Posted on Friday, January 23, 2026
(Due to the threat of inclement weather and for the safety of our 3D Journeys audience, the January lecture previously scheduled for Monday, Jan. 26 has been moved to Monday, Feb. 2.)
When it comes to observing medieval and early modern timelines, Ethel Dallis Hill History Professor Dr. Kevin Shirley can tell you that there are no seamless transitions.
“I often ask my students to keep in mind that categories and periods of history are constructs we build,” he said. “The lines separating one age from the next are never as clear, hard and fast as we think.”
One such instance is the French town of Avignon, which will be the focus of Dr. Shirley’s presentation to open 3D Journeys’ 16th season on Monday, Feb. 2, at 10 a.m., at Turner Hall. He will discuss in his talk, “Medieval Avignon and the Road to Modernity,” how the small French village that served as a Palace of the Popes for nearly a century went through a tumultuous period and played an important role in the early phases of modern western history.
“Its importance lies not just in the history of the medieval church/papacy but the broader history of Europe in the late Middle Ages,” he said. “I want to examine the ways in which Avignon was not just a medieval phenomenon but one that pointed toward ‘modernity.’”
A Ph.D. graduate of Florida State University, Dr. Shirley has served as the co-affiliate coordinator of National History Day Georgia program since 2012. Among the countries the six-time 3D Journeys lecturer has taught during his nearly 30-year career at LaGrange, he said France is one of the most intriguing.
“The history of France—ancient, medieval, and modern—is rich and complex,” Dr. Shirley said. No matter the period, France has a fascinating story to tell.”
Carolyn Wynens, 3D Journeys Committee Chair, said Dr. Shirley serves as the perfect opener for this season’s exploration of France.
“From the study of Medieval Avignon's role as the seat of the Catholic Papacy in the 14th century, stimulating cultural and economic predominance, to the charming Provencal city of today, this presentation promises to interest all,” she said.
If there is one thing Dr. Shirley said lecture goers will come away with from his presentation, it is heightened curiosity.
“They will get a better understanding of Avignon and the role it played in what Barbara Tuchman referred to as the ‘calamitous fourteenth century,’ he said.
Attendees are asked to park in the lots adjacent to the pedestrian bridge on Vernon Street; a shuttle beginning at 9:30 a.m. will take you to the door. Additional parking is available for walking across the Gulley Gateway bridge on Vernon Street. A Dutch-treat lunch will be available in Pitts Dining Hall following each session.
This season’s lecture and travel series will include presentations from Art & Design Associate Professor Carolyn Ford and English Professor Laine Scott on Feb. 23 and March 23, respectively. The optional trip to France, hosted by President Susanna L. Baxter and First Gentleman Mark Huffman, has filled quickly, reflecting the strong interest from our 3D Journeys community.
For more information, call 706-880-8244 or email 3DJourneys@lagrange.edu.
Category: Events, Community, College
Keywords: Education, Travel
