Pre-modern firearms are complex and complicated objects. While they were designed to be effective weapons, they were also aesthetic objects. Museums collect these weapons because they are exquisite examples of craftsmanship and artistry. What sort of ethical issues must be considered when a museum displays these objects of art and violence? Can understanding the deep history of guns and gun violence be useful to us in the present? Jonathan Tavares will share with us his perspective on curating historic arms and armor in 21st-century America.

The program in Medieval and Renaissance Studies attempts to recreate the interlocking of many disciplines that characterized Medieval and Renaissance culture.

A certificate program that coordinates a student's training in the Medieval and Renaissance areas in such a way as to enrich the work in the major department while forming a coherent and integrated interdisciplinary experience.