Strange Matter

Medieval and early modern texts reveal a deep fascination with material objects, from ancient heirlooms to ingenious automata. These items, often beautiful or imbued with power, are marked by an uncanny sense of otherness. Their mysterious origins evoke wonder and emphasize temporal and spatial distance, framing them as relics of alternative time schemes. Through their strange and wondrous qualities, such objects act as repositories of temporal alterity, bridging the past and the present in profound ways. This volume brings together contributions from experts in medieval and early modern literature and art history to investigate how texts of these periods use material objects to explore notions of temporal otherness. The chapters illuminate the dynamic interplay between materiality and temporality, showing how objects--both extraordinary and everyday--challenge conventional distinctions between the human and the material. From clothing to glass to humble bubbles, these objects are revealed as participants in complex networks that connect the natural and cultural realms. The discussions uncover how material objects disrupt the status quo, asserting a degree of independence that elevates them beyond mere utility. Whether exploring the hybrid status of Hector's body in Lydgate's Troy Book or the temporal resonance of marvellous artefacts, the book reveals a world where material artefacts possess their own temporal regimes and agency. By foregrounding the 'hybridity' of matter and its intermediary status, this collection anticipates Bruno Latour's critique of the divide between nature and culture. It offers a compelling rethinking of the boundaries between human and material, subject and object, in ways that resonate across disciplines.