CALL FOR PAPERS
\nfor the special issue of Open Theology
\nReligious Art and Power &ndash\;
\nContestations and Affirmations
\nOpen Theology (https://www.degruyterbrill.com/journal/key/opth/html) invites submissions for the special issue &ldquo\;Religious Art and Power &ndash\; Contestations and Affirmations\,&rdquo\; edited by Lá\;szló\; Koppá\;ny Csá\;ji and Má\;rk Nemes (Research Institute of Art Theory and Methodology\, Hungarian Academy of Arts\, Budapest\, Hungary).
\nDESCRIPTION
\nInterlacing culture and society\, religious art has traditionally been a hub of social reflections. A field of creativity\, intuitive expression\, professionalism\, communication\, and even social agency\, religious art appears in many forms of expression and activity. It can be studied &ldquo\;through the prism of the genre\,&rdquo\; as Leonard Primiano suggests\, using the frameworks of architecture\, dress\, photographs\, artifacts\, narratives\, bodily communication\, and even dance\, music\, or song. Artistic expressions often incorporate reflections on power\, whether affirmative and legitimizing or critical and resistant\, even on the level of vernacular religiosity. Religion and power also have a complex relationship and interaction\, as professional religious art&mdash\;whether at the level of the individual\, the religious community\, or society at large&mdash\;has the capability to address contemporary issues of &ldquo\;mundane&rdquo\; power. Within these frameworks\, urgent issues such as climate change\, crises\, war\, migration\, and social discrimination can also be addressed. However\, art is not merely a tool for expressing a critical position and commentary on social\, cultural\, and political power\, but can function as an agent that shapes and affirms it.
\nThis special issue of &ldquo\;Open Theology&rdquo\; seeks novel approaches to these intertwined subjects\, with a thematic focus on how power\, authority\, and agency play out at the vernacular and institutional levels\, and on how power is bestowed\, legitimized\, and subverted through social and spiritual frameworks.
\nWe encourage submissions on inductive\, fieldwork-centered research\; theoretical overviews of the relationship between art and power applied to case studies\; and critical methodological reflections on prior research or approaches on the subject group. Submissions should aim to articulate proposals with real traction&mdash\;normative and operational&mdash\;attentive to feasibility\, measurable change\, and transferability.
\nSubmissions should primarily (but not exclusively) address the following questions:
\nWhat kind of discursive practices appear in religious art?
\nWhat is the role of emotions and the senses in legitimizing or subverting forms of power and authority?
\nHow do new media and new technologies shape religious artistic practices by empowering marginalized voices\, deconstructing traditional hierarchies\, or creating alternative narratives?
\nHow do performative approaches in religious practices play a crucial role in expressing\, shaping\, or contesting religious authority or power?
HOW TO SUBMIT
\nSubmissions will be collected until 15 September\, 2026\, via the online submission system
\nat http://www.editorialmanager.com/openth/
\nPlease choose section/category: special issue &ldquo\;Religious Art and Power&rdquo\;.
\nBefore submission\, authors should carefully read the Instruction for Authors\, available at:
\n\nAll contributions will undergo peer review before acceptance for publication.
\nFurther questions about content for this thematic issue can be addressed to Dr. Lá\;szló\; Koppá\;ny Csá\;ji (csaji.koppany@mma-mmki.hu) and Dr. Má\;rk Nemes (nemes.mark@mma-mmki.hu)
\nBecause &ldquo\;Open Theology&rdquo\; is published under an open access model\, as a rule\, publication costs should be covered by Article Publishing Charges (APC)\, paid by authors\, their affiliated institutions\, funders\, or sponsors. Authors without access to publishing funds are encouraged to discuss potential discounts or waivers with OA Portfolio Manager Magdalena Skoneczna (magdalena.skoneczna@degruyterbrill.com) before submitting their manuscripts.
\nIn case of technical problems with submission\, please write to Assistant.Managing.Editor@degruyterbrill.com.
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