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The Annunciation in Theology and Art: shedding new light on an old doctrine
Umberto Eco, summarising the influence of Neoplatonism on medieval art, writes: “God is … identified with the splendour of a sort of luminous current that permeates the entire universe.” (On Beauty: A History of a Western Idea, [2004], p. 102) Tina Beattie argues that it is impossible to interpret medieval Marian art without understanding the profound symbolic relationship between theological ideas and representations of light. Focusing on the Annunciation, she explores the meanings encoded in representations of light and darkness. How did such complex symbolic meanings reflect not only philosophical and theological ideas but also popular piety and devotions, bearing in mind that for most people in the Middle Ages, including women, theological education was primarily by way of preaching and images? Beattie argues that the modern academic severance between art history and theology impoverishes both. She appeals for a rediscovery of scholarship as a quest for wisdom that dares to venture beyond its own disciplinary boundaries, to seek understanding wherever it is to be found.
Date: 26 March 2025
Time: 3:00pm (in the UK)
Venue: Online via Zoom
REGISTER:
If you would like to receive the free Zoom link, please send an email to Catherine O'Brien at info@marianstudies.ac.uk
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RECORDINGS OF PAST TALKS AND LECTURES
NAME, TITLE
12th December 2024
"Mary in Waiting: An Advent reflection on women who labour in hope"
Talk for Scottish Laity Network
9th December 2024
"Gender, Feminism and Christianity"
Discussion with Lana Bobić of the Zato Foundation in Zagreb discuss feminist theology as part of the Feminism and Religion School in the Balkans.
10th October 2024
"The Meaning of Being Human"
Panel discussion with Tina Beattie, M. Shawn Copeland and Susan Ross
16th October 2024
"Mother of Sorrows, Mother of Hope":
Talk on Mary for St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge
8th October 2024
"We Need to Talk About Gender"
Talk at New Hall School, Cheltenham
12th April 2024
"Creation and Creativity:
Art, Theology and Ecology"
The Swanson Lecture in Christian Spirituality
University of Calgary
The following have been recorded and are available online. You can watch them at the links below:
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9th March 2023: "Gender and the Common Good" —a Zoom talk and discussion by Tina Beattie for the Scottish Laity Network
17 December 2020: "The Church in Britain" - discussion with Tina Beattie for the Association of Catholic Priests, Ireland (sound recording only)
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"Symbolism and Sacramentality in Art"—YouTube video of a talk for the Religion and Art series convened by Nina Danino (Goldsmiths, University of London) and Mark Dean (Arts Chaplaincy Projects), with support from CHASE (Consortium for the Humanities and Arts) and the University of Essex.
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11 December 2020: "The Church in a Post-Covid World: From Crisis to Creativity" —talk by Tina Beattie for the Canonesses of the Holy Sepulchre
8 December 2020: "Mary at Christmas" —a Zoom talk and discussion by Tina Beattie for the Edinburgh Jesuit Centre
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2 December 2020: "Understanding Gender in Relation to Fratelli Tutti" —inaugural lecture by Tina Beattie for the JDV Centre for Women's Studies, Pune, India
16 November 2020: "Why is half the Church disregarded?" —a Zoom discussion between Tina Beattie and Patricia Kelly for the Centre for Applied Theology
7 October 2020: "Women in the Church" —a Zoom talk by Tina Beattie to the Scottish Laity Network
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12 August 2020: "Who is Mary for Women Today?" —Zuzanna Radzik interviews Tina Beattie for the Polish weekly magazine, Tygodnik Powszechny, to mark the Feast of the Assumption.
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19 September 2015: "Her Dark Materials: Gender Ideology and Sacramental Engendering" —YouTube recording of talk at Women's Ordination Conference in Philadelphia​​