Arts of Wonder

[Kosky] faults both religionists and secularists--the first for unduly wanting to impose traditional religious images and concepts on contemporary art and the second for peremptorily excluding any traditionally religious consideration. . . . [Arts of Wonder] is a persuasive answer to the objections of both religionists and secularists and serves to remind us what brilliant interpretations can do. . . . The book fulfills its goal of detecting and deciphering human reality by means of what Clifford Geertz called 'thick interpretation'--here of twenty-nine engaging pieces of art. This study accordingly contributes to a wide range of disciplines--psychology, cosmology, philosophy, and anthropology--especially theology and the history of art. --Mary Gerhart Journal of Religion [Kosky] faults both religionists and secularists the first for unduly wanting to impose traditional religious images and concepts on contemporary art and the second for peremptorily excluding any traditionally religious consideration. . . . [Arts of Wonder] is a persuasive answer to the objections of both religionists and secularists and serves to remind us what brilliant interpretations can do. . . . The book fulfills its goal of detecting and deciphering human reality by means of what Clifford Geertz called thick interpretation here of twenty-nine engaging pieces of art. This study accordingly contributes to a wide range of disciplines psychology, cosmology, philosophy, and anthropology especially theology and the history of art. --Mary Gerhart Journal of Religion