From kisses to conservation. Aspects of materiality and emotions on material sacredness and sacred heritage in post-Reformation Sweden (original) (raw)

Abstract

This paper wishes to explore the material and emotional impact of the heritagisation of Catholic sacredness and traditions that took place in 17th century post-Reformation Sweden. The change in religion inscribed Catholic objects, practices and buildings in a historic and aesthetic context, and performed a transformation from kissing and caressing to see-but-not-touch, from dialogue and interaction to top-down information, and from physical sensuality to material preservation. I wish to highlight these emotional aspects on sacred materiality, and to discuss what effects the shift from a primarily emotional to an intellectual approach to godly things had on religious objects. I also want to bring forward the less affective and more negative and disturbing emotions towards religious items – in particular items that were out of religious fashion, such as for example incense burners, relics and reliquaries, and statues of various saints. What were the reactions and attitudes towards these outmoded, material and strongly charged memories from a religious past? How was the heritage status used to make these emotionally and politically difficult objects more manageable? I want to discuss this topic and these questions by focusing the process when heritage is produced – by whom, for whom, and with what agenda.

Helena Wangefelt Ström hasn't uploaded this conference presentation.

Let Helena know you want this conference presentation to be uploaded.

Ask for this conference presentation to be uploaded.