Haptic Vision: Making Surface Sense of Islamic Material Culture

Main author: O'Meara, Simon
Format: Book Chapters           
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id eprints-24200
recordtype eprints
institution SOAS, University of London
collection SOAS Research Online
language English
language_search English
description This chapter argues that in Sunni Islam, vision is normatively configured as a sense more haptic than optical. Sight touches, glances. It does not see through; that is the prerogative of God, rulers, and mystics, and one of the joys of Paradise. In support of this argument, the chapter additionally shows how early to premodern Islamic art and architecture both reinforce and delight in this haptically configured vision: how superficiality is celebrated and depth eschewed.
author_additional Skeates, Robin
author_additionalStr Skeates, Robin
format Book Chapters
author O'Meara, Simon
author_facet O'Meara, Simon
authorStr O'Meara, Simon
author_letter O'Meara, Simon
title Haptic Vision: Making Surface Sense of Islamic Material Culture
publisher Routledge
publishDate 2019
url https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/24200/