Canon: Visual Bible
Canon: Visual Bible
Re-Mystifying the Biblical Text.
Encouraging imaginative exploration.
Most consider the Bible to either be an ancient literary tome or an informational how-to guide. The reality is both and neither of these things. For children brought up in religious settings, the confusion can be even more profound. But I don’t believe that it needs to be. Children are easily taught various cultural mythologies as methodology by which humans made sense of the world and its processes. But this understanding of genre and poetics is often either overemphasized or not engaged at all.
I would like to propose a presentation of the Bible that naturally supports a balance between these modes of reading. Particularly, for young adults, who are highly visually literate due to our image-driven culture, small changes in illustration and format could provide rich, subconscious insight. By drawing on art history to culturally and visibly place the text within the world of its original authorship, I hope to present a world rich for exploration.
Ultimately, my goal is to present the text in a way that inspires creative inquiry and ensures that a young person never needs to relearn or unlearn the text later in life.
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To encourage imaginative interaction with the world of the text
To provide a visual framework for Biblical themes and motifs
To teach and illustrate the cultural context of the Biblical texts
To prevent any young adult from needing to relearn, unlearn, or deconstruct their faith upon encountering the reality of the text!!
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This is made with the religiously educated young adult in mind. BUT, anyone looking for a way to engage the biblical text more imaginatively may be interested. Perhaps you are a more mature seeker or highly Biblically literate youngster.
While this was inspired by a particular gap, I am eager to learn all the other ways it may fulfill a need.
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A series that breaks the Biblical texts into individual volumes, grouping authors, themes, and intentions. Within each volume, the text will be directly quoted but will rely upon a myriad of translations to highlight their individual strengths. Additionally, they will be formatted to the conventions modern readers have come to associate with the genre. Each chapter will follow a full narrative arch with a full-page illustration accompanying.
Text
The text will directly quote reputable translations with clear distinctions and attributions, but will vary to display their particular strengths and features. The text will appear on the page in a single column, novel-like format to encourage accessible readability.
Illustrations
The illustrations will mix the style and motifs of the artistic cultural period while depicting the scene with clarity and depth.
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Follow along for details, updates, and behind the scenes peaks @painting_in_the_library or via my contact page!