The Work of Art in Spiritual Experience
CrossCurrents June 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1353/cro.2024.a951552 (opens in new tab)
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA practicing visual artist argues, drawing on doctoral research, that creating and appreciating visual art can directly provide aesthetic experience relevant to religion. Historical and contemporary examples, along with theoretical work by Mikel Dufrenne and William James, suggest that aesthetic experience can constitute religious experience within several distinct Christian communities, though conventional practices and expectations still challenge this role.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key finding | Argues that aesthetic experience from visual art can constitute religious experience in some Christian communities, though challenged by conventional practices. |
Abstract
Abstract: Writing from the perspective of a practicing visual artist, and drawing from my original doctoral research (D.Min., University of Toronto, 2014), I will show that the creation and appreciation of visual art can provide a direct avenue for aesthetic experience relevant to religion. As my historical and contemporary examples suggest, in connection with the theoretical work of (among others) Mikel Dufrenne and William James, aesthetic experience can constitute religious experience in the context of a number of distinct Christian communities, though still challenged in this role by conventional practices and expectations.