medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
From: Genevra Kornbluth <[log in to unmask]>
> I use the term 'metalwork', of course, only for metalwork and not for
textiles etc.
so i assumed.
> I also dislike the term 'minor arts' both because there is no consensus
on how small is small, and also because too many people still understand
'minor' to mean 'unimportant'. The general term that I substitute is
'luxury arts', but of course that is often inaccurate-- many very
interesting small objects are far from luxurious.
this is close to one of the main points that Wixom brings out in his Year 1200
article: "minor" doesn't call for immediate dismissal.
and even "medium-sized" objects of more or less utilitarian purpose
--chalices, patens, even portable altars count as being among the "minor
arts."
we must remember that the Universe of once-extant objects was much more *vast*
than the paltry few survivals which we have, in any medium --though a lot more
so in some than in others.
and that the more humble, ordinary ones would have had less reason to have
been spared the Melting Pot.
>If you are focusing on things in churches, I would go with 'Ars Sacra'.
then my readers (if any) might well ask, "What the hell do you mean by 'Ars
Sacra"? Minor Arts?"
it's an Insolvable Problem in search of an Unsatisfactory Solution.
but not one i have to find.
only the much more elementary one: what do i call chalices, patens, portable
altars, altar clothes, etc., if not "ecclesiastical furniture"?
which i happen to have an Aversion to.
c
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