A Goddess in Motion

Autorentext

Roger Canals works as associate professor in the department of Social Anthropology at the University of Barcelona. Besides numerous articles in visual anthropology and anthropology of religion, he is the director of several international award-winning ethnographic films, including A Goddess in Motion (2016, Wenner-Gren Foundation). In 2020, he was awarded an ERC-Consolidator Grant for the project Visual Trust. Reliability, accountability and forgery in scientific, religious and social images (2021-2026).

Klappentext

The current practice of the cult of María Lionza is one of the most important and yet unexplored religious practices in Venezuela. Based on long-term fieldwork, this book explores the role of images and visual culture within the cult. By adopting a relational approach, A Goddess in Motion shows how the innumerable images of this goddess-represented as an Indian, white or mestizo woman-move constantly from objects to bodies, from bodies to dreams, and from the religion domain to the art world. In short, this book is a fascinating study that sheds light on the role of visual creativity in contemporary religious manifestations.