t play around (or do)! #medievalsky #arthuriansky
The So What@thesowhat.bsky.social · 5mo agoAnother exciting #CFP! “Playing Camelots,” is a special issue interested in pieces that examine #Arthuriana in various game genres thru the lens of play, illuminating how Camelot continues to evolve—not only as text & myth, but as system, strategy, & shared experience! #arthuriansky #medievalsky
Don’t forget to send your sports medievalisms proposals to @mairistirlinghill.bsky.social by the 31st! #medievalsky #medievalism
The So What@thesowhat.bsky.social · 6mo agoJust dropped! A #CFP for a Sports Medievalism Special Iss of TSW, guest ed. by @mairistirlinghill.bsky.social! We’re seeking proposals for pieces that engage w/ the relationship between sporting culture & medieval aesthetic! Full CFP attached Deadline: 3/31 #medievalsky #academicsky #sports
Calling submissions 4 a special issue on Arthurian “Kitsch”! The issue’s editors seek pieces examining how #Arthuriana takes material form; how it is ingested, worn, driven, marketed, & generally consumed. Proposals due: 8/1/26 #medievalsky #arthuriansky Full #CFP: www.arthuriana.com/tsw-calls-page
a man with a beard wearing a chain mail helmet and a crown
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Another exciting #CFP! “Playing Camelots,” is a special issue interested in pieces that examine #Arthuriana in various game genres thru the lens of play, illuminating how Camelot continues to evolve—not only as text & myth, but as system, strategy, & shared experience! #arthuriansky #medievalsky
Our friends at @thesowhat.bsky.social have released a new issue that includes articles by Guild members on their creative-critical practice! See their thread for more details on the fascinating articles included👇
The So What@thesowhat.bsky.social · 5mo ago2/ up first we have “Exploring Medieval & Modern Experiences of Migration, and Why it Matters Now More Than Ever,” wherein @lusignanmermaid.bsky.social & @pilgrimteresa.bsky.social discuss a series of #zine workshops they led, events which drew together medieval & modern experiences of migration!
Very proud of these workshops that are part of my @leverhulme.ac.uk fellowship.
The So What@thesowhat.bsky.social · 5mo ago2/ up first we have “Exploring Medieval & Modern Experiences of Migration, and Why it Matters Now More Than Ever,” wherein @lusignanmermaid.bsky.social & @pilgrimteresa.bsky.social discuss a series of #zine workshops they led, events which drew together medieval & modern experiences of migration!
Check out the newest Issue of TSW! #medievalsky #arthuriansky #academicsky #publichumanities The preview 🧵 starts NOW👇/1
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It was believed in medieval times that hedgehogs had spikes so they could roll over fruit to carry home to their children, which is not true but is a really cute idea
Just dropped! A #CFP for a Sports Medievalism Special Iss of TSW, guest ed. by @mairistirlinghill.bsky.social! We’re seeking proposals for pieces that engage w/ the relationship between sporting culture & medieval aesthetic! Full CFP attached Deadline: 3/31 #medievalsky #academicsky #sports
The So What - Sports Medievalism CFP.docx
Call for Proposals: Sports Medievalism - TSW Special Issue *** Submission Deadline for Proposals: March 31, 2026*** In athletics, athletes are often described as ‘throwing down the gauntlet’ when t...
docs.google.com
Please join Arthuriana and Arthurian Literature for a free workshop on academic publishing and behind-the-scenes glimpse at how scholarly journals operate. The workshop will be on March 2nd at 3:00 pm EST and is open to all.
So happy to be a part of this successful venture, and many congrats to the intrepid editors!
The So What@thesowhat.bsky.social · 7mo agoTSW is honored to win The Council of Editors of Learned Journals award for 2025 Best Public Outreach! We’re excited to continue making discussions of the medieval period accessible to everyone. Link: www.celj.org/winners
TSW is honored to win The Council of Editors of Learned Journals award for 2025 Best Public Outreach! We’re excited to continue making discussions of the medieval period accessible to everyone. Link: www.celj.org/winners
We’re thrilled to announce that issue 3 is up & features a special cluster on Netflix’s The Decameron!m! The full issue is available here: www.arthuriana.com/tsw-issues! #pubhums #medievalsky #arthuriansky And now, a quick teaser 🧵 of the pieces in this issue… /1
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Remember the day I learned about The Anarchy: "Wait, there were TWO English civil wars?!?"
Historic Southampton@historicalsoton.bsky.social · 8mo agoOn this day in 1120, the White Ship sank en route from Barfleur to Southampton. William Ætheling, King Henry I’s only legitimate son and heir to the throne, drowned whilst trying to save his half-sister, Matilda of Perche, who also perished. 1/4
This #GivingTuesday, support the next generation of editors! Founded in 2024, the Arthuriana Editorial Fellowship gives early-career scholars and graduate students hands-on experience in scholarly publishing.
Preparing to see "Hamnet" this Thanksgiving? We invite you to read @smithsonianmag.bsky.social's fascinating article on what scholars really know about Shakespeare and his family, including thoughts from Folger Director Farah Karim-Cooper.
The Real History Behind 'Hamnet' and the Tragically Short Life of William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway's Only Son
A film adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s 2020 novel, starring Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley as the Bard and his wife, imagines the lives of the Shakespeare family in fantastical and heartbreaking fash...
smithsonianmag.com
A late Halloween Post: When your dissertation is due in two weeks and the Interlibrary Loan emails accumulating in your inbox are becoming threatening.
In fantastic news for medievalists, 'Perfume and Milk' from Florence + the Machine's new album Everybody Scream contains references to Julian of Norwich's Revelations of Divine Love, and allusions to the General Prology of the Canterbury Tales (as well as, I think, the opening of Fitt II of SGGK)
Florence + The Machine - Perfume and Milk (Lyric Video)
YouTube video by florencemachine
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Genuinely delighted to download a PhD thesis from a university repository where the author has neglected to remove the words "BITCH THIS IS YOUR THESIS" from the filename.
Holding out for the day I find a medieval manuscript opening a shoebox or searching for athletic equipment in my closet. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Rare medieval scroll found in shoebox goes on display in York
The 15th-century Arma Christi, one of only 11 copies, is the focus of a new gallery at Bar Convent.
bbc.com
We're so excited to read and publish it!
Surprised Eel Historian, PhD@greenleejw.bsky.social · 10mo agoI'm finishing up a short essay for @thesowhat.bsky.social about how I went from being a dude with a super-niche history dissertation to being The Surprised Eel Historian. And friends...it will never not be wild to me that frickin' TIME wrote about me and my work. time.com/5886487/eels...
Thei did the Mash; thei did the Monstere Mash. The Monstere Mash: beholde, sepulchral smash! Thei did the Mash, and it kaughte on moost fast - Hark, heare the Mash! Forsooth, the Monstere Mash!
One more while we’re at it! We’re interested in offering TSW authors the chance to commission images to companion their pieces (if they wish). If you are an artist whose work aligns with our values & you'd be interested in being listed, send us an email (thesowhatpub [at]gmail [dot]com) #medievalsky
Call for #medievalsky & related other ski’s!! Guest editors for issues & clusters—we summon you!!! We’re currently looking for individuals or teams interested in #bardcore, craft medievalism & medieval crafts, changing climates, early globalities, & more! #cfp Full guest ed call linked 👇
Call for Guest Editors
Call for Guest Editors: The So What Special Issues The So What welcomes proposals for individual or teams interested in guest editing a special issue on one of the following topics: Bardcore Medieva...
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