Becoming human : the matter of the medieval child / J. Allan Mitchell.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Mitchell, J. Allan (John Allan), 1971- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Children--Europe--History--To 1500.

Children.

Humanity--Social aspects--Europe--History--To 1500.

Humanity.

Identity (Psychology)--Social aspects--Europe--History--To 1500.

Identity (Psychology).

Human body--Social aspects--Europe--History--To 1500.

Human body.

Families--Europe--History--To 1500.

Families.

Material culture--Europe--History--To 1500.

Material culture.

Human ecology--Europe--History--To 1500.

Human ecology.

History.

Human body--Social aspects.

Identity (Psychology)--Social aspects.

Social aspects.

Europe--Social life and customs.

Europe.

Manners and customs.

Civilization, Medieval.

Physical Description:

xxx, 249 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Minneapolis : University of Minnesota Press, [2014]

Summary:

"Becoming Human argues that human identity was articulated and extended across a wide range of textual, visual, and artifactual assemblages from the twelfth to the fifteenth centuries. J. Allan Mitchell shows how the formation of the child expresses a manifold and mutable style of being. To be human is to learn to dwell among a welter of things. A searching and provocative historical inquiry into human becoming, the book presents a set of idiosyncratic essays on embryology and infancy, play and games, and manners, meals, and other messes. While it makes significant contributions to medieval scholarship on the body, family, and material culture, Becoming Human theorizes anew what might be called a medieval ecological imaginary. Mitchell examines a broad array of phenomenal objects--including medical diagrams, toy knights, tableware, conduct texts, dream visions, and scientific instruments--and in the process reanimates distinctly medieval ontologies. In addressing the emergence of the human in the later Middle Ages, Mitchell identifies areas where humanity remains at risk. In illuminating the past, he shines fresh light on our present"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Being Born

Childish Things

The Mess

Epilogue.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780816689965

0816689962

9780816689972

0816689970

OCLC:

863196254