Material Mysticism #9

The September column is here, and please subscribe here (totally free).

Material Mysticism #8

 An interview with the brilliant Chloe Reddaway about a brand new book (in which I have a chapter on Kent Monkman).

Material Mysticism #7

Tired of the high-stakes doom circus of American politics? Try art criticism! Here's my late-breaking review of the 2024 Whitney Biennial, which doubles as a "review" of New York, and of reality itself. It’s rare that one can trust blistering reviews that show no sympathy, or celebratory puff-pieces that can’t see what’s wrong – this review tries to do both, offering an attempt at devastating critique followed by near delirious adulation.

American Gothic as Holy Icon

We rabid icon specialists are now absorbing ALL ART into our domain (just as modernists once absorbed icons). The takeover begins in ONE WEEK at (where else?), The Wheaton Public Library. Join in person or by Zoom for this free public lecture. Please register here. 

 

 

Update: And here's a video of the talk itself. 

Nein!

 Being my answer to CT's question about whether or not I endorse "hot AI Jesus."

Fan Fiction Foray

Being Material Mysticism #6, The Chief of Mystics at the Met. 

 

Pray Like a Cicada

 Being an article I wrote for Plough.

Material Mysticism #5

 An interview with the brilliant young architect Amanda Iglesias. And here is an article on the sanctity of life and the BVM.

Material Mysticism #4

I did my utmost to marry generative AI with the best of ancient Christian scholarship to resurrect a lost African saint while avoiding the Google Gemini fiasco…. and I’m not sure it worked.

Two Talks

If you're roundabout Princeton please come by for a public lecture on global Virgin Marys (Thurs. 4/4, 4:30pm Robertson Hall 002, register here) and/or a talk on Dionysius the Areopagite's impact on art history (Fri. 4/5 7pm Religion Dept. Lounge).

Material Mysticism #3

 ....is up! The title is Evagrius in Florence.

Gone Medieval and The Visual Museum

Here's a podcast conversation at Gone Medieval. It's the Colbert of medieval history podcasts. And here is one with The Visual Museum.

Material Mysticism #2

An interview with Addison Hodges Hart covering prayer, universalism, actually going to church, avoiding stupidity, etc.

interview and upcoming talks

 The director of Princeton's Hellenic Studies program was kind enough to interview me about Mother of the Lamb. I will be there in April for two talks if you're in the Jersey area - hallowed birthplace of millinerd.com.

Better than Yoda

 Being Material Mysticism's first column: That Man of Understanding.