Gargoyles/statues.. Over Symbolized? From: SWCT Thomas: I've had a layperson's interest in medieval symbolism for years, fueled by trips to Europe and BAs in art history and cultural anthropology and an MA in medieval history (a disclaimer: I'm an editor for a scholarly press, not a ph.d. in art history teaching at some university; I lurk among these lists for escapism and to keep a finger on the pulse of medieval art and history for professional reasons). Anyway, my take on the issues you raised is purely a surface, personal one: I interpret marginal art as not marginal at all but rather a further explication, granted within the individual parameters of the artist, of the culture of the time. Details such as gargoyles involved in horrific actsmust have had SOME significance simply because they were so prevalent over a broad geographic range and a long period of time--were they based on oral tradition, perhaps? Also, why couldn't marginal art further explore a central theme and provide "entertainment"? The two don't seem mutually exclusive to me.--Susan Wilson, Southern Illinois University [Submitted by: SWCT <SWCT@SIUCVMB.SIU.EDU> Sat, 29 Oct 1994 10:02:17 CST] Up