King Arthur rules at 'Camelot 2000'

ore than three dozen of the top Arthurian scholars in the world will be at Rochester Thursday-Saturday, October 26-28, to present their work during "Camelot 2000," an international conference exploring the state of Arthurian studies and looking at the future of research into Arthurian legends.

In panels and plenary talks, scholars will discuss medieval and contemporary literature, art, films, and other subjects ranging from "Reading Latin and Reading Arthur" to "Arthurian Cartoons" and "Merlin in the 21st Century."

"The conference will be attended by people who study medieval material and people who look at modern interpretations of Arthurian lore," said Alan Lupack, director of the Robbins Library and conference organizer. "They'll all be able to attend every presentation, follow the interconnections between the different areas of study, and exchange ideas with their colleagues both in and outside of the sessions."

The scholars who'll be speaking include Norris Lacy, Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of French at Pennsylvania State University. Lacy is a renowned expert on medieval French Arthurian romance and general editor of The New Arthurian Encyclopedia. Also participating is P. J. C. Field of the University of Wales at Bangor, the world's leading expert on Sir Thomas Malory's Morte D'Arthur. Another Arthurian scholar taking part is Derek Brewer, editorial board chairman of one of the major publishers of medieval literature and history, Boydell & Brewer, and professor emeritus at Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge.

The conference features a major exhibit of Arthurian books and artifacts from Alan Lupack and Barbara Tepa Lupack's collection of more than 5,000 objects, including books, movie posters, advertisements, games, memorabilia from Arthurian youth groups, and other items. Camelot 2000: A Millennial Exhibition will occupy 33 cases throughout Rush Rhees Library--in the Friedlander Lobby, the Great Hall, the Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, and the Robbins Library--from Thursday, October 26, to the end of January (check the Currents calendar for hours). A good deal of the material focuses on three major writers--Sir Thomas Malory, Alfred Tennyson, and T. H. White--but many other authors, from the famous to the obscure, are represented.

In addition, check the Currents calendar for information on the "Camelot 2000 Film Series," which is designed to show a range of films that have been inspired by the Arthurian legends to demonstrate how those legends have become a vital part of popular culture.

The Lupacks also have created a Web site, the Camelot Project at the University of Rochester, with a database of Arthurian texts, images, bibliographies, and basic information. Check it out at www.lib.rochester.edu/camelot/cphome.stm.

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