Phenomenology of the Icon : Mediating God Through the Image

Interweaving art history, patristics, theology, and aesthetics, this original phenomenological study develops a fresh new approach to the icon.How can something finite mediate an infinite God? Weaving patristics, theology, art history, aesthetics, and religious practice with the hermeneutic phenomenology of Hans-George Gadamer and Jean-Luc Marion, Stephanie Rumpza proposes a new answer to this paradox by offering a fresh and original approach to the Byzantine icon. She demonstrates the power and relevance of the phenomenological method to integrate hermeneutic aesthetics and divine transcendence, notably how the material and visual dimensions of the icon are illuminated by traditional practices of prayer. Rumpza's study targets a problem that is a major fault line in the continental philosophy of religion – the integrity of finite beings I relation to a God that transcends them. For philosophers, her book demonstrates the relevance of a cherished religious practice of Eastern Christianity. For art historians, she proposes a novel philosophical paradigm for understanding the icon as it is approached in practice. Cover Half-title page Title page Copyright page Contents List of Figures Foreword Acknowledgments List of Abbreviations Jean-Luc Marion Hans-Georg Gadamer Patristic Authors Introduction: The Seashell Problem Chapter 1 Understanding the Icon 1.1 The Icon and Art Icon as Artwork Icon as Cult Image Icon in Byzantine Experience Limitations of Art History 1.2 The Patristic Defense of the Icon John of Damascus Iconoclastic Council of Hieria Theodore Studite Missing Mediation 1.3 The Icon in Twentieth-Century Theology The Icon as Inspired Tradition Metaphysical Identification Aesthetic Justification Visibility and Invisibility 1.4 The Icon and Phenomenology Chapter 2 Resonance: Gadamer’s Aesthetics 2.1 Philosophers and the Image Image and Illusion The Truth of Phenomena 2.2 The Aesthetic Event Play Structure Festival Recognition World and Community 2.3 The Painting: Truth and Representation The Image and the Original The Image and the Person 2.4 Rich Mediation Art and Language From Seashell to Sonority Chapter 3 The Window: Marion’s “Icon” 3.1 The Phenomenality of God Early Works: Aim of the Gaze Phenomenological Works: Saturated Phenomena The Icon and Revelation Divine Phenomenality as a “Philosophical” Icon 3.2 The Painted Icon Mimesis vs. Fidelity A Doubly Iconoclastic Icon? 3.3 Transparency and Kenosis Kenosis of Christ Kenosis and the Image Kenosis of the Person 3.4 Transparent Mediation From Resonance to Window Chapter 4 Representation: The Icon and Artwork 4.1 Representation, Recognition, and Paradox 4.2 Glory Gold Center of Organization Mandorla Analysis 4.3 Poverty Predetermined Content Formulas of Style Naming Analysis 4.4 Exceeding Aesthetics From Paradox to Prayer Chapter 5 Presence: The Icon and Prayer 5.1 Manners of Presence Presence of Things, Paintings, Persons Layered Presence: Persons in Pictures Presence and the Icon 5.2 Presence of Prayer: A Response to the Call 5.3 Prayerful Presence of the Icon How the Icon Presents Itself to Us How We Present Ourselves to the Icon 5.4 Real Presence and Iconic Presence Chapter 6 Substitution: The Icon and Veneration 6.1 Image and Gesture 6.2 A Phenomenology of Substitution As If Structure of Substitution 6.3 Icon and Substitution The Legend of the Acheiropoieton Practices of Prayerful Substitution 6.4 Limitations of Substitution Chapter 7 Performance: The Icon and Liturgy 7.1 The Event of Liturgy Multiplying Mediations Time, Space, Community 7.2 Liturgy and Eschatology 7.3 Iconostasis: Closed Door or Open Window? 7.4 Transfiguration of Vision Chapter 8 The Love Letter: Iconic Mediation 8.1 Defining Iconic Mediation Rich Referential Meaning Prayer and Limitation Fragility and Failure Destruction and Resistance Repetition Transfiguration of Vision 8.2 The Seashell Problem Revisited The Seashell Resonance The Window 8.3 The Love Letter 8.4 The Horizon of Love Knowing by Heart A Final Confession Select Bibliography Index How can a finite thing mediate an infinite God? Critically weaving together patristics, theology, art history, aesthetics, and religious practice with the hermeneutic phenomenology of Hans-Georg Gadamer and Jean-Luc Marion, this book proposes a new answer to this paradox based on a fresh and original approach to the Byzantine icon.