Jayme Martin

History master's student in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Tell us a little about yourself, including what inspires you to learn and continue in your chosen field

I have loved creating art for as long as I can remember. As I got older, my love for creating art grew into a love for learning about art; I love learning the ins and outs of different techniques and media, learning about art history, and learning about people who created art in the past. During my undergrad this merged with my fascination with the early modern world, and eventually with my curiosity about the people often left out of typical historical narratives. My current research revolves around artwork created in early modern England that has been overlooked in scholarship because art historians would describe it as “amateurish” or “crude.” I find this artwork intriguing, and I am passionate about giving it the attention it deserves.

Why did you choose to come to SFU?

I enjoyed completing my BA at SFU. Later in my degree I was introduced to some of the material that I am working with in a course by Dr. John Craig. His interest in the subject, his enthusiasm for the period, and his encouragement helped make SFU feel like the perfect fit for embarking on my MA.

How would you describe your research or your program to a family member?

In Elizabethan England (1558-1603), some scribes elaborately decorated the otherwise mundane records that they were paid to keep, such as parish financial records or bound volumes of registered wills. Within these pages one can find dragons, monsters, flowers, fruit, and many other intricate decorations. For example, at this point in my research, my favourite illustration depicts half of a knight in the belly of a dragon, with his helmet resting on the dragon’s tail. Convention did not necessarily require these scribes to decorate their work, but nevertheless some chose to spend time doing so. Their work is not perfect, and it is not of the same calibre as that of the most elite artists of the period. I suspect that it is largely because of this that these illustrations have never been studied before by scholars, but this doesn’t mean that they don’t contain a wealth of information about the past. I intend to analyze them in order to learn about them, the individuals who created them, and something about life in Elizabethan England.

What three (3) keywords would you use to describe your research?

early modern England; visual culture; manuscripts

How have your courses, RA-ships, TA-ships, or non-academic school experiences contributed to your academic and/or professional development?

My undergraduate coursework in history and archaeology has given me valuable exposure to artwork from different cultures and time periods. I have also gained experience analyzing artwork, including work that has been left out of typical art historical narratives. However, more significantly, my undergraduate coursework entirely changed the trajectory of my career path. When I started my post secondary education I would have told you with full certainty that by 2024 I would be on my way to becoming an elementary school teacher. Although I enjoy working with children, I have discovered that I have a love for history and today my ultimate goal is to end up working in the field.

Have you been the recipient of any major or donor-funded awards? If so, please tell us which ones and a little about how the awards have impacted your studies and/or research

I have been fortunate to receive the William & Ruth Baldwin Graduate Scholarship and a SSHRC CGSM Award. They have given me the privilege of being able to dedicate more time and energy towards my research.

Contact Jayme:jjm22@sfu.ca