medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
From: Genevra Kornbluth <[log in to unmask]>
> "Sorry examples"
not my phrase.
being Art Hysterical by training, i prefer the more technical term "crappy" to
describe the style of these sorts of artifacts.
>abound where the use of the object, especially by people below the top of the
social ladder, did not require high style.
"require" is a curious way of thinking about it.
> This sort of item will probably never appear in a survey of the fine
arts,
we should hope not.
i can't think of any studies of "crappy" style --as such-- in the 19th c.
(which is a major argument against it being a 19th c. "fake").
though some interesting things were done with "crappy" artifacts in the last
century of the last millennium --mostly exemplars in rather expensive media,
however, like manuscript illumination.
>but it can still provide valuable historical evidence.
absolutely.
"crappy" styles no more "suck themselves out of their own fingers" than High
Styles do.
any theory of "style" must take both (and others) styles into account and seek
to explain their very existence.
>Bone objects often fall into this category, since the material was used for
many of the same kinds of things as the much more expensive ivory.
yes, the Medium may not be the Message, but it certainly goes some ways
towards explaining the Style the message is delivered in --which is why
certain styles of manuscript illumination are so delightfully interesting
(and, so difficult to study).
>For examples, see my 'Medium>bone/antler' page:
> http://www.kornbluthphoto.HistoricalBone.html
or, even better:
http://www.kornbluthphoto.com/HistoricalBone.html
> A Roman doll
http://www.kornbluthphoto.com/images/DollRhodes.jpg
>might be highly naturalistic, but it could also tremendously elongated and
still function well.
yes, esp. if it is "anatomically correct."
>Different forms of dice can nuance our views of gaming, gambling, and
divination.
drifting somewhat Off the Point --or, at least off My point-- i fear.
>And a toy guillotine complete with severed head
http://www.kornbluthphoto.com/images/Guillotine2.jpg
>is a nice comment on the social context of the Terror, even with its
stick-like figures.
drifting even further afield --though i like the very crappy style of the
figures.
>My own scholarly focus has been on engraved gems, among the highest-status
and most beautifully crafted objects of the medieval era.
yes, precisely because of the expensive medium.
pewter (for Pilgrims' badges) was relatively cheap, and whatever exemplars
which might have existed in more expensive media are very, very scarce.
>But I will continue to argue for the historical value of the modest objects
often simply termed "material culture".
a term more often used in Folklore than in Art History, which seems to favor
the term "folk art" --at least when talking about your guillotine or the
Tournai box.
c
> On 11/30/2011 1:41 PM, HenkADSL wrote:
> > medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
> >
> > I know a guy who could make these pewter badges in soapstone in an
> > afternoon. But his casket would look much better than this sorry example.
> >
> > Henk
>
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