Roland Betancourt Books

Intersectionality, a term introduced in 1989, is gaining significance in academic and civic discussions. It explores overlapping social identities such as race, gender, ethnicity, nationality, and sexual orientation, alongside the systems of oppression and discrimination they face. This book delves into marginalized identities and intersectionality during the medieval era, uncovering often-overlooked dialogues in medieval thought and visual culture regarding sexual and reproductive consent, bullying, non-monogamous marriages, homosocial and homoerotic relationships, trans and non-binary identities, disability representations, and minority oppression. Challenging contemporary perceptions of the medieval world, the author investigates these issues within the Byzantine Empire and its eastern Mediterranean neighbors, utilizing sources from late antiquity to the early modern period. In five chapters, the author presents concise narratives that reveal nuanced insights from medieval thinkers and artists. Notable topics include depictions of sexual consent in Virgin imagery, the roots of sexual shaming through Empress Theodora's story, early trans history through the lives of gender-diverse saints, and medieval understandings of disability. This deeply researched work offers a groundbreaking perspective on medieval culture for a new generation of scholars.

Exploring the intricate dynamics of secrecy within the Byzantine Empire, this book delves into the responsibilities of art historians as they navigate the complexities of uncovering historical truths. It highlights the challenges they face in interpreting art and artifacts while revealing the hidden narratives of a fascinating era. Through this lens, readers gain insight into the intersection of art, history, and the quest for knowledge amidst a backdrop of political and cultural intrigue.

Considering the interrelations between sight, touch, and imagination, this book offers a new approach to how we understand the way that ancient and medieval people believed they saw, and the role that our imagination played in this process. An indispensable contribution to the history of optics, philosophy, and science.