The Heroic Age of Gothic and the Metaphors of Modernism
Paul Binski
This article, which was first presented as a lecture, sets out some broad ideas about the domain of aesthetic in medieval art and architecture. At its heart is critique common assumptions mimesis, hermeneutics, univalent categories. Beginning with issue levels style, it argues that recent debates have tended to sever discussion “low” or everyday forms from balanced consideration “high” lofty are more usefully understood relation one another. The notion heroic—great deeds accomplishments—is taken starting point for proposal formalist discussions overlook actually obscure deeper continuities between Christian Middle Ages wonders ancient Islamic worlds. Ideas farsightedness difficulty invention itself seen part continuum poetics rhetoric Antiquity. Doubt cast on validity modernist metaphors style also epistemologically modern categories marginality necessary connection high low displace pleasure aesthetic. Stress placed instead linked dialogic character senses media art. Finally, aesthetics wonder affective techniques artists discussed view opening new debate transformative role
Gesta