Art and the church : a fractious embrace : ecclesiastical encounters with contemporary art / Jonathan Koestlé-Cate.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Koestlé-Cate, Jonathan, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Christianity and art--History--20th century.

Christianity and art.

Christianity and art--History--21st century.

Art and society--History--20th century.

Art and society.

History.

Art and society--History--21st century.

Genre:

History.

Physical Description:

x, 237 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY : Routledge, 2016.

Summary:

A vibrant critical exchange between contemporary art and Christianity is being increasingly prompted by an expanding programme of art installations and commissions for ecclesiastical spaces. Rather than 'religious art' reflecting Christian ideology, current practices frequently initiate projects that question the values and traditions of the host space, or present objects and events that challenge its visual conventions. In the light of these developments, this book asks what conditions are favourable to enhancing and expanding the possibilities of church-based art, and how can these conditions be addressed? What viable language or strategies can be formulated to understand and analyse art's role within the church? Focusing on concepts drawn from anthropology, comparative religion, art theory, theology and philosophy, this book formulates a lexicon of terms built around the notion of encounter in order to review the effective uses and experience of contemporary art in churches. The author concludes with the prognosis that art for the church has reached a critical and decisive phase in its history, testing the assumption that contemporary art should be a taken-for-granted element of modern church: life. Art and the Church: A Fractious Embrace uniquely combines conceptual analysis, critical case studies and practical application in a rigorous and inventive manner, dealing specifically with contemporary art of the past twenty-five years, and the most recent developments in the church's policies for the arts. Book jacket.

Contents:

1 Porch 1

2 Nave 19

3 Sanctuary 50

4 Crossing 88

5 Chapel 117

6 Transept 144

7 Crypt 165

8 Apse 193.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781472437624

1472437624

OCLC:

926313079