People as Pictures: Visualities in Texts and Images from the Second through Fourth Centuries CE

FAIN: FA-52247-06

James Anthony Francis
University of Kentucky (Lexington, KY 40506-0001)

My project explores the modes and range of visualities in verbal and visual representations of the second through fourth centuries, C.E. I will first examine visuality in classical literature and philosophy and in contemporary criticism and theory. From this basis and using both texts and images as sources, I will then investigate the period in question in terms of visuality and divine and human power, verbal and visual imaging of persons, and the visualities of early Christianity. I aim to describe a fundamental cultural shift marking the boundary between classical and late antiquity, one which consisted in redeploying the social functions and power of vision and vesting living persons with the character and qualities of images.