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The Agency of Things in Medieval and Early Modern Art: Materials, Power and Manipulation
This volume explores the late medieval and early modern periods from the perspective of objects. While the agency of things has been studied in anthropology and archaeology, it is an innovative approach for art historical investigations. Each contributor takes as a point of departure active objects that were collected, exchanged, held in hand, carried on a body, assembled, cared for or pawned. Through a series of case studies set in various geographic locations, this volume examines a rich variety of systems throughout Europe and beyond.
The Open Access version of this book, available at has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license
The Open Access version of this book, available at has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license
211 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 22, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 28, 2021
Iconography
Reading this was like reading Dan Brown's novels. The book try to reveal what's hidden between the icons. The icons here focused on the things from medieval age. A study of iconography.
Reading this was like reading Dan Brown's novels. The book try to reveal what's hidden between the icons. The icons here focused on the things from medieval age. A study of iconography.
December 16, 2020
Much Ado About Everything and Nothing
This rigorous study's last words summarizes it's primary objective. By pointing the obvious by expanding on what is popularly known, it adds more weight by drawing from lesser known or explored examples such as deconstructing the lens through which we view everyday tools that carried a different significance back in the day. At the end of the day, as it's often proven by these examples, it is not the object itself that has agency but merely the agency we give it or we let others give it. In the case of sacred artifacts or things that were left behind by saints and other celebrities, are given a whole new meaning through time or they become more important. A king or theologian can add or claim something is of a certain value or alter it to take on a whole new meaning. One of these examples is the modifications the bible suffered through the ages. One word alone changes the message and it gives a new context to it.
Once again, without our agency and interpretation or re-interpretation, inanimate objects or the Holy scriptures themselves would be of little to no value. This was true back then and it is even more so true now.
This rigorous study's last words summarizes it's primary objective. By pointing the obvious by expanding on what is popularly known, it adds more weight by drawing from lesser known or explored examples such as deconstructing the lens through which we view everyday tools that carried a different significance back in the day. At the end of the day, as it's often proven by these examples, it is not the object itself that has agency but merely the agency we give it or we let others give it. In the case of sacred artifacts or things that were left behind by saints and other celebrities, are given a whole new meaning through time or they become more important. A king or theologian can add or claim something is of a certain value or alter it to take on a whole new meaning. One of these examples is the modifications the bible suffered through the ages. One word alone changes the message and it gives a new context to it.
Once again, without our agency and interpretation or re-interpretation, inanimate objects or the Holy scriptures themselves would be of little to no value. This was true back then and it is even more so true now.
November 14, 2020
Found the book and the authors to be very pretentious.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews