On The Strange Place of Religion in Contemporary Art, cover, opening, and chapter 1 By James Elkins

https://www.academia.edu/163552/On_The_Strange_Place_of_Religion_in_Contemporary_Art_cover_opening_and_chapter_1?nav_from=e7680dc7-6d9b-40ab-b6d6-511a3f3cd5b6 This book is a speculative attempt to describe why serious religious art that represents major religions is largely excluded from the art world. Why do the major venues of international art, and the principal journals and historians, consider only work that is ambiguous, ironic, or critical in relation to the major religions? The book has resulted in a number of shorter publications, conferences, and catalog essays, most of which are listed on the vita; this is an ongoing issue between the (relatively small) art world, which is mainly secular, and the (very large) domain of serious religionists who also make art. Chapter 1, "The Words 'Religion' and 'Art,'" sets the stage for the discussions that follow by providing temporary definitions. I also propose a heuristic definition of "spirituality." These aren't prescriptive, but are intended only to guide some of the discussion later in the book. Originally published as On the Strange Place of Religion in Contemporary Art (New York: Routledge, 2004). Now on Kindle.