In researching the idea of Anthropomorphism as something trackable through art history, I have discovered perhaps my word usage may not be truly inline with my focus of study. Anthropomorphism relates to assigning human traits and abilities to non-human or inanimate objects. Anthropomorphology specifically relates "to applying human traits and desires to God." That one really threw me; so much for 'ology' referring 'to the study of..." So where does this leave me now?
My interest lies more in the realm of why there has been throughout history into our modern day a combining human and non human elements into hybrid creations. In 2003, Australian artist Patricia Piccinini made an unforgettable impact on the Venice Biennale with her "Young Family" as shown above.
So far the closest word I have been able to come up with for these kinds of creatures (Angel, Centaur, Merfolk, Werwolves etc) is that of the Chimera.
From a religous standpoint, I believe* (*This is a work in progress) the idea for the imagery of angels with wings appeared in the Biblical cannon after the Hebrews left captivity in Babylon. I will look into this further. If this is true, Babylon's panthesitic, visual dipictions of their hybrid gods, may have had a direct impact on the artistic ideology of the Judeo/Christian traditions which continue to proliferate today. I am very interested in this cross-cultural pollenation of ideas and hope to use this in my research. I just want to be sure I am using the correct terms so that my intention and meaning is correct.
1 comment:
You are getting closer.
Dictionary.com says:
Chimera
1. (often initial capital letter) a mythological, fire-breathing monster, commonly represented with a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail.
2. any similarly grotesque monster having disparate parts, esp. as depicted in decorative art.
3. a horrible or unreal creature of the imagination; a vain or idle fancy.
4. an organism composed of two or more genetically distinct tissues, as an organism that is partly male and partly female, or an artificially produced individual having tissues of several species.
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