"Eternal Master": Masochism and the Sublime at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC
This article is an interpretation of the apse mosaic designed by Jan de Rosen for the main apse of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. De Rosen's life is outlined and evidence brought forward to suggest that he was homosexual. The nature of the image, with its fo...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group
2009
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| In: |
Theology & sexuality
Year: 2009, Volume: 15, Issue: 2, Pages: 159-174 |
| Further subjects: | B
Homosexuality
B United States B sado-masochism B Roman Catholicism |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Parallel Edition: | Electronic
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| Summary: | This article is an interpretation of the apse mosaic designed by Jan de Rosen for the main apse of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. De Rosen's life is outlined and evidence brought forward to suggest that he was homosexual. The nature of the image, with its focus on divine might, is then used to suggest the artist's interest in erotic power relations. The views of various theorists, notably those of Michel Foucault and Leo Bersani, are examined, and it is found that these indicate that there is dispute over whether S/M is, or is not, a site of liberation and personal empowerment. Conceptions of beauty and the sublime derived from Edmund Burke are then used to explore the degree to which visual creation acts not only to describe but also to circumscribe and so limit conceptions of divine power. De Rosen's act of masochistic artistry is compared favourably with normative modes of obedience to authority in post-war America; however, it is concluded that acts of masochistic creativity are essentially selfish and, therefore, may not be of wider moral benefit. |
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| ISSN: | 1745-5170 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Theology & sexuality
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1558/tse.v15i2.159 |