The Visual Word of God: Text and Visual Art in the Early Church

Modern biblical exegesis and analysis of patristic texts privilege almost exclusively the written word. There is a growing appreciation for another dinemsion to biblical exegesis - the vuisual. Early Christian iconography and visual presentations were more than art. They played a vital role in forming theology, group identity and the consciousness of the community. Using examples from early Christian frescoes, mosaics, and illuminations, the course will demonstrate the reciprocal relationship between text, community, worship and theology. There are zeveral analytical tools to aid in the study of early Christian visuals. Careful attention will be paid to the following: 1) The passages or allusions that are used, or equally important, neglected 2) Where the visual is found also plays a role in determining its role, i.e., whether it is funerary or liturgical 3) The characters or themes depicted in their spatial relationship to each other 4) The influence of Greco-Roman iconography and symbolism 5) The diversw ways in which divinity is depicted 6) The influence of apocryphal or heterodox Christian texts 7) Historical and ecclesiastical pressures confronting the community.