Helene Scheck, Reform and Resistance: Formations of Female Subjectivity in Early Medieval Ecclesiastical CultureReform and Resistance: Formations of Female Subjectivity in Early Medieval Ecclesiastical Culture. Helene Scheck. Albany: State University of New York Press, 2008. Pp. viii+238.
Jenny Bryan
Previous articleNext article FreeHelene Scheck, Reform and Resistance: Formations of Female Subjectivity in Early Medieval Ecclesiastical Culture Culture. Helene Scheck. Albany: State University New York Press, 2008. Pp. viii+238.Jennifer BryanJennifer BryanOberlin College Search for more articles by this author PDFPDF PLUSFull Text Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmailQR Code SectionsMoreThis book addresses a fascinating but tremendously complicated topic: the representation experience women early medieval Germanic cultures, specifically religious during reform movements eighth through eleventh centuries. There was time when phrase “early cultures” might have conjured images shield walls mead-hall boasting, culture which were depressing footnote main show; no more. Thanks efforts feminist scholars, intriguing female figures leap readily mind: influential queens, learned abbesses, ferocious heroine Old English Judith, Terrentian playwright Hrotsvit Gandersheim her defiant saints. Indeed, pendulum has swung so far direction that period recently been seen as kind golden age women, with relatively high levels literacy, independence, legal rights. This is alluring tricky territory, not just because whole categories evidence about women’s lives are decidedly fragmentary or missing altogether. Questions relationships between experience, doctrine practice, secular aristocratic nonaristocratic difficult enough any period, without additional silences lacunae record.Helene Scheck’s Resistance adds another layer provocative complexity subject focusing on under ecclesiastical reform. especially interesting moments cultural change where ideas compete, some avenues possibility cut off, new institutional standards emerge. How much influence individual writers thinkers at such moments? impact reformist mandates expectations gender? The reforms study may improved access education, they also threatened restrict those freedom service ideals tighter monastic regulation uniformly “Roman” orthodox practice. Which elements actually mattered daily practice self-understanding women? If reformers harped impurity body prohibited from performing key rites, example, there aspects allowed create imaginative spaces “culturally intelligible” subjectivities? raises these many other questions. One its most useful contributions suggest how different possibilities intersecting sliding past each centuries.Unfortunately, up general lack coherence book, it founders problem talk gender subjectivity culture. Aiming nuance complication, often ends feeling little schizophrenic. moment, Scheck arguing broad strokes impossibility repressive masculinist regimes; next, she conceding “even stringent reforms…were doomed collapse” (33). Patristic ideology, asserts, demanded woman “subject herself God subjection man, never emerge own right; must resign life abjection, condition culturally unintelligible within dominant ideological framework” (8). But next breath, points out “fluidity Christian ideologies what we call orthodoxy” (9). We read pre-Christian cultures “offered abuse subjugation” (12), elsewhere same credited egalitarian enabled resistance misogynistic Roman values (e.g., 165). desire present complex picture admirable; certainly than two sides story, wades into situation inconclusive scholarship divided. harder achieve underlying tendency all toward simplistic absolute: things better allowing them activity, visibility, agency; worse. traditions patristic theology, “liberal” “conservative” (5); positions movement, Roman-masculinist one Germanic-egalitarian one, forth. Thus, book’s contradictions made dramatic need be, clearly intended “complicated” reads instead unresolved.The ambitious scope becomes further liability. It moves Carolingian Alfredian Benedictine Ottonian reforms, marshaling potpourri texts includes conciliar mandates, poems Charlemagne’s court, Alcuin’s letters transvestite saints’ lives, Genesis B, an array works Gandersheim. While themselves, far-flung cannot sustain weight claims wants make sweeping trajectories trace. Comparative work demand now, again, breadth inquiry method part appeal. centrifugal energy here too great. Given author’s obvious expertise Anglo-Saxon England, focused area successful.The first chapter provides backgrounds rest study, rehearsing themes biblical misogyny gendering soul imago Dei Augustine others would prove factor women. considers, however, relative monastics spread Christianity territories, concluding practical considerations temporarily prevented full implementation misogynist orthodoxy.This last. Chapter 2 their Describing program sought activities purge church feminine pollution, wrestles conflicting accounts reformers’ success. bulk explores camps ranks number court. A poem Theodulf, Bishop Orléans, represents Roman-misogynist camp, offering foil several positive views relatives. Celto-Germanic camp represented Alcuin York. goes argue ensuing although transcended his day, he ultimately unable check continuing decline status. third chapter’s narrower focus single writer welcome development, though could sometimes be presented. I had difficulty, instance, sorting teaching dialogue young Pippin source (54 –56).The fourth fifth chapters turn vernacular literature: Aelfric’s Marian homilies, B. These against backdrop status throughout pagan practices stamped tightened grasp. proved damaging, reducing “spoken subject[s], interpellated text means identification subjects speech” (84). analysis elucidates process. cross-dressing saints Euginia Euphrosyne, argues, entertain transgressive only assert control over reinscribe hierarchy, while developing cult Mary marginalizes idealizing passive queenship silent chastity. And scholars noted even sympathetic treatment Eve “dematerializ[ed] subject” (104) whose abjection “devastating disables immobilizes autonomy levels” (118).The last move triumphantly tenth-century Saxony, recent import, traditional persist, able become powerful writer, subverting conventions reworking male-dominated genres. passion care section, final stronger contains very thorough readings hagiographical texts.No doubt good deal pressure publish hastily possible. shame; revision expanded reading research solved problems resulted contribution promising inquiry. DetailsFiguresReferencesCited Modern Philology Volume 109, Number 3February 2012 Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/663308 Views: 147Total site © Chicago. All rights reserved. For permission reuse, please contact [email protected]PDF download Crossref reports citing article.
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