Skip to main content

Rina Arya

University of Hull, Faculty of Arts, Cultures and Education, Faculty Member

Followers

745

Following

79

Public Views

Professor at the University of Hull.

Main research areas:
- Postwar British art especially Francis Bacon.
- Georges Bataille.
- Abjection and representation.
- Cultural appropriation.
-Decolonisation.

less

Dr Anishka Gheewala

London School of Economics and Political Science

Chandra de Silva

Old Dominion University

sanjoy mazumdar

University of Copenhagen

Shanghai International Studies University

Istituto Marangoni

shubhangi agarwalla

National Law University, Delhi.

University College London

Atreyee Majumder

National Law School of India University

InterestsView All (10)

Uploads

Books by Rina Arya

Journey to the Centre of the Self

Journey to the Centre of the Self, 2024

This pioneering book is consciousness-raising about the invisible stories of generations of psych... more This pioneering book is consciousness-raising about the invisible stories of generations of psychiatrists who have been working in the UK. Discourse on cultural psychiatry seeks to make practitioners more culturally aware. This necessitates two steps. Firstly, the recognition of white privilege and the impact this has on institutional policies and practice and, secondly, what we can learn from the marginalised groups themselves. In addressing the barriers to the uptake of mental health services studies have sought the views of patients but not psychiatrists from these groups, which is remiss. This highlights a gap in the literature which needs vitally to be addressed in Britain’s increasingly ethnically diverse population. And, crucially by exposing white privilege, cultural issues become viewed not as problems that need fixing but rather frameworks that need to be understood and worked with.

Abject Visions: Powers of Horror in Art and Visual Culture

This major new volume brings together leading international scholars to debate the continuing imp... more This major new volume brings together leading international scholars to debate the continuing importance and relevance of the concept of abjection for the interpretation of modern and contemporary culture. This genuinely interdisciplinary collection includes important new essays that draw on the work of Georges Bataille, Judith Butler, Julia Kristeva and other key critical thinkers to provide innovative readings of works of art, film, theatre and literature. The clear and accessible essays in this volume extend the existing literature on abjection in exciting new ways to demonstrate the enduring richness of the concept.

Abjection and Representation: An Exploration of Abjection in the Visual Arts, Film and Literature

Palgrave Macmillan, 2014

Francis Bacon: Painting in a Godless World

Lund Humphries, 2012

Contemplations of the Spiritual in Art (Cultural Interactions: Studies in the Relationship Between the Arts) [Paperback]

Francis Bacon: Critical and Theoretical Perspectives

Chila Kumari Burman: shakti, sexuality and bindi girls

Papers by Rina Arya

Cultural appropriation: analysing the use of Hindu symbols within consumerism

The use of Hindu symbols in the media and within consumer culture has led to tensions as symbols ... more The use of Hindu symbols in the media and within consumer culture has led to tensions as symbols become dislocated from their religious or socio-political meaning and are perceived to be distorted. In this context Rina Arya discusses the need for greater scholarship to explore notions of appropriation and cultural boundaries.

DNH Arya Bacon single pages RS

The British Art Journal XXIV, no. 3, 2024

upwards, in the newfound perspective of the death of God, proposing the Übermensch as a higher ma... more upwards, in the newfound perspective of the death of God, proposing the Übermensch as a higher man that surpasses the previous type of human that was subject to enslavement by Christian morality, Bacon instead looks downwards at the Untermensch, a lowly human enslaved by animal instinct. Even the Pope on high, occupying arguably one of the most powerful of public offices, cannot escape his hopeless destiny as a mere man. His preachings fall into the chasm, the open mouth of the scream. Bacon drew on photographs of animals, in collections he owned or came across, as a way of expanding his vocabulary of human forms. He needed a language to express the consequences of the absence of transcendence, that is, the levelling of the human with the animal. In becoming animal, the human was no different from the animal and was governed by the same instinctual forces. 5 Some of Bacon's figures, such as Two Figures (1953) and Two Figures in the Grass (1954), succumb to their animality whilst others, especially his popes, experience the descent into animality. No one was sparednot even his friends or lovers, who were subject to the same forces of nature and were also 'taken apart'. 6

Cultural responses to face coverings: South Asian women's perspectives

This research note conveys the views of three women with South Asian backgrounds on face covering... more This research note conveys the views of three women with South Asian backgrounds on face coverings which became mandatory in certain places in the UK during Covid-19. All three women made connections between wearing face coverings and the practice of veiling associated with Islam. The conversations that ensued explored the ramifications of the action of covering their faces in relation to cultural memories, isolation, and discrimination.

Religion in lockdown: worship in the time of Covid-19

The state of lockdown during Covid-19 had a significant impact on the way in which religion was p... more The state of lockdown during Covid-19 had a significant impact on the way in which religion was practised with respect to attitudes towards faith, rituals, and ways of worshipping. This study captures the experiences of practitioners of different faiths in the immediate aftermath of the first lockdown in the UK. Questions were designed to prompt reflection on this drastic change to normal life. The study shows that the experience of lockdown not only provided people with space to think about their faith but also forced them to confront their praxis. What emerged were the novel ways in which respondents engaged with digital technology (the practice of religion online) and material culture to facilitate worship.

Religion Compass Locating religion in contemporary art

The place of religion in the context of contemporary art is fraught and complex. This article dis... more The place of religion in the context of contemporary art is fraught and complex. This article discusses three prominent ways in which religion is explored in contemporary art: in sociopolitics, in art that transgresses, and in the creation of spaces of contemplation, some of which may be 'religious'. Each of these ways have in common the exploration of religion primarily in terms of its lived experience and practices (within identity and the material world) rather than through religious belief or the institutions of religion.

The Chamber of Banality: Hell on Earth

Cultural appropriation: What it is and why it matters

Sociology Compass, 2021

Cultural appropriation is a highly contested subject within the media and society more broadly, o... more Cultural appropriation is a highly contested subject within the media and society more broadly, often provoking moral outrage. It is receiving increasing interest within the academy and the last 20 years have seen the publication of a number of important studies. Cultural appropriation takes many forms, covers a range of types of action, and has many consequences. It is not a uniform practice and needs to be assessed on a case by case basis but there are common themes and issues. What follows is a discussion of the key concepts and literature in the field.

'Seeing-as': The Modality of Looking in Bacon's Portraiture

This article examines Francis Bacon's treatment of portraits of sitters who were close to him -a ... more This article examines Francis Bacon's treatment of portraits of sitters who were close to him -a closeness that is seen in the intimacy of their portrayals. Bacon cut through the surface to capture the energy of a person. This study articulates Bacon's pictorial problem by arguing for a particular way of 'seeing-as', to draw on Ludwig Wittgenstein's philosophy, that involves the 'noticing of an aspect' or 'dawning of an aspect'. Interpreting Bacon's portraits by using Wittgenstein's understanding of perceptual concepts and the phenomenological perspective of the immediacy of experience presents a novel way of looking at his work.

Religion and the Arts 24 (2020) 588-603 RELIGION and the ARTS Debasing the Deity The Material Culture of Hinduism

Debasing the Deity

This article considers cases in the media of the cultural appropriation of Hindu symbols by Weste... more This article considers cases in the media of the cultural appropriation of Hindu symbols by Western fashion designers. Hinduism has a rich tradition of visual and material culture and designers are attracted to the aesthetic and symbolism of Hindu imagery. This has led to protests by Hindu groups who have objected to the uses to which their religion has been put. This article addresses the issues that have caused offence as a way of understanding what is sacred to the aforementioned group and of establishing greater understanding about what is deemed to be acceptable. Keywords cultural appropriation-Hinduism in fashion-darshan-modalities of the sacred In the last fifteen years or so, Hinduism in fashion has been the subject of media storms about the cultural appropriateness-the cultural appropriation-of particular garments and accessories including yoga mats, coasters, socks and toilet seats. Reports of cultural appropriation make good media headlines because of their sensationalism, especially if celebrities are involved, and because of questions they raise about the rights to a particular culture. In 1999 Sittin' Pretty Designs (a Seattle-based manufacturer specializing in home-ware goods) produced a series of toilet seats in the "Sacred Seat Collection" that featured deities from different religious traditions, including Ganesh and Kali from Hinduism. In 2005 the French company Minelli brought out a shoe that was adorned with the image of Rama, the seventh avatar of Vishnu. Similar cases of offensive footwear included the

Frames of meaning: the space-frame in Bacon

A common motif in Francis Bacon's work is the use of a space-frame that is typically a three-dime... more A common motif in Francis Bacon's work is the use of a space-frame that is typically a three-dimensional structuring device mapped around a whole or partial figure. Each iteration differs with respect to the form it takes, materiality, degree of finish/ resolution, and viewpoint. The manifold varieties of the space-frame give rise to a number of structures, each with different connotations; some resemble glass boxes, cages, or booths; others are less developed and more vestigial. The space-frames have formal and metaphorical applications and are significant in Bacon's oeuvre not least because of their ongoing use, which started in the late 1920s and continued up to 1988, with predominant use in the 1950s. This article will examine the different uses to which Bacon put these framing devices by analyzing the relationship between the figure and the interior.

Whose history is it anyway? The case of Exhibit B

In 2014, Brett Bailey's Exhibit B site-specific installation created a media storm and protests t... more In 2014, Brett Bailey's Exhibit B site-specific installation created a media storm and protests throughout Europe. One such protest was in London, leading to the cancellation of his show at the Barbican. Consternation caused by art work is not a new phenomenon, and indeed one of the enduring purposes of art is to push the boundaries of acceptability and to show sights that are normally kept hidden from the public gaze.

Black Feminism in the Academy

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion., 2012

Purpose -This paper aims to be a critical reflection on the author's position as a Black female a... more Purpose -This paper aims to be a critical reflection on the author's position as a Black female academic in the academy, and comes from a motivation to raise Black consciousness about the importance of Black feminist scholarship. Design/methodology/approach -The author identifies the unique position of Black feminism, which has had to define itself apart from second-wave feminism of the 1970s, which marginalised non-White women and the Civil Rights movement, which marginalised women. The oppression faced by Black feminists is apparent in the shifting platforms of identity that Black feminists occupy in the academy. Another obstacle is the restricted and incomplete picture of feminism in the academy, which sidelines Black feminist writing. One of the ways to raise awareness is to focus on the corpus of Black writing and to re-position it within academic core curricula, rather than relegating it to specialised courses. Findings -It is found that Black feminism is marginalised in the academy in scholarship and representation. It is also found that students are more receptive to ideas about feminism when approaching the subject indirectly. Research limitations/implications -One limitation of the study is an absence of theoretical literature from a UK context. Social implications -The paper highlights the marginalisation of Black feminism in the academy. Originality/value -The subjects of "feminism in academia" and the representation of "Black and minority ethnics in the Academy" have been explored in scholarship. However the combination of these terms, namely the role of the Black feminist in the academy, is a comparatively unexplored subject. Hence, the originality of this paper.

Journey to the Centre of the Self

Journey to the Centre of the Self, 2024

This pioneering book is consciousness-raising about the invisible stories of generations of psych... more This pioneering book is consciousness-raising about the invisible stories of generations of psychiatrists who have been working in the UK. Discourse on cultural psychiatry seeks to make practitioners more culturally aware. This necessitates two steps. Firstly, the recognition of white privilege and the impact this has on institutional policies and practice and, secondly, what we can learn from the marginalised groups themselves. In addressing the barriers to the uptake of mental health services studies have sought the views of patients but not psychiatrists from these groups, which is remiss. This highlights a gap in the literature which needs vitally to be addressed in Britain’s increasingly ethnically diverse population. And, crucially by exposing white privilege, cultural issues become viewed not as problems that need fixing but rather frameworks that need to be understood and worked with.

Abject Visions: Powers of Horror in Art and Visual Culture

This major new volume brings together leading international scholars to debate the continuing imp... more This major new volume brings together leading international scholars to debate the continuing importance and relevance of the concept of abjection for the interpretation of modern and contemporary culture. This genuinely interdisciplinary collection includes important new essays that draw on the work of Georges Bataille, Judith Butler, Julia Kristeva and other key critical thinkers to provide innovative readings of works of art, film, theatre and literature. The clear and accessible essays in this volume extend the existing literature on abjection in exciting new ways to demonstrate the enduring richness of the concept.

Abjection and Representation: An Exploration of Abjection in the Visual Arts, Film and Literature

Palgrave Macmillan, 2014

Francis Bacon: Painting in a Godless World

Lund Humphries, 2012

Contemplations of the Spiritual in Art (Cultural Interactions: Studies in the Relationship Between the Arts) [Paperback]

Francis Bacon: Critical and Theoretical Perspectives

Chila Kumari Burman: shakti, sexuality and bindi girls

Cultural appropriation: analysing the use of Hindu symbols within consumerism

The use of Hindu symbols in the media and within consumer culture has led to tensions as symbols ... more The use of Hindu symbols in the media and within consumer culture has led to tensions as symbols become dislocated from their religious or socio-political meaning and are perceived to be distorted. In this context Rina Arya discusses the need for greater scholarship to explore notions of appropriation and cultural boundaries.

DNH Arya Bacon single pages RS

The British Art Journal XXIV, no. 3, 2024

upwards, in the newfound perspective of the death of God, proposing the Übermensch as a higher ma... more upwards, in the newfound perspective of the death of God, proposing the Übermensch as a higher man that surpasses the previous type of human that was subject to enslavement by Christian morality, Bacon instead looks downwards at the Untermensch, a lowly human enslaved by animal instinct. Even the Pope on high, occupying arguably one of the most powerful of public offices, cannot escape his hopeless destiny as a mere man. His preachings fall into the chasm, the open mouth of the scream. Bacon drew on photographs of animals, in collections he owned or came across, as a way of expanding his vocabulary of human forms. He needed a language to express the consequences of the absence of transcendence, that is, the levelling of the human with the animal. In becoming animal, the human was no different from the animal and was governed by the same instinctual forces. 5 Some of Bacon's figures, such as Two Figures (1953) and Two Figures in the Grass (1954), succumb to their animality whilst others, especially his popes, experience the descent into animality. No one was sparednot even his friends or lovers, who were subject to the same forces of nature and were also 'taken apart'. 6

Cultural responses to face coverings: South Asian women's perspectives

This research note conveys the views of three women with South Asian backgrounds on face covering... more This research note conveys the views of three women with South Asian backgrounds on face coverings which became mandatory in certain places in the UK during Covid-19. All three women made connections between wearing face coverings and the practice of veiling associated with Islam. The conversations that ensued explored the ramifications of the action of covering their faces in relation to cultural memories, isolation, and discrimination.

Religion in lockdown: worship in the time of Covid-19

The state of lockdown during Covid-19 had a significant impact on the way in which religion was p... more The state of lockdown during Covid-19 had a significant impact on the way in which religion was practised with respect to attitudes towards faith, rituals, and ways of worshipping. This study captures the experiences of practitioners of different faiths in the immediate aftermath of the first lockdown in the UK. Questions were designed to prompt reflection on this drastic change to normal life. The study shows that the experience of lockdown not only provided people with space to think about their faith but also forced them to confront their praxis. What emerged were the novel ways in which respondents engaged with digital technology (the practice of religion online) and material culture to facilitate worship.

Religion Compass Locating religion in contemporary art

The place of religion in the context of contemporary art is fraught and complex. This article dis... more The place of religion in the context of contemporary art is fraught and complex. This article discusses three prominent ways in which religion is explored in contemporary art: in sociopolitics, in art that transgresses, and in the creation of spaces of contemplation, some of which may be 'religious'. Each of these ways have in common the exploration of religion primarily in terms of its lived experience and practices (within identity and the material world) rather than through religious belief or the institutions of religion.

The Chamber of Banality: Hell on Earth

Cultural appropriation: What it is and why it matters

Sociology Compass, 2021

Cultural appropriation is a highly contested subject within the media and society more broadly, o... more Cultural appropriation is a highly contested subject within the media and society more broadly, often provoking moral outrage. It is receiving increasing interest within the academy and the last 20 years have seen the publication of a number of important studies. Cultural appropriation takes many forms, covers a range of types of action, and has many consequences. It is not a uniform practice and needs to be assessed on a case by case basis but there are common themes and issues. What follows is a discussion of the key concepts and literature in the field.

'Seeing-as': The Modality of Looking in Bacon's Portraiture

This article examines Francis Bacon's treatment of portraits of sitters who were close to him -a ... more This article examines Francis Bacon's treatment of portraits of sitters who were close to him -a closeness that is seen in the intimacy of their portrayals. Bacon cut through the surface to capture the energy of a person. This study articulates Bacon's pictorial problem by arguing for a particular way of 'seeing-as', to draw on Ludwig Wittgenstein's philosophy, that involves the 'noticing of an aspect' or 'dawning of an aspect'. Interpreting Bacon's portraits by using Wittgenstein's understanding of perceptual concepts and the phenomenological perspective of the immediacy of experience presents a novel way of looking at his work.

Religion and the Arts 24 (2020) 588-603 RELIGION and the ARTS Debasing the Deity The Material Culture of Hinduism

Debasing the Deity

This article considers cases in the media of the cultural appropriation of Hindu symbols by Weste... more This article considers cases in the media of the cultural appropriation of Hindu symbols by Western fashion designers. Hinduism has a rich tradition of visual and material culture and designers are attracted to the aesthetic and symbolism of Hindu imagery. This has led to protests by Hindu groups who have objected to the uses to which their religion has been put. This article addresses the issues that have caused offence as a way of understanding what is sacred to the aforementioned group and of establishing greater understanding about what is deemed to be acceptable. Keywords cultural appropriation-Hinduism in fashion-darshan-modalities of the sacred In the last fifteen years or so, Hinduism in fashion has been the subject of media storms about the cultural appropriateness-the cultural appropriation-of particular garments and accessories including yoga mats, coasters, socks and toilet seats. Reports of cultural appropriation make good media headlines because of their sensationalism, especially if celebrities are involved, and because of questions they raise about the rights to a particular culture. In 1999 Sittin' Pretty Designs (a Seattle-based manufacturer specializing in home-ware goods) produced a series of toilet seats in the "Sacred Seat Collection" that featured deities from different religious traditions, including Ganesh and Kali from Hinduism. In 2005 the French company Minelli brought out a shoe that was adorned with the image of Rama, the seventh avatar of Vishnu. Similar cases of offensive footwear included the

Frames of meaning: the space-frame in Bacon

A common motif in Francis Bacon's work is the use of a space-frame that is typically a three-dime... more A common motif in Francis Bacon's work is the use of a space-frame that is typically a three-dimensional structuring device mapped around a whole or partial figure. Each iteration differs with respect to the form it takes, materiality, degree of finish/ resolution, and viewpoint. The manifold varieties of the space-frame give rise to a number of structures, each with different connotations; some resemble glass boxes, cages, or booths; others are less developed and more vestigial. The space-frames have formal and metaphorical applications and are significant in Bacon's oeuvre not least because of their ongoing use, which started in the late 1920s and continued up to 1988, with predominant use in the 1950s. This article will examine the different uses to which Bacon put these framing devices by analyzing the relationship between the figure and the interior.

Whose history is it anyway? The case of Exhibit B

In 2014, Brett Bailey's Exhibit B site-specific installation created a media storm and protests t... more In 2014, Brett Bailey's Exhibit B site-specific installation created a media storm and protests throughout Europe. One such protest was in London, leading to the cancellation of his show at the Barbican. Consternation caused by art work is not a new phenomenon, and indeed one of the enduring purposes of art is to push the boundaries of acceptability and to show sights that are normally kept hidden from the public gaze.

Black Feminism in the Academy

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion., 2012

Purpose -This paper aims to be a critical reflection on the author's position as a Black female a... more Purpose -This paper aims to be a critical reflection on the author's position as a Black female academic in the academy, and comes from a motivation to raise Black consciousness about the importance of Black feminist scholarship. Design/methodology/approach -The author identifies the unique position of Black feminism, which has had to define itself apart from second-wave feminism of the 1970s, which marginalised non-White women and the Civil Rights movement, which marginalised women. The oppression faced by Black feminists is apparent in the shifting platforms of identity that Black feminists occupy in the academy. Another obstacle is the restricted and incomplete picture of feminism in the academy, which sidelines Black feminist writing. One of the ways to raise awareness is to focus on the corpus of Black writing and to re-position it within academic core curricula, rather than relegating it to specialised courses. Findings -It is found that Black feminism is marginalised in the academy in scholarship and representation. It is also found that students are more receptive to ideas about feminism when approaching the subject indirectly. Research limitations/implications -One limitation of the study is an absence of theoretical literature from a UK context. Social implications -The paper highlights the marginalisation of Black feminism in the academy. Originality/value -The subjects of "feminism in academia" and the representation of "Black and minority ethnics in the Academy" have been explored in scholarship. However the combination of these terms, namely the role of the Black feminist in the academy, is a comparatively unexplored subject. Hence, the originality of this paper.

The Influence of Roy de Maistre on Francis Bacon

Very little is said about the Australian artist Roy de Maistre in scholarship on Francis Bacon, a... more Very little is said about the Australian artist Roy de Maistre in scholarship on Francis Bacon, apart from the fact that he provided guidance about painting processes and other technical issues. There are a number of reasons for this and this article seeks to look at the relationship between de Maistre and Bacon. Although their period of overlap was short-lived, lasting less than a decade, de Maistre was an important figure in Bacon's early career and significant in his transition from design to painting. Since De Maistre aided Bacon both in his development as a painter and also in his career by introducing him to useful contacts and involving him in exhibitions, perhaps the focus should now be placed on points of stylistic and thematic influence.

Rethinking Black Art as a Category of Experience

The Animal Surfaces: The Gaping Mouth in Francis Bacon's Work

Contemporary South Asia Inter-generational perspectives on caste: a Hindu Punjabi study

Caste in its manifold aspects has been a feature of studies about the Indian subcontinent.

Abjection Interrogated Uncovering The Relation Between Abjection and Disgust

Julia Kristeva's theory of abjection, as propounded in Powers of Horror, emphasises the centralit... more Julia Kristeva's theory of abjection, as propounded in Powers of Horror, emphasises the centrality of the repulsion caused by bodily experience in human life, and explains behaviours in and attitudes to our environment. The phenomenology of abjection bears similarities to the phenomenology of disgust. Both involve physical feelings of repulsion caused by a source, and the concomitant need to reject the source in various ways. Abjection is conceptualized within a psychoanalytic framework where it refers to the repudiation of the maternal prior to the production of an autonomous subject, and the subsequent rejection of disgusting substances in later life. But apart from its role in such a psychoanalytic account, are there any other significant differences that exist between abjection and disgust, or are we looking at a distinction without a difference?

Reflections on the Spiritual in Rothko

Much has been made of the metaphysical aspects of Mark Rothko's abstract art, especially his clas... more Much has been made of the metaphysical aspects of Mark Rothko's abstract art, especially his classic works of the 1950s and the Seagram murals. The claims for the spiritual-ity of Rothko's work are by no means unique either to his art or to art in general. Indeed there are many people who probe cultural forms, such as art, in order to reflect on life and broader questions that can be classed as spiritual concerns. The " revelations " that Rothko's classic works give rise to, as described by visitors and commentators alike, reflect this phenomenon, and, taking this view further, explain why secular institutions such as art galleries can be spaces for spiritual experience. Rothko presents an interesting case as his work can be understood as spiritual in a broadly numinous way with recourse to the concepts of the sublime and the mystical as well as reflecting aspects of his Jewish identity. The intention of this article is to discuss the different spiritual aspects of Rothko's work, particularly of his later career, in order to argue for the coexistence of these different strands, as well as to show the progression of his ideas. Keywords the sublime – mysticism – spirituality – abstraction – the Rothko Chapel Much has been made of the metaphysical aspects of Mark Rothko's abstract art, especially his classic works of the 1950s and the Seagram murals, the latter having been brought to public attention by the installation of the " Rothko room " at the Tate.1 The sheer size of the canvases, the scale of forms, and 1 In early 1958 Rothko was commissioned to paint a series of murals for the Four Seasons restaurant on the ground floor of New York's Seagram building. Unconvinced by the suitability of a private dining room for the contemplation of his work, Rothko withdrew from the

Conference Review

Journal of Curatorial Studies, 2013

Decolonizing art and design: Rethinking critical and contextual studies

The history of art, more accurately described as the history of western art, has been premised on... more The history of art, more accurately described as the history of western art, has been premised on a history of cultural imperialism that privileges certain traditions and ideologies over others. The decline of the discipline within the academy in recent decades and replacement in many cases with the more critically evaluative and broader area of critical and contextual studies (CCS) has filled a function in art and design education but needs to be critically interrogated for its relevance and its pedagogical usefulness in thinking about the politicized discourse of art. Attempts have been made within the academy to decolonize the curriculum. Within the context of CCS this entails ensuring standardizing the approach to the subject but not the content, which would be neither desirable nor possible given the decentralized way in which CCS is staffed. A standardization of approach means the inculcation of critical reflexivity when considering structures of knowledge, which helps identify gaps in the curricula and ways of addressing these. Decolonizing is a process that needs to be continuous and reflexive in order to embed significant change.

A Companion to contemporary design since 1945, 2019

Spirituality and Contemporary Art Summary and Keywords Spirituality and Contemporary Art in the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Religion

The artworks under discussion detail the scope and breadth of art that can be described as spirit... more The artworks under discussion detail the scope and breadth of art that can be described as spiritual by virtue of its revelatory, revitalizing and contemplative capacities. Rather than interrogating the relationship between art and religion, more pertinent questions in the contemporary age are: What is the nature of the dialogue between art and spirituality, how do the two come together, and what form does the meeting take? The range of multimedia brings novel forms of encounter that occur outside the gallery and other spaces and involve audiovisual and other means of articulating the spiritual. These new forms make different demands on viewers; they create greater intimacy (often through immersion), both physically and psychologically, and one of the consequences of having greater intimacy can be a heightened awareness that increases presentness and a sense of embodiment. What we learn is that there are potentially as many interpretations of spirituality as there are viewers. In the 21st century, the concept of spirituality is becoming increasingly important to various cultural discourses, including that of contemporary artwork. Art that is described as spiritual may reference or represent a spiritual and/or religious tradition. Whether referring to specific religious traditions or not, spirituality concerns the feelings stirred or probed by the art, which may prompt viewers to reflect on the meaning of life, often drawing on existential questions, such as: Why are we here? What are we doing? What happens after life ends? A sense of the spiritual also gives people the sense of belonging that they crave, a feeling that they are part of something greater than the self. The spiritual also contrasts with the material, where the material concerns acquisitiveness and worldly success. Spirituality seeks to transcend worldly goods and ambitions. The relationship between art and spirituality has been historically mediated through the relationship between art and religion, something which has been periodically problematic throughout the centuries. But in spite of the decline of organized religion in Western

The fragmented body as an index of abjection

In this chapter I want to explore abjection in the work of Hans Bellmer and Francis Bacon, and wi... more In this chapter I want to explore abjection in the work of Hans Bellmer and Francis Bacon, and will begin by providing an overview of abjection as it relates to the fragmented body. Abjection is a theoretical concept and 'a pervasive cultural code' (Arya, 2014: 2) that addresses boundary crossings between the subject and the source of threat. In Julia Kristeva's account of abjection in Powers of Horror (1982) abjection is staved off by a practice that involves safeguarding the boundary of the self (or system in question) and ensuring that the subject is not under threat. If the boundary is transgressed however, then this leads to an experience of abjection, thus necessitating the reinstatement of the boundary again in order to maintain order. Hal Foster identifies this dual aspect of abjection which involves two distinct senses and operations – to abject and to be abject; while the operation (of abjection) seeks to stabilise, the condition (of the abject) is inherently disruptive, meaning that there is a constant tension between drives (Foster, 1996a: 114, italics added). The need for the boundary arises in order to keep the subject away from the potential source of disruption. Ordinarily that which is other to the subject can be objectified and distanced from the subject, thereby not posing a threat to its subjectivity. In cases of abjection, however, the source cannot be objectified and it threatens the subject with engulfment and dissolution. This is one of the unrelenting features of the abject as defined by Kristeva: it is not a subject nor is it an object but it displays features of both. It exists in between these two states, where it cannot be discretely separated from the subject (as an object would be) and where it lurks objectlike but without becoming an object. The non-object impresses on the subject's stability and hovers 'at the boundary of what is itself assimilable, thinkable …' (Kristeva, 1982: 18) but is itself unassimilable, which means that we have to contemplate its otherness in its proximity to us but without it being able to be incorporated. ARYA 9780719096280 PRINT.indd 105 14/12/2015 11:55

'The Religious Significance of Violence in Football' in Holy Terror: Understanding Religion and Violence and Popular Culture

Equinox, 2010

'The graphic power of Kathe Kollwitz' in Women in the Arts in the Belle Epoque: Essays on Influential Artists, Writers and Performers

McFarland, 2012

'Knowledge and Value in Art' in The Stone Theory Seminars: What do Artists Know?

Penn State Press, 2012

'Exploring Liminality from an Anthropological Perspective' in Digital Media and Technologies for Virtual Artistic Spaces

IGI Books, 2012

The Existential Dimensions of Bacon's Art in Contemplations of the Spiritual in Art (Cultural Interactions: Studies in the Relationship Between the Arts) [Paperback]

Peter Lang, 2012

'Embodiment as Sacrament: Francis Bacon's Postwar Horror' in ReVisioning: Critical Methods of Seeing Christianity in the History of Art

Cascade Books, 2014

Introduction to the guest issue 'On Abjection' co-authored with Nicholas Chare, for the journal Performance Research.

review of F. Bacon catalogue raisonné.

Religion, Spiritua Religion, Spirituality and Secularism

This chapter responds to a range of contemporary debates in the fields of religion, spirituality ... more This chapter responds to a range of contemporary debates in the fields of religion, spirituality and secularism in books published in 2015. The chapter is divided into three sections: 1. The Visual and Material Culture of Religion; 2. Secularism and the Post-Secular; 3. Georges Bataille and the Sacred.

A Northern School Revisited

A Northern School Revisited by Peter Davies is a revised and updated version of his 1989 book A N... more A Northern School Revisited by Peter Davies is a revised and updated version of his 1989 book A Northern School – Lancashire Artists of the Twentieth Century, and documents the landscape of what we might broadly call the Northern art scene, thereby showing the enduring appeal of art from the north west of England (covering many cities and towns in Lancashire, Merseyside and Greater Manchester). In an era of increasing globalization, with a general shift of attention to the international art market, the regional often becomes overlooked, and, worse still, rendered invisible. The publication of Davies' book is especially important in this context as it presents a restatement of the importance of Northern art in the narrative of British art and moves beyond the popular but limited perception of L.S. Lowry as representative of the Northern tradition. It also inadvertently underscores the innovations and contributions of regional art 'schools' in other areas of Britain, including Cornwall (the St Ives School), Glasgow (the Glasgow School), and London (the Euston Road School), to British social history and heritage. With a wealth of historical detail attained from the Manchester Academy of Fine Art archives, Davies builds up a vivid picture of the life and times of numerous artists, groups and bodies who were connected with the North West, which included artists who were variously born there, studied in Northern art schools, or worked and exhibited there. This expanded sense of the Northern is important as it provides the rationale for including artists as far apart as the Welsh-born Augustus John, who taught at the University of Liverpool, and Picasso, an exhibition of whose work was shown at the end of the war at Manchester City Art Gallery. We learn about the various personal and institutional connections that aided the development of a recognizable body of work that came to be regarded as Northern art, which is characterized by the evocation of a sense of the North, whether through the representation of actual or imaginary senses of place, local events such as market day, or sporting events, and the representations of working-class life. Many artists combined or melded a 'topographical record with the collective memory' (p. 189) of the past, to use a phrase of Davies' with reference to Alan Lowndes but one that can be taken to have more general application to other artists. While being concerned with charting the influences and interests of the chosen artists, Davies avoids parochi-alism by showing how artists were engaged with currents in the mainstream , whether in the form of art movements, such as pop art, or events, such as the Festival of Britain in 1951.

Book review of 'The sacred and society' by William Pawlett, 2015.

The sacred and society. By William Pawlett, London: Routledge, 2015. 156pp. Hardback, £85. George... more The sacred and society. By William Pawlett, London: Routledge, 2015. 156pp. Hardback, £85. Georges Bataille is notoriously difficult to write about, partly because of the range of his subjects, the registers that he operates in, which shift from erotic fiction to economics to art, at times within the text itself, but also because of his obfuscatory language. Range notwithstanding, Bataille had key concerns which recurred throughout his corpus and William Pawlett's engaging and perspicacious study captures the nuances of Bataille's thought adeptly and cogently while presenting the centrality of his ideas about the sacred and society, themes which have been, with only a few exceptions, neglected. The study is defined by its comprehensiveness and accessibility and it traces the significance of Bataille's thought on a range of different disciplines. Writers on Bataille often confine themselves to a particular subject or area of thought. Pawlett examines the various different threads, organised in the following chapters-Animality, The sacred and the foundations of society, Politics and community, Eroticism, General economy and sovereignty, Mysticism and inner experience, and Bataille and the future of society-to look at how they cohere and communicates Bataille's overarching ideas about the sacred. Pawlett also situates Bataille more broadly within the socio-political landscape of the 20th century.

Popular Spiritualities: the Politics of Contemporary Enchantment , edited by Lynne Hume and Kathleen McPhillips. Aldershot: Ashgate,2006. 226pp., Hb. £55.00, ISBN13: 9780754639992

Implicit Religion, 2010

Actors, Pilgrims, Kings and Gods: The Ramlila at Ramnagar , by Anuradha Kapur. Calcutta: Seagull Books, 2006. 250pp., pbk ISBN 9781905422203, hbk ISBN 9781905422197

Implicit Religion, 2009

Review of Chris Partridge's 'The Lyre of Orpheus: Popular Music, the Sacred, and the Profane

Cultural appropriation: Analysing the use of Hindu symbols within consumerism

The attached position paper on cultural appropriation was published on the LSE blog on Religion a... more