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Program in Scripture and the Arts 2020:

The Arts of Religion and Violence

The Program in Scripture and the Arts at Boston University presents a series on the “Arts of Religion and Violence” for spring, 2020.    The theme is meant to cover everything from graphic representations of violence in a religious mode (broadly defined) to material media – posters, symbols, relics — that instigate or recall violence in a religious mode.    The series begins with Karen King, a specialist in late antique Christianity, who has been working on the interpretation of martyrdom and martyrology.    In the week following this lecture we will have a lunchtime seminar on what “Arts of Religion and Violence” can and should encompass (with a brief reading to stimulate discussion).   Then, in March, SherAli Tareen, a specialist in intra-Muslim “heresy” debates and hostilities in south Asia (and author of Defending Muhammed in Modernity), will present on our topic; and finally, in April, the medieval historian Miri Rubin, author of Gentile Tales: The Narrative Assault on Late Medieval Jews and Mother of God: A History of the Virgin Mary, will wrap up our series.

Spring/2020 Schedule (titles forthcoming!)

Thursday 6 February: Karen King, Harvard University

Wednesday 12 February: lunchtime discussion on Art and Violence, Dept of Religion

Thursday 19 March: SherAli Tareen, Franklin & Marshall College

Thursday 23 April: Miri Rubin, University of London

Illustrations: The two XV-century images at the top of the page epitomize this year’s ScripArts theme.   The one depicts the alleged “ritual murder” of Simon of Trent, an image meant to inflame and provoke the viewer to vengeance on Jews; the second depicts the burning of Bavarian Jews accused of desecrating the Eucharist.