Neo-medievalism

Neo-medievalism (or neomedievalism) is a neologism that was first popularized by the Italian medievalist Umberto Eco in his 1986 essay "Dreaming of the Middle Ages". Prior to this the term was used in Isaiah Berlin's "The Hedgehog and the Fox" to refer to a nostalgic romanticism for the simplicity and order of the medieval period.

In its modern use, it has been used by various writers such as medieval historians who see it as the intersection between popular fantasy and medieval history; as a term describing the post-modern study of medieval history; and as political theory about modern international relations.

The widespread interest in medieval themes in popular culture, especially computer games such as MMORPGs, films and television, neo-medieval music, and popular literature, has been called neomedieval. Critics have discussed why medieval themes continue to fascinate audiences in a modern, heavily technological world. A possible explanation is the need for a romanticized historical narrative to clarify the confusing panorama of current political and cultural events.

Academics have paid increasing attention to neomedievalism, in what some see as a burgeoning field of study. Important works include Carol L. Robinson and Pamela Clements 2009 paper “Living with Neomedievalism,” in Studies in Medievalism, Robinson and Clements’ anthology The Medieval in Motion: Neomedievalism in Film, Television and Electronic Games (forthcoming), a collection of papers from MEMS (Medieval Electronic Multimedia Organization), the academic journal Studies in Medievalism: Defining Neomedievalism(s), panels at the 2009 Annual International Congress on Medieval Studies in Kalamazoo, Michigan included “Neomedievalist Communities” and “Gaming Neomedievally”, and it was the official focus of the entire 22nd Annual International Conference on Medievalism, “Neomedievalisms” (2007).

...
Wikipedia