On the Strange Place of Religion in Contemporary Art

Can contemporary art say anything about spirituality? John Updike calls modern art "a religion assembled from the fragments of our daily life," but does that mean that contemporary art is spiritual? What might it mean to say that the art you make expresses your spiritual belief? On the Strange Place of Religion in Contemporary Art explores the curious disconnection between spirituality and current art. This book will enable you to walk into a museum and talk about the spirituality that is or is not visible in the art you see. Religion And Serious Art Have Grown Apart. While Sister Wendy Speaks Eloquently About Modern Art As If It Were All Religious, Art Historians Distance Themselves From The Very Idea Of Spirituality. And Yet There Is A Tremendous Amount Of Religious Art Outside The Art World. For Millennia, Art Has Been Religious - Even In Times And Places When There Was No Word For Art. Then, In The Renaissance, It Became Possible For Art To Glorify The Artist, Making Viewers Think More Of His Skills Than Of The Subjects He Portrayed. The Modern Artist Faces A More Complex Dilemma - One That No Art Historian Has Talked About Until Now. Can Contemporary Art Say Anything About Spirituality? John Updike Calls Modern Art A Religion Assembled From The Fragments Of Our Daily Life, But Does That Mean That Contemporary Art Is Spiritual? What Might It Mean To Say That The Art You Make Expresses Your Spiritual Belief? On The Strange Place Of Religion In Contemporary Art Is About The Curious Disconnectbetween Spirituality And Current Art. This Book Will Enable You To Walk Into A Museum And Talk About The Spirituality That Is Or Is Not Visible In The Art You See. Preface -- The Words Religion And Art -- A Very Brief History Of Religion In Art -- -- How Some Scholars Deal With The Question -- -- Five Stories -- -- Kim -- -- Rehema -- -- Brian -- -- Ria -- -- Joel -- -- Kim's Story Explained: The End Of Religious Art -- -- Rehema's Story Explained: The Creation Of New Faiths -- -- Brian's Story Explained: Art That Is Critical Of Religion -- -- Ria's Story Explained: How Artists Try To Burn Away Religion -- -- Joel's Story Explained: Unconscious Religion -- -- Some Words To Describe Spiritual Art -- -- Conclusions. James Elkins. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [117]-132) And Index. For millennia, art has been religious - even in times and places when there was no word for 'art'. Then, in the Renaissance, it became possible for art to glorify the artist, making viewers think more of his skills than of the subjects he portrayed. The modern artist faces a more complex dilemma - one that no art historian has talked about until now. Can contemporary art say anything about spirituality? Is contemporary art is spiritual? What might it mean to say that the art you make expresses your spiritual belief?The Impossibility of Transcendence is about the curious disconnect between spir

Can contemporary art say anything about spirituality? John Updike calls modern art "a religion assembled from the fragments of our daily life," but does that mean that contemporary art is spiritual? What might it mean to say that the art you make expresses your spiritual belief?

On the Strange Place of Religion in Contemporary Art explores the curious disconnection between spirituality and current art. This book will enable you to walk into a museum and talk about the spirituality that is or is not visible in the art you see.