Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Folie (Folly and the Feminine in the Renaissance)
Reporting period: 2023-05-01 to 2025-04-30
In Western cultural tradition, folly and femininity have long been linked—often pejoratively. This enduring association reflects a history of gendered stereotypes and philosophical hierarchies. During the Renaissance, the theme of folly became a pervasive motif in literature and art, giving voice to the anxieties of an age marked by war, religious upheaval, and global discovery. Folie explores a counter-narrative within this tradition: a reinterpretation that views folly and the feminine not as pejorative categories, but as subversive sources of wisdom and spiritual insight.
At the heart of this project lies Erasmus of Rotterdam’s "Praise of Folly", a seminal text that playfully reconfigures traditional hierarchies of knowledge and virtue. Folie examines how Erasmus’s work—and that of key figures who followed in his intellectual wake—recasts folly as a space of possibility rather than deficiency. In particular, this tradition draws upon a reading of the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians, interpreting its exaltation of the weak, the humble, and the rejected as a theological affirmation of those marginalized by power structures, including women.
In this light, the feminine becomes uniquely suited to embody the paradoxical strength of divine folly, the nothingness saved by grace. Women, historically relegated to positions of inferiority, are repositioned within this framework as privileged figures of grace and spiritual inversion. Their association with qualities such as simplicity, humility, and marginality aligns them with the Pauline logic of reversal, in which the foolish confound the wise.
The project addresses a fundamental issue at the heart of Western cultural and theological identity: how difference—particularly gendered difference—has been constructed, criticized, and reimagined. This investigation unfolds along two intersecting lines. First, it unpacks the complex historical processes through which traits such as emotionality, irrationality, or passivity were ascribed to women, seeking to deconstruct these inherited assumptions. Second, it reinterprets “folly” as a theological and philosophical lens through which to view innocence, untamed nature, simplicity, and truth—qualities often dismissed, yet potentially revelatory.
By historically contextualizing these entwined ideas in the writings of Erasmus of Rotterdam and his intellectual heirs, Folie sheds new light on a pivotal moment in European intellectual history. It offers insight into the formation of early modern confessional identities, many of which developed in dialogue with, or in reaction to, the Erasmian model of Christian humanism.
At the heart of this project lies Erasmus of Rotterdam’s "Praise of Folly", a seminal text that playfully reconfigures traditional hierarchies of knowledge and virtue. Folie examines how Erasmus’s work—and that of key figures who followed in his intellectual wake—recasts folly as a space of possibility rather than deficiency. In particular, this tradition draws upon a reading of the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians, interpreting its exaltation of the weak, the humble, and the rejected as a theological affirmation of those marginalized by power structures, including women.
In this light, the feminine becomes uniquely suited to embody the paradoxical strength of divine folly, the nothingness saved by grace. Women, historically relegated to positions of inferiority, are repositioned within this framework as privileged figures of grace and spiritual inversion. Their association with qualities such as simplicity, humility, and marginality aligns them with the Pauline logic of reversal, in which the foolish confound the wise.
The project addresses a fundamental issue at the heart of Western cultural and theological identity: how difference—particularly gendered difference—has been constructed, criticized, and reimagined. This investigation unfolds along two intersecting lines. First, it unpacks the complex historical processes through which traits such as emotionality, irrationality, or passivity were ascribed to women, seeking to deconstruct these inherited assumptions. Second, it reinterprets “folly” as a theological and philosophical lens through which to view innocence, untamed nature, simplicity, and truth—qualities often dismissed, yet potentially revelatory.
By historically contextualizing these entwined ideas in the writings of Erasmus of Rotterdam and his intellectual heirs, Folie sheds new light on a pivotal moment in European intellectual history. It offers insight into the formation of early modern confessional identities, many of which developed in dialogue with, or in reaction to, the Erasmian model of Christian humanism.
To pursue these aims, I have conducted close readings of the works of Erasmus, Guillaume Briçonnet, and Marguerite of Navarre—three key figures in the theological and cultural currents of the French and European Renaissance. My research traces the political, theological, and cultural networks that connect them, examining how each negotiates the relationship between tradition, reform, and gender.
I have published an article on Erasmus’s liturgical reflections on the cult of the Virgin Mary in Loreto, shedding light on his views of femininity and Marian devotion. Additionally, I have completed two forthcoming articles that analyze the theological writings of Briçonnet and Marguerite of Navarre, situating their reinterpretations of feminine folly within the broader Erasmian framework.
My preliminary findings have been presented at numerous academic conferences across the United States and Europe, fostering a productive exchange with leading scholars in the field. Ongoing dialogue with my supervisor has further refined the scope and depth of the project.
Moreover, I have undertaken extensive teaching training, significantly enhancing my ability to communicate research findings, engage with students, and mentor them effectively. These teaching experiences have not only supported my academic development but have also deepened my commitment to scholarly dialogue and effective education.
I have published an article on Erasmus’s liturgical reflections on the cult of the Virgin Mary in Loreto, shedding light on his views of femininity and Marian devotion. Additionally, I have completed two forthcoming articles that analyze the theological writings of Briçonnet and Marguerite of Navarre, situating their reinterpretations of feminine folly within the broader Erasmian framework.
My preliminary findings have been presented at numerous academic conferences across the United States and Europe, fostering a productive exchange with leading scholars in the field. Ongoing dialogue with my supervisor has further refined the scope and depth of the project.
Moreover, I have undertaken extensive teaching training, significantly enhancing my ability to communicate research findings, engage with students, and mentor them effectively. These teaching experiences have not only supported my academic development but have also deepened my commitment to scholarly dialogue and effective education.
The results of this project to date have significantly advanced the current state of research in the field. From a scholarly perspective, one of the most substantial achievements has been the reconstruction of the intellectual and theological connections between Erasmus of Rotterdam, Marguerite of Navarre, and Guillaume Briçonnet. This reassessment has yielded new insights into the history of Christianity, particularly concerning the confessional tensions and realignments of the early modern period
The project offers a deeper understanding of how Erasmus’s ideas were received, reinterpreted, and embedded within French religious and political discourse. In particular, the theme of gendered folly emerges as a crucial lens through which to view the broader cultural reception of Erasmian thought. These findings not only refine our comprehension of early modern religious networks but also contribute to contemporary discussions on gender, authority, and the role of dissenting voices in shaping theological innovation.
The project offers a deeper understanding of how Erasmus’s ideas were received, reinterpreted, and embedded within French religious and political discourse. In particular, the theme of gendered folly emerges as a crucial lens through which to view the broader cultural reception of Erasmian thought. These findings not only refine our comprehension of early modern religious networks but also contribute to contemporary discussions on gender, authority, and the role of dissenting voices in shaping theological innovation.