We are pleased to announce the 2026 Early Modern Center Spring Speaker Series, on the theme of “Premodern Publics.”
All are welcome for these three exciting talks.
April 21, 3:30 p.m., South Hall 2623*
Rhae Lynn Barnes, Princeton University
“The Peace Pipe and the Sun King: A Seventeenth-Century Culture Clash on the Mississippi”
*Co-sponsored by the American Cultures and Global Contexts Center
Dr. Barnes is an assistant professor of history at Princeton University and the author of Darkology: Blackface and the American Way of Entertainment, which was published last month by Liveright (Norton) to wide acclaim. Darkology was named a book of the month by The New York Times, TIME, and Kirkus Reviews.
Abstract: In 1673, French explorers encountered the powerful Illinois Confederacy and witnessed the awe-inspiring Calumet dance, a display of Indigenous political strength that a bewildered Jesuit priest famously compared to French Baroque ballet. This talk uncovers the fascinating story behind European transcriptions of Native American music, revealing how Western musical notation fundamentally failed to capture the true sound and spirit of these sacred songs. Ultimately, we will explore how these silent notes on a page sparked a centuries- long legacy of cultural extraction, appropriation, and misunderstanding.
May 8, 3:30 p.m., South Hall 2617
Helen Thompson, Northwestern University
“Legerdemain: Demonology and the Baconian Study of Character”
May 21, 3:30 p.m., South Hall 2623
Ayanna Thompson, Arizona State University
“Intentional Casting: The Future of Shakespeare in Performance”