Tagungsankündigung:


EKPHRASIS
Verbal Representations of Art and Virtual Spaces
Through Different Media

May 8 – 10, 2003

International Conference of the Interdisciplinary Research Project 447
'Performative Cultures'
Research Project A1: 'Representation and Kinesthetics'

Ekphrasis as poetic device is as old as western literacy. Archetypically realized in Achilles' shield in Homer's "Iliad", verbal representations of paintings, sculptures and other visual media can be found throughout literary history. Moreover, with its rich descriptions of temples und cities, the Bible contains the blueprints of an ideal Christian architecture, which set a standard for many centuries. It is the desire of our own culture of media and communication to reflect its historical foundations that has put the verbal descriptions of art and architecture in the center of scholarly interest again. As an ancient locus where visual and verbal modes of representation intermingle, ekphrasis may serve as a paradigm to provide concepts of visu-al culture and intermediality with a historical perspective. Poetic descriptions of visual works of art and architecture transform the readers into spectators of images, while deciphering nothing but letters. They guide them through imaginary spaces that exist in their minds only.
The focus of the conference lies on ancient and, above all, medieval descriptions of art and architecture. Our interest will center on the performative, 'moving' und 'animating' techniques of ekphrasis that stimulate kinetic effects in the reader and offer visual aids for navigating through the text. From a view on premodern cultures the focus of the conference will subsequently shift toward transcriptions of word, image and scripture in contemporary arts as well as in electronic media of communication. Main points of interest here are the relationship between mental und physical images, on the one hand, and significant functions of space and spatial form in different arts and media on the other. Last but not least we will have to examine under which circumstances the concept of 'virtuality' can be transferred to phenomena of art and media before and beyond the realm of computer technology.







| oben | Homepage | SUCHEN | Stand: 03/03