Approaches to Visual Culture and Religion

Abstract

Written from the point of view of a historian of religion\s, the article asks why the so-called “visual turn” has not left a major effect on the study of religion\s as an academic discipline and how things could be improved to that effect. It offers a synthetic account of earlier and contemporary involvements of scholars of religion and scholarly networks with images and visual culture, pointing to a general lack of sustained training and little exposure to relevant methodology and theory developed in relevant neighbouring disciplines. The author argues that the study of religion\s would benefit from increased attention to images and visual culture, emphasizing the potential of earlier (iconology in the Warburg-Panofsky tradition and the Groningen trajectory) as well as more recent approaches developed in Europe and theu.s., which theorize the visual in terms of visual culture, visual media, visual and scopic regimes, religious aesthetics and material religion.

The Interplay of Religion and the Visual Arts: A Bibliometric Network Analysis (1991–2023)

“…It is evident that while discussions on pertinent topics like women and visual art commenced as early as the 1990s in the realm of digital media influence, substantial influence within the field of religious visual arts has predominantly surfaced post-2010. This observation also tangentially addresses the Uehlinger (2015) perspective.…”

“…Research highlights the essential role of visual images in religious history, offering a unique lens to reflect on religious ideas and values (Goldburg 2004). This visual perspective provides insights into religion's nature and function that are otherwise difficult to achieve, especially in early societies with limited literacy (Uehlinger 2015). The study of religious iconography, evolving over time, underscores the importance of visual images in religion as a means of communication between the human and the divine (Schwabsky 2000).…”

“…This approach has left a gap in the systematic exploration of the broader interplay between these fields. Uehlinger (2015) points out that many scholars in religious studies often come without the necessary systematic training or a deep understanding of the methodologies and theories from closely related disciplines. Despite three decades of advancements in digital media, there's still a significant lack of comprehensive studies that delve into the intricate layers of interaction between visual arts and religion and their collaborative dynamics.…”

“…Despite these developments, a segment of scholars within religious studies perceive the exploration of visual art and religion's connection as peripheral, particularly those who prioritize textual and discursive methodologies. They often regard visual elements as supplementary, viewing them as enriching yet not essential for comprehensive analysis of religious phenomena (Uehlinger 2015). Engler and Stausberg (2021) indicate that visual media has not profoundly influenced the academic study of religion, leaving it underresearched and lacking in theoretical development regarding visual culture's role.…”

Naga Imagery and the Impact of the Internet on Naga Worship in Thailand

“…Uehlinger used religious works as an example to illustrate art history and works selected by museums, which likely completely ignored popular and mass-produced imagery and objects and the host of religious practices that rely on such items. It has often reduced religious images to historical or aesthetic artifacts, failing to account for their role in the living traditions of the life of a community (Uehlinger 2015). Taking naga art as an example, the collection of naga works in museums in Thailand is limited and many naga images used in daily life are not included in museums.…”