Humorality in Early Modern Art, Material Culture, and Performance

Humorality in Early Modern Art, Material Culture, and Performance explores the representation of the humors from non-traditional, abstract, and materialist perspectives, considering the humorality of everyday objects, activities, and performance within the early modern period. Contributors explore how diverse media and cultural practices are informed by humoralism, illuminating both early modern works of art and the cultural moments of their production.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 207 pages
Publication date: 10 September 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

Humorality in Early Modern Art, Material Culture, and Performance explores the representation of the humors from non-traditional, abstract, and materialist perspectives, considering the humorality of everyday objects, activities, and performances within the early modern period. The project aims to uncover how humoralism shapes textual, material, and aesthetic encounters for contemporary subjects in a broader sense than previous studies have pursued. To achieve this, the project brings together three principal areas of investigation: how the humoral body was evoked and embodied within the space of the early modern stage; how the materiality of an object can be understood as constructed within humoral discourse; and how individuals' activities and pursuits can connote specific practices informed by humoralism.

Across the book, contributors explore how diverse media and cultural practices are informed by humoralism. As a whole, the collection investigates alternative humoralities to illuminate both early modern works of art and the cultural moments of their production.

The first area of investigation explores how the humoral body was evoked and embodied within the space of the early modern stage. Contributors examine how actors and performers used their bodies to convey humor, how stage design and lighting influenced the perception of humor, and how the audience reacted to humorous performances. They also explore how the humoral body was represented in visual art, such as paintings and sculptures, and how it influenced the interpretation of works of art.

The second area of investigation explores how the materiality of an object can be understood as constructed within humoral discourse. Contributors examine how objects, such as clothing, furniture, and utensils, were associated with specific humoral qualities, such as hotness, coldness, dryness, and wetness. They also explore how the materiality of an object could be used to convey humor, such as through the use of irony or parody.

The third area of investigation explores how individuals' activities and pursuits can connote specific practices informed by humoralism. Contributors examine how individuals engaged in various activities, such as hunting, fishing, and gardening, were influenced by humoral beliefs and how these activities could be interpreted as symbolic expressions of humoral qualities. They also explore how individuals' social interactions and relationships were shaped by humoral beliefs and how these interactions could be interpreted as expressions of humoral qualities.

In conclusion, Humorality in Early Modern Art, Material Culture, and Performance offers a comprehensive exploration of the representation of the humors from non-traditional, abstract, and materialist perspectives. By bringing together three principal areas of investigation, the project aims to uncover how humoralism shapes textual, material, and aesthetic encounters for contemporary subjects in a broader sense than previous studies have pursued. The collection provides a rich and nuanced understanding of the humorality of everyday objects, activities, and performances within the early modern period and its impact on diverse media and cultural practices.

Weight: 298g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030776206
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021