Footprints: The Xenophilia of a European Medievalist Caroline Walker Bynum

Common Knowledge, Volume 24, Issue 2, April 2018, pp. 291-311 (Article)

Published by Duke University Press

For additional information about this article https://muse.jhu.edu/article/693010

Access provided at 10 Jul 2019 19:13 GMT from Princeton University Symposium: Xenophilia, Part 4

FOOTPRINTS

The Xenophilia of a European Medievalist

Caroline Walker Bynum

As a child, I fantasized about the apparently deserted island of Robinson Crusoe, as did the children of Arthur Ransome’s Swallows and Amazons, my favorite book.1 I wandered around my backyard in a circle that I drew in the mud under the swing set to represent my island and pretended that, like those children, I found mysterious footprints. My pretending was emphatically not because I feared or wanted to barricade myself against a threatening and foreign “other”; rather it was because the discovered footprints pointed to something strange and a little out of reach but also recognizable and therefore inviting investigation. Once drawn, the footprints in the mud became my puzzle — as mysterious to me as were the footprints of Man Friday found by Crusoe or the traces of interlopers found by the children of the Swallows camp on their desert island. Of course, I articulated to my eight-­year-­old self no theory of the footprint. I remember only drawing it and spending hours “exploring my island.” But the footprint has remained with me as an image of what, in the context of this symposium, I can call xenophilia.

The author would like to thank Brigitte Bedos-­Rezak, 1. Ransome’s Swallows and Amazons is a classic of chil- John Stratton Hawley, Jeffrey M. Perl, Guenther Roth, dren’s literature and remains extremely popular. There Francesca Trivellato, and Stephen D. White for reading are radio, TV, and film versions, as well as many reprints. this essay and making helpful comments. She also thanks Anthony S. Kaufmann of Abaris Books and Emogene Cataldo for assistance with the plates. Common Knowledge 24:2 DOI 10.1215/0961754X-4362481 © 2018 by Duke University Press

291 Journey of the Mind to to Mind the of Journey Bonaventure, is n creation 3 Imago Was Ego “L’empreinte” When and examples: two only here 2 tigia B of Brigitte conceptualizations and research the by enced influ much been Ihave xvii. Preface,” “Translator’s vak, Derrida, See itself. beyond refers invariably that ofapresence simulacrum the for “Benjamin’s Aura.” Jacques Derrida used the term term the used Derrida Jacques Aura.” “Benjamin’s (1936) Hansen, and Reproducibility” Technological of its of . . edos-

aura COMMON KNOWLEDGE 292 The classic citation for a sense of God’s footprints ( footprints ofGod’s asense for citation classic The Walter Benjamin conceptualized trace conceptualized Walter Benjamin ) i . . See his classic essay “The Work of Art in the Age Age the in Work ofArt “The essay classic his . See ­R ezak on medieval seals, traces, and identity. I cite Icite identity. and traces, seals, medieval on ezak tant professor in the department, my specialty, which was labeled in those days days those labeled in was which specialty, my department, the in professor tant assis an Ibecame When Greek. was control, under languages modern several and once we Latin had learn, to planned we medievalists “other language” The however, non- it be might that imagined, of few us “other”; Ithink cally chronologi was exam qualifying of our a quarter devote to were required history in students “outside The graduate field” we which to departments. or language area- various the were in interests such pursuing students but of most the ties and guaranteed university funding for graduate students) for graduate funding university guaranteed and ties of job reduced opportuni days these (a in inconceivable size students beginning ful once even partly obtained. In itself, the footprint stimulates desire ( desire stimulates footprint the itself, In obtained. partly once even ful dread be perhaps will that for aknowledge desire by fear, impelled subsumes tion explora such rather of opposite fear; not is the footprints such following Eagerly be. When I started graduate school in 1962 in school graduate I started When be. to seems “other” what the in shift atelling see But Ialso or strange. exotic of the pull the feel still Imentor today’s students today, that colleagues Isense younger scholar. apracticing as years forty more than my in meant apresent yet absent has “other” what such meanwhile exploring footprint, of the image the to closing, in return, Ishall stranger. hence even and dissimilar, foreign, is that something to itself beyond But it points hence strange. partial, yet tantalizingly familiar, is footprint the itself, As ofobject xenophilia. for find I can image best the is footprint human the Thus, beyond. of awhole (a existence body) the signals absent itself present and both it makes ( dread say, might atrace, theorist longer not present any something toward Yet present physically. beyond, it still points itself, as it is, present; been has European history. European or American study to intended department history Harvard the in who enrolled If I compare the graduate student I was in the 1960s with the students and and students the 1960s with the in Iwas student graduate the Icompare If that human of something Friday’s a trace not is Man only like A footprint phobia Of Grammatology Of ). It is, in itself, both absence and presence. And the part (foot) part that the And presence. and absence both itself, ). in It is, 4 There was, of course, some interest in the rest of the world, of the rest the in some interest of course, was, There as the opposite opposite the as , 61, Spi and 2 or as a medieval theologian would put avestige. it, theologian amedieval or as trace ves - - -

God in the natural world, see generally Ohly, Zur Ohly, Signa generally see world, natural the in God God 4 Bewegung.” in “Episteme forschungsbereich Sonder ofthe program 1, ofthe 2016,29 July to part as June from Berlin Freie Universität at held the Spur(en)” “Trace(s)/ conference at the presented were footprints 315of Scholarship,” t of interpretation . For a fine Neuzeit Frühen der turenlehre ests and concerns of my cohort. ofmy concerns and ests inter ofthe picture adifferent give might Others riences. he significance of footprints as relics, see Cutler, “Relics “Relics Cutler, see relics, as footprints of significance he .

What I report here are my memories of my own expe own ofmy memories my are here Ireport What . On the medieval and early modern idea of traces of of oftraces idea modern early and medieval the . On

—

—

s omething of which it is, as a modern amodern as it is, of which omething

i n a large cohort of more than forty forty of cohort more than n a large

–

2 2. Some of my initial ideas about about ideas initial ofmy 2. Some

—

m ost of those of those ost philia xenos ­W ­s estern. estern. tudies tudies ) and and ) : the the : - - - - - 3 - - - -

revolts, and heresies and revolts, revivals, religious communities, of peasant nature the settlement, dispute and We ordeal? by feuding studied or trial relics, of saints’ “moot,” theft the village the as strange as events and institutions underlying structures recognizable there Were of difference. challenge rather, but, the or roots not else: origins something sought and saw we realized, than War protests Vietnam the and sixties of the thecounterculture by no doubt more We influenced students, classics. graduate the in based curriculum ahumanities and arts, liberal the university, the keeping; E. E. Evans- E. E. Victor the to read of 1960s students graduate Turner, American among first the who were we It medievalists was departments. history in students low graduate fel our from we differed which in ways the and curriculum prescribed the in enshrined narrative some of the from departed students we medievalist which in ways the both underscores professors senior by assigned tomes the to mentary experienced. myself Ihad anything from different utterly community religious tery, amale with what it affiliate to explore to meant do,to tried whatset I out inadequately it however accomplished work, first My own groups. double- and capitalism, class, merchant of the law; rule man,” the and English of the “liberties the government, representative of modernity: aspects Tierney, others among Brian and Thrupp, Sylvia White, Taylor, H. Strayer, Lynn Charles Post, Gaines 1950s the in United States 1960s and the in medievalists senior The major subject. their as sued pur or Western development they of that European narrative mainstream the “outside to an field” their as “other” chose as it history of medieval some aspect who elected Europeanists modern and Americanists the bizarre; and exotic the choose to who ones dared were the they felt that medievalists student Graduate you got. as “other” as days, those in was, Ages Middle the that is suggests this all professors). senior What of the many more than be to accessible considered Iwas because (perhaps history or American European modern studying students of “outside default field” akind many history,”for became intellectual “medieval invented punch cards that were a forerunner of the computer, we medievalists computer, of the we medievalists were aforerunner that cards punch invented recently the with data hard analyzing by one better” “go to professors ing their attempt and the Cross on Time study based Engerman’s quantitatively Stanley Fogel Robert to and hostility) (often with were responding Europeanists modern and Americanists the R. W. Whereas Leclercq. Jean and Lemarignier, Southern, Fawtier, Frederic Robert W. Jean- Gilson, of Étienne Maitland, list ing read recommended the from escape our was Anthropology Geertz. Clifford A glance at what Harvard graduate students were reading that was supple was that were reading students graduate at what Harvard A glance we were taught. Ages Middle not the was “other” as period medieval The ­P ritchard, Mary Douglas, Marcel Mauss, Max Gluckman, and and Gluckman, Max Mauss, Marcel Douglas, Mary ritchard,

—

i

— n short, what it meant to belong to or withdraw from from what it belong or to to withdraw meant n short,

s aw the Middle Ages as the root or origin of valued of valued or root origin the as Ages Middle aw the

—

t o choose

— ­e

t ntry book ntry he monas

— ­F rançois rançois

J oseph oseph ------

Bynum • Xenophilia: Part 4 293 Religion and the Decline of Magic of Decline the and Religion Thomas, and Thomas’s volume appeared, I was an assistant professor, professor, assistant an Iwas appeared, volume Thomas’s 5 f of arguing and life village or agricultural in changes ing noth that ofassuming dangers the knew also of course, Augustine of Hippo Augustine Brown, also See past. to present rom . COMMON KNOWLEDGE 294 Bloch, Bloch, French Rural History Rural French critics came, by the 1990s, to see in the Middle Ages: a culture of the bizarre. of the aculture Ages: Middle the in see 1990s, to the by came, critics of alterity. we we were felt avanguard Nonetheless, that never are. ate students vampires and shape- and vampires mermaids, and ghosts Yes, we were reading. observed, some have as anthropology the in found analysis of structural sort the with one go or should could how far questioning exactly because it was so different from the twentieth- the from different so it was because exactly questioning for such useful period We medieval the experience. found and of, evidence ship relation the as well as between, gap the in and structures, social about basic tion informa texts theological and legal from how one extract in might itself, ritual of nature the in more interested far years, early those but it, weinto were, in pageants made Anachronism” for Creative Society “The of which piquant the and were debates peculiar not much about so the Our absorbed. Magic abit of the later, and, Decline Thomas’sand of Hippo Religion Keith of Augustine Moreover, plowshares. biography Peter Brown’s than rather magisterial charters not we could plow told that Bloch had with us Marc direction. this in us pointed School Annales remarkable the course, Of Polynesia. and about Africa reading field by medieval the in of classics list recognized out the beyond were branching ideas about the Middle Ages in subsequent periods (in, for example, the Gothic Gothic the for example, (in, periods subsequent in Ages Middle aboutideas the of histories include can These on “medievalism.” courses college creating by Thrones of Game and table, round Arthur’s King Rice’s of Tolkien, vampires, hodgepodge Anne a as understood Often Ages. Middle the know they think certainly Internet the period of the typing stereo of negative example egregious most the only is retaliation and violence are period eval the medi of stereotypes current field. how matter negative No their advertised and understood have themselves how medievalists some with and we inhabit ture cul wider the do to with having some of them for this, of reasons anumber are sion of xenophilia. expres an Iwould suggest, was, Ages Middle the of way studying That otherness. of world modern case but of atest the origin not the for us, it was, we inhabited; The “other” we wanted to study was not, I would emphasize, what some what some Iwould emphasize, not, was study to we “other” wanted The Medievalists themselves have tried to make a virtue of such familiarity familiarity of such avirtue make to tried have themselves Medievalists it no as gets.” is longer “as other There Ages Today Middle European the provided models for the use of anthropological insights whose lessons we we lessons whose insights of anthropological use for models the provided 5 , first published 1931. published Bloch, , first We were not as revolutionary or as innovative as we thought. Gradu we thought. as innovative or We as were not revolutionary as

— , the medieval period seems familiarly horrible. familiarly seems period medieval , the

a nd “I’m going to get medieval on you” as a threat of personal of personal on you” a threat as medieval get to nd “I’m going

— ­c and gender- and noctis primae jus the hanging, . By the time time the . By

t oday’s viewers of television, movies, computer games, and and computer games, movies, of television, oday’s viewers - , 6 MacFarlane. Allan others, among of, work the through earlier known were arguments his but New.” .

See Freedman and Spiegel, “Medievalisms Old and and Old “Medievalisms Spiegel, and Freedman See ­b ending did come come did ending ­c entury world entury

—

—

t

a he stuff he stuff s about ------6

arship and re- and arship schol between interaction the in interest ofpost- study the particular to “dedicated itwith is that states hich m ism Medieval in Studies for website the in explicit is Ages dle 7 Cambridge Companion to Medievalism to Companion Cambridge evalism: A Critical History ACritical evalism: Studies in Medievalism in Studies www.siue.edu/~ejoy/postmedievalProspectus.htm, and Th ket). Place Mar adjacent Pike the to buildings in arches out Romanesque seeks (which Seattle” “Medieval as such titles with courses even of of Joan and Arc), treatments reliance on texts reliance destabilize to objects to other,” turn for “the often search students current of the best the In object. physical of the scrutiny careful to only available are marginalia some cases in that aware themselves, manuscripts the see to who travel explorers but delivery, rather at for document home wait who stay and scholars armchair not produced has Library Manuscript Monastic Hill the as such projects filming ers, to the furnishings of bedrooms and cloisters. and of bedrooms furnishings the to ers, movies about the Middle Ages (such Braveheart as Ages Middle about the movies the of Rings The Lord be to (the here favorite seems literature fantasy Pre- the Revival, Vistula. the or across Baltic, the into Europe, Wends Eastern or the in to Slavs and Ocean, Indian the to beyond and Mediterranean the into reaches Ages Middle it. Their learn to time the take to intend they and Greek, than or Tamil, rather Sanskrit or Hebrew, Arabic is or even Latin mastered have once they learn to plan they “other.” adifferent want language The medievalists aspiring best some of the that horrid. the or fey, about “other” shocking, the or the particularly nothing is There selves. ern mod of their certainties and worries the encounters such tend meet to in eration or lib repression was nuns of late medieval virginity the whether questions that course a with requirements distribution college or fulfill Channel History on the enterprise acolonial as Crusades about the 1970s. who programs watch Those early the Itaught in undergraduates 1960s or the of cohort the graduate my than gender, self- class, and race, in more diverse now is far that body student undergraduate an satisfy to “other” sufficiently be to not is likely Ages aMiddle such case, any In unproven. far so are results such retires, period the in when aspecialist of amedievalist budgets hiring in retention the 1500c. or justify 500 c. and between period of the study advanced into students draw will courses .

edieval images and perceptions of the Middle Ages . . . Ages . . . Middle of the perceptions and images edieval On the recent interest in “medievalism,” see D’Arcens, D’Arcens, see “medievalism,” in interest recent the On e nexus between reenactment and study of the Mid ofthe study and reenactment between e nexus , w 7 Although instructors often voice the hope that the broad appeal of such of such broad appeal the hope that voice the often instructors Although In the history teaching and mentoring I have done Ihave recently, mentoring found Ihave and teaching history the In 8 The easier access to manuscripts and archives made possible by micro by possible made archives and manuscripts to access easier The ­c reation.” See also www.medievalhistories also See reation.”

— ­R , www.medievalism.net/sim.html aphaelites, and the Oxford Movement), tours through modern modern Movement), through Oxford the tours and aphaelites,

n ; a ot only to books as things but also to pots and door knock and pots to but also things as books to ot only nd the journals postmedieval journals the nd ; Matthews, Medi ; Matthews, - - - - , .

­ .com/public- rials of the Holy Land Holy the of rials Ages Middle 9 World Mediterranean the in Stranger the ousing Mediterranean Medieval the in Institutions Trade and Goldberg, and 8 15, July 2017. accessed history; public in Ages dle stable, stable, Smith, “Portable Christianity,” 143 Christianity,” “Portable Smith, , . . 9

Kingdom of Heaven of Kingdom Without either romanticizing romanticizing either Without For example, Berend, Bronze Object in the the in Object Bronze Weinryb, see examples, For some H ; Bartal, Bodner, and Kühnel, Natural Mate Kühnel, and Bodner, ; Bartal, ­m . edievalist/, a website and blog on the Mid the on blog and awebsite edievalist/, ; Christian Materiality Christian Bynum, ­u nderstanding nderstanding At the Gate of Christendom of Gate the At , and various various , and ), surveys of of ), surveys

–

6 7. - - - - - ; Con ; and ; and - - - ; Bynum • Xenophilia: Part 4 295 lection lection col the Richman) Paula and Harrell Stevan colleagues my with (along 1985, as ago Iedited long when as Mirabai ender and Religion 10 Hawley, Hawley, to indebted Iam discussion, For recent more of Krishna.” Poetry the in ofGender “Images Hawley: J. S. by article

. COMMON KNOWLEDGE 296

Shulman, Shulman, G Three Bhakti Voices Bhakti Three Spring, Heat, Rains dhist and Hindu elements that the written historical record obscures. Moreover, record obscures. historical written the elements that Hindu and dhist of Bud show amixing monasteries of early remains material the where that Isaw caves Buddhist Ivisited Dr. Sekhar, With change. for cultural new evidence vide pro to culture material and archaeology to turned have Europeanists, like India, of scholars that Ilearned Sharma, Jyotirmaya scientist political the and Sekhar Sashi anthropologist the by Guided understanding. greater to forward stumbling India, to trip my however, from learn reaction, I did Eventhis in xenophilia. than more is assimilation of parallels misperceiving) (usually perceiving Such different? genuinely what is understand to we begin How can else thus. reacted sometimes all Buthavethe we blanks). in or _____”(fill at Manchester home in or Moines, Des say, to new in is _____back and “Oh that’s like strange the with of Burgundy. tympana Romanesque the viewing in only before joy experienced Ihad of wild sort same the me with flow to seemed temples overstunning of Bhubaneshwar me, on the carving geous medieval Paris and the worst of the contemporary Bronx. contemporary of worst the the and Paris medieval of streets filthy me to the suggested of Mumbai slums the with encounter then poetry of Mirabai, I traveled to India in 2009. in India to I traveled of Mirabai, poetry along- by as Telugu the man’s language describing prose Shul of David beauty the much by as Stimulated xenophilia. as characterized non- (or to to) textual. addition in the contrast in non- the to aturn means xenophilia of today’s medievalists, many to out point that, Inonetheless contexts, and subjects such new well study to is it how difficult or “other” minimizing this to Western events ranging from the anti- the from ranging Westernto events parallels slaughter Gujarat of 2002 the in and nationalism Hindu about extreme reading in here, Ifound criticized Ihave that Ages Middle on the courses ing familiariz the egregious, most like Exactly did. I parallels find And parallels. of finding expectation tourist’s typical the to going before Isuccumbed better, 1096 to the destruction of the Warsaw Ghetto in 1943. in Warsaw of Ghetto the destruction 1096 the to him) suggested an insight into the brute power of European lordship. The lordship. power of European brute the into insight an suggested him) eat to with allowed was anthropologist, alearned by accompanied a foreigner (although as I, purdah women in his who sequestered Pradesh, Andhra rural in ­W We have all, I think, laughed at tourists whose first reaction to encounter encounter to reaction first whose laughed at tourists We I think, all, have While hardly in the vanguard of this move among medievalists toward a a toward medievalists move among of this vanguard the in hardly While estern and/or material other, I too have turned to study that might be be might that study to other, turned have I too and/or material estern . ,

which included a fascinating afascinating included which . I was introduced to to introduced . Iwas ­W estern as opposed to the European and to the material material the to and European the to opposed as estern - 12 Nationalism 11 . .

Behind the Beautiful Forevers Beautiful the Behind Boo, recently, more See, Sharma, ­J ewish pogroms in the Rhineland of of Rhineland the in pogroms ewish . Hindutva: Exploring the Idea of Hindu Hindu of Idea the Exploring Hindutva: 10 Although I should have known known have I should Although 11 12 ­s My reading about and about and My reading tanding interest in the the in interest tanding Meeting a feudal lord lord feudal a Meeting

gor - - - - - . in structure than those attributed to the men in her bhakti her in men the to attributed those than structure in “artful” less are her to attributed poems the Hawley) J. S. 13 d reliably be can that poem one only have we since cated “authors” of their own works own of their “authors” the were Hadewijch even and Porete Margaret writers female Christian the far how about well as raised questions Voices Bhakti Three Hawley, See family. of probing that seems to me a true xenophilia: a xenophilia: me to atrue seems that of probing kind this is It mind. an observer’s in surface first that India or modern medieval or “look- apparent congruences the behind lay that for structures 1970s probe, to 1960s and of the tried had medievalists we anthropological Ithink probing, as myself emerged. Ifound incongruities Fundamental changed. and deepened themselves parallels the as even attention, piqued my first that parallels the than deeper conceptually however, something expression. religious for personal Europe) new opportunities in geoisie bour urban the and India in (Kshatriyas groups new social developments gave social and complex economic Increasingly cult. monopolize to seemed earlier other clergy, on the Christian institutionalized an and one hand, on the synchronicity, in contexts where a specialized religious class religious where aspecialized contexts in synchronicity, not in although arose, Europe of medieval piety affective the devotion) and tive the construction of images of the many- of the of images construction the involves festival the for holiday goods, up of booths setting the and foods special puja easy, or even an uneasy, similarity. uneasy, easy, an or even an with to rest us allow not them, does not reinforce them, does notit fit does because exactly perceptions own our to it offers threat of the asense retains that poetry associated with the sixteenth- the with associated poetry devotional the between parallels Drawing divine. the in of contradiction lodging the involves persons of sacred amultiplicity that before than moreI saw clearly characteristics), human need reify to of a universal expression or an goddesses and gods pagan of earlier absorption an be to some (which thought have cult saints’ Christian the medieval and polytheism Hindu between parallel a finding vernacular love poetry can enable women’s can emerge. to love voices poetry vernacular of forms of using possibility how the more fully Porete helped me understand to Margaret and Hadewijch as women such mystical of Western Christian writings one- more complex were than far that developments Asian and European between parallels see to increasingly I came at a deeper level than before the ways in which Hindu Hindu which in ways the before at level a deeper than ated to her century, the sixteenth, although (according to to (according although sixteenth, the century, her to ated .

The question of Mirabai’s voice is, of course, compli ofcourse, is, voice of Mirabai’s question The means “the ritual of worship”) in Varanasi. Beginning with the preparation of of preparation the with Beginning Varanasi. of in worship”) ritual “the means As I traveled in India and considered afterward what I had learned, I found, Ifound, learned, what Ihad afterward considered and India in Itraveled As In October, 2009, I attended the ten- the Iattended October, 2009, In

— q uestions ranging from from ranging uestions . There have been been have . There ­c entury female Hindu saint Mirabai and the the and Mirabai saint Hindu female entury ­t o- ­o ­a rmed goddess Durga out of river clay out clay of river Durga goddess rmed ne identifications. Rather than merely than Rather ne identifications. ­a ­d likes” between medieval Europe and and Europe medieval between likes” - ay festival of Durga Puja (the Puja word of Durga ay festival and Her Book Her and Magdeburg of Poor, Mechtild example, for See, attributions. male under or anonymously either excerpts as circulated survives ofwhat much Ages, Middle later the in women bhakti both for that, also noting worth Voices Gendered Mooney, cited, be might that works many among See, transmission. oftextual explorations complex to male ofthe ofventriloquism akind are voices “female” all whether about queries postmodernist feminist

desire for and love of the other other love for of and the desire bhakti .

— (personal and affec and (personal 13

t I also came to see see to came Ialso he Brahmin caste, caste, he Brahmin

—

h poets and Christian ad ad - - . It is . It is

Bynum • Xenophilia: Part 4 297 d male- been traditionally have festivals Puja that out points 15 arose. she which from world organic the to returns figure goddess the which in Iattended, that Puja Durga the as such festivals, of Hindu examples other give Ramayana,” Spring, Heat, Rains, Shulman, goddess. ofthe awakening ofthe process the for 14. ominated, although the celebrations appeal to both sexes. both to appeal celebrations the although ominated,

. COMMON KNOWLEDGE 298

McDermott, McDermott, Revelry, Rivalry, and Longing and Rivalry, Revelry, McDermott, See Durga and Mary are particular to their moment and place but also simulta moment place but also and their to particular are Mary and Durga Boston’s or of End New York’s North both that fact 115th the including Street, Christ. of crucifixion her at the present with were supposedly who Mary, Virgin of the relatives Salome, Mary Jacobus and Mary saints of the or oars, sail aboat without in Holy Land, the from arrival miraculous the rates commemo festival The church. the to returned are they crowd of worshippers, the by escorted which, after held waves, are above the and beach a nearby to altar, main the behind above and reside, usually where they church the from carried are boat small in a figures female painted and carved large two festival, autumnal invisible. men), of were men Ifelt mostly (and not much they out so of place as thousands among in squeezed although that, herself goddess on the intently so were focused faces blared; boomboxes, from often Music, trucks. of men or on flatbed backs the buffalo- the the final ritual procession. ritual final the before for days corners of street on hundreds found and for made them “pandals” temples or thetemporary in and song flowers, dance, with worshipped jewels and and clothes, paint, with then adorned are figures The rites. special in artisans by south of France, described by Cynthia Hahn in her Beauty Strange book in Hahn Cynthia by described of France, south Saintes- of the feast water, the as such the to go saints female West which the in in cases contemporary even are There The Madonna of 115th of The Madonna study Street classic his in Orsi Robert for example, as, such scholars, other many that and days student graduate my in Boston’s in End seen Ihad North that Mary, Virgin the especially saints, female she arose. world which from the organic to river.had returned the Thegoddess in disintegrating and floating fingernails and faces, bright clothing, of bits gauzy parts, body plasticized I saw Ganga, on the day next the Ijourneyed When waters. sacred the into thrown was river,the theclay of from made Durga, as watched I candles, floating and boats the universal goddess and/or saint. In a way of thinking sometimes characterized characterized sometimes of away thinking In and/or saint. goddess universal the 197 , Longing and Rivalry, Revelry, 78, 93, 97, and Hess, “An Open- “An 78, 93, 97, Hess, and There are many striking similarities between Durga and the Virgin of of Virgin the and Durga between similarities striking many are There It was impossible that such processions not remind me of the processions of of processions me of the not remind processions such that impossible It was 15 Then, on a flat boat on the Ganga, surrounded by hundreds of other of other by hundreds surrounded Ganga, the boat on aflat on Then, ­d emon, as she was carried through the streets on litters borne on the on the borne on litters streets the through carried she was as emon, 14 1 , On the last night, I followed Durga, warrior against against warrior Ifollowed Durga, night, last the On

– ­A

99, 99, –

5 ir ir , , ­ “ 115th of Street Madonna 2017. Orsi, also See 17 16 northendwaterfront.com/2012/08/madonna- - - - northendwaterfront.com/2012/07/madonna See ments. adorn costly her and adherents enthusiastic Mary’s of 8, 2012, example one July on End only is North Boston’s 2012- ­ ­end- ­delle-

‘ We Go Where the Italians Live.’” Live.’” Italians the We Where Go . .

­M Hahn, Hahn, The procession of the Madonna delle Grazie through through Grazie delle Madonna ofthe procession The ­photos/, aries- ­feast- grazie- ­ Strange Beauty Strange ­sunday- ­d accessed July 3, 2017. For another case, see 3, see 2017. July case, accessed For another 2012- ­ e- ­l a- ­procession- ­procession- ­M er in the Camargue, in the the in Camargue, the er in 145 ,

–

47. ­through- photos/, ­ , have explored. have , accessed July 3, July accessed ­bostons- , and Sciorra, Sciorra, , and . 17 ­ della- ­n In this this In eously eously ­north ­ cava 16 - -

tivals would say that Mary herself is present; others would would others present; is herself Mary that say would tivals fes Catholic in participants ofthe Some there?” is “who asking in hard too categories analytical push to not careful be must One ofmind”). habit “concomitant the own: my of a phrase (likewise applied be may of presence,” logic devotional distinctive “the phrase, atechnical which to religions, many in whole is part which in way complex the O and Varanasi in Durga Both place. geographical ticular par to a tied Hanuman, or Ganesha of aspect aspecific as example, for Hanuman, or Ganesha much so not often are 18 ClaudeLévi- as influential as scholars half- past over the had, origin same the from deriving without structure basic in same the strikingly be to appear cultures different in objects about why Puzzling theorizing. historical art and anthropological sophisticated Study, Yve- for Advanced Institute at the colleague my that concept of pseudomorphism help the I found in India, does. Durga mud to as or do return not come from they virgin), and mother (as simultaneously purity and of fertility represent a paradox worship Saintes- of Marys two or the Hudson River the into of Mount Carmel Madonna the ing throw imagine cannot One altar. over the niche their to returning before ocean later, the of years merely visit water celebrated by is hundreds arrival miraculous whose Camargue, the in Salome Mary Jacobus and Even Mary them. to return and churches leave their clear, Marys however: the immediately difference tal inheres. original power of the full whom the in Durga, the also is each yet characteristics, specific possessing local, is or Mary of logic presence,” Durga each devotional “the as of religion scholars by of the sacred in the natural world. natural the in sacred of the manifestation of the understanding different afundamentally lies procession, and ritual in them to responses similar the and divines, of female apparent similarity E North ofBoston’s Grazie delle Madonna the or mel Car Mount of Mary (the Marys specific are Marys The way. ageneralized in not usually although presence, aholy fully each is York, New Provence or Boston, in the study of “look- study the be should study comparative that assume to atendency, is, of religion: that study the in long obtained too had Heuer’s that phrase) Christopher felicitous (in ogy” of morphol a “tyranny was identified what they It me to seemed that question. of the posing the than important less me as struck proposed they answers tive more than of Mary herself ofMary than more nd) ur Lady of Mount Carmel in New York are examples of of York New examples in are Carmel ofMount Lady ur .

The hundreds of Durgas in Varanasi and the Marys Marys the and Varanasi in ofDurgas hundreds The

— As I thought about these similarities and differences after my return from from return my after differences and similarities about Ithought these As one made Puja fundamen Durga after morning the Ganga on the My trip

i nstantiations of specific appearances of Our Lady Lady Our of appearances ofspecific nstantiations ­M aries- ­d e- ­a ­l likes.” If one found female god figures in different cultures, cultures, different in figures god female one found If likes.” a-

— ­M

j ust as Indian temple statues statues temple Indian as ust er into the ocean. Although the Madonnas of Catholic of Catholic Madonnas the Although ocean. the er into 20 ­A lain Bois, was exploring was Bois, lain ­S trauss and Erwin Panofsky. Erwin and trauss - - - 20 also Powell, Depositions Powell, also See America.” and ofAsia Art the in Representation “Split r that and clay river from constructed not are that desses Panofsky and Lévi- and Panofsky 19 Street 115th of Madonna Orsi, See Marys. other have places other i 21 goddess. itself earth the Hinduism, in that me, to a to interpreter the stimulate to is it, sees Powell as larity, allels or analogies occur. analogies or allels nsist that this Mary is their particular Mary and that that and Mary particular their is Mary this that nsist eturn after procession to their temple home. temple their to procession after eturn sk new questions by decontextualizing the objects. To objects. the decontextualizing by questions new sk . . .

Tomb Sculpture Tomb Panofsky, See There are, of course, Hindu temple gods and god and gods temple Hindu ofcourse, are, There It is worth noting, as J. S. Hawley has pointed out pointed has Hawley J. S. as noting, worth It is , xvi, and Bynum, Christian Materiality Bynum, and , xvi, 18

—

a c goddess Mary or or Mary goddess ­c ­S oncept rooted in in oncept rooted entury, engaged engaged entury, trauss, the point is to ask why the par the why ask to is point the trauss, , 10 19 21 Behind the the Behind

The tenta The –

1 1. The point of the false simi false ofthe point 1. The , 26

–

2 7, Lévi- and - - - -

208 , —

va

– su ­St

15.

— rauss, rauss,

i a s - - - • Bynum Xenophilia: Part 4 299 23 article. this from sentences afew Iborrow here, discussion my xenophilia because it tends to erase “otherness.” erase to it tends because xenophilia not is appropriation that assert to want Imerely recently. discussed much issue, that into here delve to wish not I do 22 . . COMMON KNOWLEDGE 300

This is not to argue against all cultural appropriation. appropriation. cultural all against argue to not is This Bynum, “Avoiding the Tyranny of Morphology.” In In ofMorphology.” Tyranny the “Avoiding Bynum, enly. heav the and earthly the refer both to texts, devotional more even than) perhaps (or like articles, devotional which in ways the in interested women, been Ihave religious late medieval by cradles, miniature as such householdof other objects, est similarities in structure and function across cultures across function and structure in similarities est anddeep the closest may provide rituals and figures differing whereradically find essay that in these cap- these of shape very yet the and of God Mother Virgin the with them identify statues “other” that, for Hindu as well as Christian, is always just a little bit beyond. alittle just always is Christian, as well as for Hindu that, “other” for an yearning of the adescription person, religious for the is, xenophilia that one suggest might Indeed, materiality. its in yet accessible power and its in ening fright here, both away and both be to sacred the allow They life. ofcles earthly arti ordinary are also they paradoxically, “other” of heaven; yet, the toward point meditation and ritual religious in used Things happens. where transubstantiation altar or the reigns place where God heavenly the imaging as well as devotee the womb, of bowels and heart, it the to refers bed; as well as sarcophagus and altar, throne, is crèches late medieval in found manger The of Mary. that like crown question of proper and improper comparison. improper of and proper question the with struggle to ideas such using along article Iwrote India, from returning after here, add I should that, further point this exploring Without needs. mental funda similar mightexpress rituals and figures differing radically that and acts and shapes similar apparently underlie may attitudes different that possibility the It probe to must similarities. morphological and parallels ritual beneath go must Michelangelo’s David like linga Shiva nor the is Mary, Virgin the much like very not is really Durga discovered, Yet, I bodies. as male one compared linga), Shiva of the case the for example, in, (as genitals male the to attention one if found divines; feminine one compared statues I saw in India. in Isaw statues goddess and god the parallel that objects devotional medieval of European study should it ever result in resting with the often pseudosimilarities of appearance. pseudosimilarities often the with resting in itshould result ever nor not is assimilation, Xenophilia difference. poignant and challenging its all it in for yearn to be judgment, my in To must, “other” for an xenophilia. yearn love and 25 One of the objects in which I have been interested recently is the footprint, footprint, the is recently interested been Ihave which in objects ofOne the In the decade since returning from India, I have moved increasingly to the the to moved Ihave increasingly India, from returning since decade the In The wreaths with which medieval nuns crowned themselves and their their and themselves crowned nuns medieval which with wreaths The ­l ike circlets makes it clear that the nun has not in this life achieved a a achieved life this not in has nun the that it clear makes circlets ike

—

a c omparing that goes beneath apparent similarities and parallels to to parallels and apparent similarities beneath goes that omparing 24 Working recently on the clothing of statues and the use use the and of statues clothing on the Working recently , with or without his fig leaf. True comparison fig leaf. comparison his or without True , with 25 24 t of Materials Natural Kühnel, and Bodner, Bartal, sance”; Renais Material the in “Matter Rublack, see studies, ern co the recent “material turn” in medieval and early mod early and medieval in turn” “material recent the he Holy Land he Holy . unter: Holy Beds.” .

Bynum, “‘Crowned with Many Crowns’” and “En- and Crowns’” Many with “‘Crowned Bynum, Bynum, Bynum, 22 Christian Materiality Early Modern Things Modern Early Findlen, ; and The sort of comparing I advocate Iadvocate of comparing sort The

—

i s what I mean by true true by s what Imean . For other examples of of examples . For other . 23 ------­ 26 India. south to apostle Thomas, St. by left was mark the that claim ancestor.Christians first of the that Daoists, Chinese to of Shiva; print it the is Hindus, departing. was he thesomeTo fromwhich world with contact final of his moment at Buddha the the by left To footprint it the is paradise. from Buddhists, expelled when he was landed place where Adam the as Muslims by interpreted six- almost ple, the - For exam cultures. different in interpreted differently be can object same how the show or marks stone impressions such level of consideration, obvious most the At Stone in Footprints book popular The me forced address. to India to of cross- question about the for thinking subject (Fig. 1). awonderful is Europe medieval footprint to The it traveled which in ways the and Holy Land the in Mount of Olives on the of Jesus footprint the especially supposed footprint isinthe center betweenthe twolarger marble pieces. Credit: Wikipedia Figure 1.Christ’sfootprint onthe Mount of Olivesinacontemporary photograph. The chap. 3: “The Polyvalent P Polyvalent 3: “The chap. 303 Motion in Places Kinnard, See polluting. as seen is which earth, the touch to permitted not are servants and avatars their or gods 56 Freedberg, heroes, saints, devils, monsters, gods, and goddesses in places all over the globe. over the all places in goddesses and gods, monsters, devils, saints, heroes, of feet giants, of the imprints of supposed hundreds details 2004, in published .

–

– 9 Bord, Bord,

8. Feet are significant in many religions; often the often religions; many in significant 8. Feet are 1 9. Footwashing is often a purification ritual. See See ritual. apurification often is 9. Footwashing Footprints Power of Images of Power , and Thomas, “Riddle of Ishtar’s Shoes,” Shoes,” ofIshtar’s “Riddle Thomas, , and Places in Motion in Places Kinnard, also . See ­f oot- , 91. , ā das of Visn of das ­l ong footprint on Adam’s Peak in southwest Sri Lanka is is Lanka Sri on Adam’s southwest Peak in footprint ong . ụ and Buddha,” Buddha,” and , ­c pilgrims, who attach very different identities and signifi and identities different very attach who pilgrims, Hindu and Buddhist both by revered are that Bihar in Motion gious identity of the participant. ofthe identity gious reli the and located is afootprint which within context the on depending fluid, is identity because worshippers 27 of issue the that argues Kinnard objects. same the to cance ultural comparison that my trip trip my that comparison ultural . to whom the footprints belong does not arise among among arise not does belong footprints the whom to

Bord, Bord, , chap. 3, considers sculptural images of footprints offootprints images sculptural 3, considers , chap. Footprints , 36, 50, 89, and 196. Kinnard, 196., 36, Kinnard, 50, and 89, by Janet Bord, Bord, Janet by 27 26

Places in in Places - - Bynum • Xenophilia: Part 4 301 Mount of Olives is first mentioned in the early fifth cen fifth early the in mentioned first is of Olives Mount tus: series latina series tus: comple cursus Patrologiae in 4, 31, para. Epistle Nola, of Paulinus See them. cover to attempted workmen when again view into sprang but marble in covered be not could i living someone from reports on but experience witness 29 Fig. 1. scension- - 28 account, stressing that the footprints refused to be cov be to olden Legend refused footprints the that stressing account, Sulpicius’s repeated Ages, Middle later the in books read gine’s 2, 75vol. Chronica Severus, Sulpicius place. holy the from them with earth of particles took continuously pilgrims though even undisturbed remained footprints the that 402, asserting of chronicle of his book second the in account the based salem)#/media/File:5029- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapel_of_the_Ascension_(Jeru w 431) (died of Nola Paulinus Bishop that a letter in tury n Jerusalem). According to this account, the footprints footprints the account, this to According n Jerusalem). ­a rote to his friend Sulpicius Severus (based not on eye on not (based Severus Sulpicius friend his to rote . . COMMON KNOWLEDGE 302

Veneration of Christ’s footprints in the church on the the on church the in footprints ofChrist’s Veneration For the supposed footprint as it appears today, see see today, it appears as footprint supposed For the G La Chronique de Sulpice Sévère, Sévère, Sulpice de 33, 2, Chronique sec. La , bk.

–

7 6. In the thirteenth century, James ofVora James century, thirteenth the 6. In ­r ock.jpg (accessed July 2, 2017) July herein, (accessed and, ock.jpg , v what the thing is and enables it to be, or to transmit, the power of the original. power of the the enables or it transmit, to and be, to is thing what the determines (morphology) shape both that say we might power. cases, its such In of transporting ameans as pilgrims by Holy Land the from homeried Europe to touched it) to were and car that measure exact its to made shape of its outlines of it (that is, Moreover, of tracings what it we of made examples have is changes. when even footprint the remains footprint the that claim the is for purposes my their materiality. more when we complicated consider or similarity identity of morphological tion the ques make figure, same the by made been have to Muslims and Christians the footprints impressed upon it.” upon impressed footprints the by sealed it if been had as no injury . . . place suffers of the sand “the that gests sug Severus, Sulpicius by that account, earliest Our taken. it was which from foot of Christ’s shape the like looked nothing that or dust of sand aparticle by conveyed sometimes also was object the it exactly, imaged that or form outline an by conveyed sometimes was footprint the Although again. footprints these of “look- interpretations differing merely charting particles. away take pilgrims that fact despite the undisturbed miraculously remains that footprint,” sometimes a left footprint, sometimes aright. sometimes footprint, aleft sometimes footprint,” the earth had a will of its own; it preferred to stay shaped just as Christ had made made had Christ as just shaped stay to it preferred own; of its awill had earth the ol. 61, col. 328. On this report, Sulpicius Sulpicius report, 61,ol. 328. col. this On , one of the two or three most widely widely most three or two ofthe , one Even the footprints of Christ on the Mount of Olives, understood by both both by understood Mount of Olives, on the of Christ footprints Even the But in keeping with my argument that comparison should go deeper than than deeper go should comparison that argument my with keeping But in ­20080122- 29 After the siege of Jerusalem in 1099, descriptions refer a “stone to 1099, in descriptions siege of Jerusalem the After ­jerusalem- 28 Our early accounts describe the footprints as dust or sand or sand dust as footprints the describe accounts early Our ­mt- ­olives - - - - -

32 a permanence their underlining and marble with over ered 221 Pilgrimage Jerusalem al., et 1150. about in Wilkinson See Iceland from apilgrim by written been have to seems feet 31 Jerusalem Golden Legend Golden Voragine, De tion. i with contact physical their in also but original the like ing ler, “Relics of Scholarship,” 315 ofScholarship,” ler, “Relics 32 below. 41 n. in to referred footprints Buddhist the with also arises power carry to measurement or outline, areplica, for necessary is original an with contact physical far ofhow question The Bord, See of presence.” logic “devotional the or ofholiness” “contagion the called sometimes is transported were footprints Christ’s which Footprints Bord, see it, to touched and footprint ofthe size and shape exact the to cut 1600, about from linen, in token, ofapilgrim’s example For an 30 As the modern historian Ora Limor puts it, it, puts Limor Ora historian modern the As t s proof of Christ’s presence on earth after the Resurrec the after earth on presence ofChrist’s s proof

— . . .

–

a p The efficacy of such objects lies not just in their look their in just not lies objects such of efficacy The For Sulpicius, see n. 29 n. above. see For Sulpicius, The first explicit reference to a stone imprinted with with imprinted stone to a reference explicit first The

22, and Pringle, Pringle, and 22, oint needing more attention than I can give it here. it here. give Ican than attention more needing oint , 73, 401. ­a Churches of the Crusader Kingdom of of Kingdom Crusader the of Churches likes,” we need to consider welikes,” need consider to , 6 Footprints 30

– What is important What , 38. The complex ways in in ways , 38. complex The

2 , v 2. ol. 1, Cut ol. 292, see and

–

7 , and n. 18 above. 18 n. above. , and 31 ------, of his left foot, fourteen inches long, as if he has stepped barefoot into clay.” into barefoot stepped long, he if has as inches fourteen foot, left of his imprint the see one can and heavens, the to on when he ascended stepped Lord the small bits of the stone on which Jesus stood when he ascended into the sky. the into when he ascended stood Jesus stone on which of bits the small it, to look like the outline of Christ’s foot. of Christ’s outline the look to it, like pilgrims taking a measure of the prints ( prints of the ameasure taking pilgrims about 570 in Piacenza describes from pilgrim anonymous An length. but their ance appear not replicated their that measures as but also of bits themselves in not only beyond that to a burial site. aburial to that beyond or “look- was that particle Atiny cures. site of miraculous the became and later buried was earth The demons. where off it warded bedroom his it in hung and Jerusalem from abit who earth received of sacred Hesperius about God of City the in a wrote certain Augustine form. another power in and presence conveyed They at all. print the not did look and like acquired were easily power of his immediacy the yet carry and departed of absence the the by possible made of Christ, transported across time and space. and time across transported of Christ, or rocks columns in prints as were left the later Middle Ages of measures of Christ’s body and body parts body and body of Christ’s of measures Ages later Middle the was measurement exact the pilgrim, this various diseases.” various of “cures receiving and themselves around measures these hanging Pilate, before as well as self as well as “other” toward measures, these like point, general) in objects cultural also perhaps 34 109 37 flagellation. ofthe column the from taken ( measures to refers IV Saec. Hierosolymitana, Itinera 33 36 310 Ölberg,” dem auf Christi Fussspuren und “Steine Worm, see examples, For heaven.” to both ascended Lord the which “from stone abit ofthe includes supposedly at Braunschweig cathedral the in of a column capital the from capsule sky.” A relic the into ascended he when stood Lord the which on stone the of “a relic lists Brussels in now III Alexander ofPope head 35 Water, 7. Oil,” Stone, and ral Materials of the Holy Land Holy the of Materials ral a Water, Stone, (“Earth, Limor by chapters the and tion nd Oil,” 3 Oil,” nd . . . . .

– See n. 30 above for the Icelandic pilgrim. Icelandic the for 30 n. above See The inventory of a twelfth- inventory The I rely here on Bartal, Bodner, and Kühnel, Natu Kühnel, and Bodner, Bartal, on here I rely Augustine, Augustine, See “Antonini Placentini Itinerarium,” sec. 23, sec. in Itinerarium,” Placentini “Antonini See

2 6). See esp. Limor, 8. Limor, esp. See 6). Moreover, the footprints were active, self- active, were footprints Moreover, the

—

a p ­a

– like,” transported power from Jerusalem to a bedroom near Hippo and and Hippo near abedroom to Jerusalem power from like,” transported

1 8) and Donkin (“Earth from Elsewhere,” Elsewhere,” from (“Earth Donkin 8) and ower that inheres in them. It is my sense that all religious objects (and objects religious all that It sense my is them. in inheres ower that

— City of God of City

–

11n41.

t mensurae hat they signify both absence and presence. and absence both signify hat they 36 An Icelandic pilgrim in about 1150 in pilgrim Icelandic stone that “the to referred An , 824, cited in Limor, “Earth, “Earth, Limor, in , 824, cited ) of Christ’s breast and hands hands and breast ) ofChrist’s ,

p articularly the introduc the articularly ­c

– entury reliquary of the of the reliquary entury

V 34 III Later relic collections in Europe claimed to include include to claimed Europe in collections Later relic , 175. 22, Sec. 174, vestigia

— the print. We have many examples from from We examples print. many have the

s tanding in for, in being indeed tanding 33 But the bits that pilgrims took away away took pilgrims that bits But the - - ) of Christ’s feet from where he stood where he stood from feet ) of Christ’s 38 the stuff in question, not its shape not shape its question, in stuff the Such physical measurements are are measurements physical Such exegetes read the head of Christ as symbolizing his divin his symbolizing as ofChrist head the read exegetes Medieval n. 26 above. see here; do can I than significant objects, see Bynum, Christian Materiality Bynum, see objects, s 537. Christ,” We Disappearing at the Look “Another man, Desh see ofChrist, feet the with Magdalen ofthe ciation holy. asso For ofthe the physicality the with encounter of place aspecial were feet that suggest devotion in Christ of feet the around curled of Assisi) Francis and Magdalen Mary (above all, ofChristendom saints prominent most ofthe depictions medieval many The earth. and soil with contact his physicality, his also but humility his only 39 38 tian Materiality L “Another Deshman, See humanity. his feet the and ity w they until some adored, and stroked especially were ures 2 (Matt. Thursday Maundy on disciples ofhis feet the ing ­r hould also note that the feet of medieval devotional fig devotional ofmedieval feet the that note also hould eplicating, transportable power power transportable eplicating, 6:14 ook at the Disappearing Christ,” 528 Christ,” Disappearing at the ook ere almost worn away. On the worn feet of devotional ofdevotional feet worn the away. On worn almost ere . .

See Areford, “Passion Measured,” and Bynum, Chris Bynum, and Measured,” “Passion Areford, See Much more could be said about feet as religiously religiously as feet about said be could more Much

–

3 ; ue 22:24 Luke 9; 39 , 9 4

–

9 9, 110,9, 319n86, 320n89. and

–

2 ; on 13:1 John 7;

— , the power power , the

p arts that that arts 35 37 To To

–

1

– 7) underlined not not underlined 7)

- 3 0. Christ’s wash 0. Christ’s , fig. p. 1, 23. ------Bynum • Xenophilia: Part 4 303 footprint as a model for what we study in studying the the studying in study we what for amodel as footprint 40 selves act. See Brown, Eternal Presence Brown, See act. selves 41 . .

COMMON KNOWLEDGE 304

The footprints often found in Buddhist art also them also art Buddhist in found often footprints The See notes 2 and 3above. 2and notes See implies (absent) body. implies (absent) implies which print foot, senses: two in toto pro pars is footprint Hence the awhole (body). (foot) signals apart that itself is it shapes material the informs that object the footprint, of the case the in gone. And is object modeling when the only exists or trace reproduction the of presence; condition the is Absence exist. to copy order removed or for be plate the in must mold plate, the or matrix metal engraved an from amold,made or in aprint formed object an wax, in imprinted is aseal When reproduction. of mechanical case of the said be may same The footprint. we would not the were foot see there, the if present; be cannot that an entity that is always already gone. already always is that entity an the whole body of the God- whole of the the body Worm, the earliest visual representations of Christ rising up from what is clearly clearly what is up from rising of Christ representations visual Worm, earliest the Andrea historian art the to According absence. and presence both is devotion eval epiphany, oftee presence, arrival. guaran the of, indeed for, evocation condition the the as of orideas absence lack complex with werevision, playing or flesh in Lord the receive to waiting wombs, or or houses or beds cradles empty as hearts of who their spoke heaven. Devotees in of God throne the before he simultaneously or she was although or shrine, at present whole altar saint the made them, with contact in been had that material even piety. (relics) Bits saints, medieval of the permeated whole part, absence, in of Olives proved the Ascension: he was here he was Ascension: proved the of Olives Mount on the footprints the 24:6). Similarly, not is here but (Luke risen” is [Jesus] “he the Resurrection: site demonstrated at of aspecific adead body presence tomb. non The empty absence: the proven an by even authenticated, established, been have to said be can Christianity Indeed, Christianity. of early heart the bits, as outlines, or as measures, they acted. they measures, or as outlines, as bits, as themselves; replicated also they enduring, Not only there. permanently and insistently something experienced power. or touched them who viewed Those of loci and were proofs they devices, or mnemonic Notpresent. remembrances was apower that aholiness, asubstance, themselves were in they gone away; had that person or charismatic apattern to referred not only Jerusalem in prints foot Christ’s absences. as well as were presences traces medieval indicates, prints 1:2now gone heaven up (Acts into he has It is clear that absence that It clear is Modern theorists rightly claim that the trace or print owes its existence to to existence owes its or print trace the that claim rightly theorists Modern Iconographic evidence makes vivid the way in which the footprint of medi footprint the which in way the vivid makes evidence Iconographic Nonetheless, as my discussion of the medieval veneration of Christ’s foot of veneration Christ’s medieval of the discussion my as Nonetheless, . I n order to use the the use to n order

— ­m

n an. Moreover, this understanding of presence in in of presence understanding Moreover,an. this - ot vanishing or ephemerality but absence or ephemerality ot vanishing tant to note that it is equally important in other religions. other in important equally it is that note to tant impor it is Christian, medieval as conception that acterize Ichar article this in Although component. acrucial is tive produc and active as footprint of the aspect “other,” this 40 A footprint gestures toward something something toward gestures Afootprint

–

1 41 2).

— Although parts, they made present present made they parts, Although

a r eal human with real feet real with human eal

—

—

i

s at b ut ut ------37. 42 44 Fussspuren Christi.” und “Steine Worm, See areas. German from mostly 43 prints Foot Bord, in reproduced Cornwall, Church, Launcells (Fig. 2).(Fig. footprints of the presence the with combined is visible, remain feet his only that prints. foot the stone and the combine that examples afew are there although hillock, on a directly usually footprints, one either or two behind leaves Christ which not mid- a stone. By the mountain, or ahillock from departing show Christ depictions many although or altars, thirteenth- ably from Trier and produced around 1100. Trierably from around produced and prob Library, British the now in amanuscript is Mount of Olives a stone on the absence and presence, departure and perdurance. and departure presence, and absence of complementarity and juxtaposition the visually underlines clearly appearance not completely hold. completely not does coincidence for their argument the that shows examples of many study the motifs, iconographic as together appeared of footprints depiction the and Christ disappearing the that said be to it used Europe.) Although northern from images . . .

Worm, “Steine und Fussspuren Christi,” 298. Christi,” Fussspuren und “Steine Worm, These depictions are all from northern Europe, Europe, northern from all are depictions These For an English example, see the bench- the see example, English For an , 43 44 In a number of cases, the depiction of Christ as vanishing upward, so so upward, vanishing as of Christ depiction the of cases, anumber In (The fifteenth- (The ­c entury examples of such stones, which sometimes resemble plaques resemble plaques sometimes which stones, of such examples entury 45 Nonetheless, the iconographic pairing of traces with dis with of traces pairing iconographic the Nonetheless, ­c entury woodcut in Fig. 2 is typical of many devotional devotional of many Fig. in typical 2 is woodcut entury ­t welfth century, we also find illustrations in in illustrations find we also century, welfth ­e nd in 42 Abaris Books 1489 Illustration Before 1500:AnonymousArtists, The IllustratedBartsch,vol.87:GermanBook feet and the footprints thatremain. From emphasize the spacebetweenthe departing one footprint and some show two,butall German, 1489.Some such woodcuts show Horologium devotionis,fol. 92v, woodcut, Figure 2.“The Ascension of Christ,”from the - There are a number of twelfth- anumber are There

– landmark article on the disappearing Christ, see Desh see Christ, disappearing the on article landmark Schapiro’s ofMeyer refutation and exploration For an 45 man, “Another Look at the Disappearing Christ.” Disappearing at the Look “Another man,

91, p.116,#1489/393[4.2780].Credit: .

Schiller, Ikonographie der christlichen Kunst christlichen der Ikonographie ­ a nd nd - - - 3:140 ,

–

64. 64.

- Bynum • Xenophilia: Part 4 305 Ursula Begerin Ursula of Book Prayer Palmer, and Hamburger see examples, www.artsy.net/artwork/albrecht- ee 46. - - ­a seso ad www.wikiart.org/en/albrecht- and ­ascension

scension- COMMON KNOWLEDGE 306

S ­1 511, both accessed June 25, June 2017.511, accessed both For other , 1:340 between what departs and what remains (Fig. 3). what remains and what departs between distance the underlines that emptiness an is of each middle the In woodcut. of the space, central the point, focal the is gap that Indeed earth. heaven and Ascension an and Altdorfer by particles opposite of phobia opposite topic leads me not the explore to But contemplating xenophilia. as away. self- Such moved “other” farther of the locus more the complex, larger, stranger, home grew twenty- the in India afieldto led me farther Ages Middle European the 1960s study to the me in impelled had that desire same the me, around shifted assumptions “our own.” be to Perhaps, cultural as assume culture surrounding the and requirements, degree curriculum, school traditions, and expectations on what family point!) obvious an moment is any (this depends at person any to “other” is What same. “other.” the “others” are not all course, Of of an study the as of India than no less Europe of medieval study the up pursue to grows achild such if Perhaps it no is surprise unknown. the toward beckon that footprints islands, deserted on apparently who find, sailors or shipwrecked dren themselves in also but that departed what to has point that footprints medieval those like are They acts. are they What themselves. as there are They notis there. placeholders for what ghosts, would hold) merely simulacra, theorists modern not (as are They some presences. as also traces these But beyond. weand study outside, foreign, is awhole to that pointing partial, always are They grasp. fully we cannot that “other” an to beyond, point we always consider images and texts, objects, the that in absences, also are that We presences study culture. another when we study amodel of as what we study useful be it therefore may stood in the presence of its materiality. of its presence the in itself is trace The but presence. he below leaves not is emptiness What he rises. as rock the into down pressing still he if is as holiness, with heavy feels nonetheless feet, vanishing his in only seen a way-

–

4 ­n In two well- two In In closing, then, I return to my childhood self, fascinated by stories of chil stories by fascinated self, childhood my to Ireturn then, closing, In The print or print The 2, and 2:153.2, and anony the also See ess. In its evocation of absence, it saddens and even frightens; yet it entices yet it entices frightens; even it of and absence, saddens evocation its In ess.

—

h ave significance and even frightening power. frightening even and ave significance ­s crutiny is the closest I can come to understanding my desires desires my come understanding to Ican closest the is crutiny or even to attempt to define xenos define to attempt to or even ­k

trace or vestige as medieval theorists and worshippers under worshippers and theorists medieval as or vestige trace (c. 1513) 1513) (c. Ascension Christ’s motifs, the join that woodcuts nown ­altdorfer- ­durer/the

— of 1511 between agap see viewers we Dürer, by the

i ­the n their outlines, in their lengths, in their physical physical their in lengths, their in outlines, n their both the Christ it figures and that Christ’s gone- Christ’s that and it figures Christ the both -

the space in between. in space the below, and of above, contrast the starker even make two) or footprint ofone (whether woodcuts simple Fig. 2. Such as here reproduced woodcut, typical) (and quite mous 46 ­fi ; I suspect that all these terms terms these all that ; Isuspect Yet the Christ who departs, who departs, Yet Christ the rst century. As the world the at As century. rst is present, has power, has present, is philia as the the as - -

­ appear asifthey are protruding from acolumn.Credit: The National Galleryof Art image depicts ascent, Christ’sfeetseemtopress heavily downward and almost Gallery of Art,Washington, DC,Rosenwald Collection: 1943.3.362.Although the Figure 3.Albrecht Altdorfer, Christ’s Ascension, c. 1513,woodcut, the National

Bynum • Xenophilia: Part 4 307 COMMON KNOWLEDGE 308 Bonaventure, Bonaventure, References or footprint. study- a specific, behind not had left absence, very its by something, if “other” that to But we no would have access apart. only we whole encounter reach, although our out not of did hover just forever beyond, fearsome and wonderful, strange, thing some if no pursue to would be “other” there all, After of itself. and in powerful it athing is hand, other on the yet, atrace; only left has that absent something up of an aconjuring one hand, on the is, or object, text whether pursued, I have ascholar. “other” as The life my in apt metaphor exploring for been what Ihave yet it. present to and gaze our beyond whole, and both part both not there, and there both on is about how we “other” focus whatever think to instead, me, impels footprints strange and islands desert to drawn self hood a child with of continuity A sense change. we ourselves as gaze our under shift French Rural History: An Essay on Its Basic Characteristics Basic Its on Essay An History: Rural French Marc. Bloch, ——— Bedos- Bartal, Augustine, ALate- Measured: Passion “The David. Areford, saec. Hierosolymitana Itinera Geyer, In Itinerarium.” Placentini “Antonini Anonymous. Berend, and Walter. Reproducibility, Technological the Age in Its of Work The Art of Benjamin, edited by Stephen F. Brown. Indianapolis, IN: Hackett, 1993. Hackett, IN: F. Stephen Indianapolis, by edited Brown. 1966. Press, 1931; Sondheimer. Janet of California repr., University Berkeley: 1000 c. Hungary, Late- in Devotion Passion Body: Broken The In of Christ.” Leiden: Brill, 2011. Brill, Leiden: 2017. Routledge, London: Bynum. 500 Place, of Translation the Visual and Land 1998. Forsten, Egbert Groningen: 211 Schlusemann, R. M. and Ridderbos, H. N. B. MacDonald, A. A. by IV 127 Âge l’église de Moyen au immatérialité et Belknap, 2008. MA: Cambridge, Y. Thomas Levin. and Doherty, Brigid W.Michael Jennings, Media on Writings Other

– Hence the trace or footprint, as medieval thinkers understood it, seems an an seems it, understood thinkers medieval as or footprint, trace Hence the

–

­a

. “ ­ Rezak, Brigitte. Brigitte. Rezak, VIII Natural Materials of the Holy the Holy of Materials Natural eds. Kühnel, Bianca and Bodner, Neta Renana,

4 ble, powerful- Nora. Nora. 1. Bucharest: Éditions de l’Université de Bucarest, 2012. de Bucarest, de l’Université Éditions 1. Bucharest: L’empreinte. (1050 médiation d’une Trace tracé et . Translated by Marcus Dods. New York: Modern Library, 1950. York: New Library, Dods. Modern Marcus by . Translated God of City 156 , . Translated by Philotheus Boehner, Boehner, Philotheus by . Translated God to the Mind of Journey The At the Gate of Christendom: Jews, Muslims, and “Pagans” in Medieval Medieval in “Pagans” and Muslims, Jews, Christendom: of theAt Gate

–

218.

–

c . 1300 ­i When Ego Was Imago: Signs of Identity in the Middle Ages the Middle in Identity of Was Ego Signs Imago: When n- ­i . Translated by Edmund Jephcott et al., edited by by edited al., et Jephcott Edmund by . Translated tself, and very- and tself, . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001. Press, University Cambridge . Cambridge: , edited by Stéphanie Diane Daussy et al., al., et Daussy Diane Stéphanie by , edited ­m uch-

–

1 500 ­M ­p edieval Diagram of the Body Body of the Diagram edieval . Foreword by Caroline Walker Walker . Foreword Caroline by resent part resent ­M

–

1 edieval Culture edieval Matérialité 300).” Matérialité In

—

a v . Translated by by . Translated estige, or trace, or trace, estige,

– , edited , edited

3 8. . - - ——— Christian Materiality: An Essay on Religion in Late Medieval Medieval Late in Religion on Essay An Materiality: Walker. Christian Caroline Bynum, Buddhist in Footprints and Handprints Presence: Eternal ed. Selig, H. Kathryn Brown, of Foot- Significance The Stone: in Footprints Janet. Bord, aMumbai in Hope and Death, Life, Forevers: the Beautiful Behind Katherine. Boo, ——— ABiography Hippo: of Peter.Brown, Augustine The Golden Legend: Readings on the Saints on Readings Legend: Golden The Jacobus. Voragine, de Medievalism to Companion Cambridge ed. Louise, D’Arcens, Deshman, Robert. “Another Look at the Disappearing Christ: Corporeal and and Corporeal Christ: Disappearing at the Look “Another Robert. Deshman, Grammatology Of Jacques. Derrida, and Reproduction, Production, the On of Scholarship: Relics “The Cutler, Anthony. World: Lodging, the Mediterranean in the Stranger Housing Remie. Olivia Constable, ——— Early Modern Things: Objects and their Histories, 1500 Histories, their and Objects Things: Modern Early ed. Paula, Findlen, Donkin, Lucy. “Earth from Elsewhere: Burial in Terra in Burial Sancta Elsewhere: from Lucy. “Earth Donkin, Gender and and Gender eds. Richman, Paula and Harrell, Walker, Stevan Caroline Bynum, Freedman, Paul, and Gabrielle M. Spiegel. “Medievalisms Old and New: The The New: Old and “Medievalisms Spiegel. M. Gabrielle and Paul, Freedman, Response of Theory and the History in Studies Images: of Power The Freedberg, David. Religions Europe 2000. Press, of California University Berkeley: Art 2004. Press, of Albion Heart UK: Loughborough, Beings Supernatural and Monsters, Devils, People, Holy Heroes, Giants, of Imprints Undercity. University Press, 2016. Press, University 2015. Oaks, Dumbarton DC: Art Bulletin Art Images.” Medieval Early in Vision Spiritual 1976. Press, University Hopkins Johns Baltimore: and Beyond Byzantium in Relics of Cult The Matter: Sacred and West.” Saints In Medieval the and Islam, Early Byzantium, Antiquity, Late in Remains of Hallowed Interpretation 2003. Press, University Ages the Middle and Trade, Travel Antiquity and Late in Wienhausen.” Natural Materials of the Holy Land the Holy of Materials Natural Kühnel, and Bodner Bartal, In 1993. Press, University Princeton NJ: Princeton, Ryan. Granger William Religion: On the Complexity of Symbols of the Complexity On Religion: Review American Historical Studies.” Medieval American North in of Alterity Rediscovery Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1989. 2013. Routledge, London: , exhibition catalog. Katonah, NY: Katonah Museum of Art, 2004. of Art, Museum Katonah NY: Katonah, catalog. , exhibition

. “ . “ . “ History of of History Compare?” or, of Morphology, Tyranny Why the Avoiding

Encounter: Holy Beds.” Gesta Encounter: ‘ . New York: Zone Books, 2011. York:. New Books, Zone 103, no. 3(1998): 677 Crowned with Many Crowns’: Nuns and Their Statues in Late Medieval Medieval Late in Statues Their and Nuns Crowns’: Many with Crowned 53 (May 2014): 53 (May 341 New York: Random House, 2012. House, York: New Random , edited by Cynthia Hahn and Holger A. Klein, 309 Klein, A. Holger and Hahn Cynthia by , edited 101 Review (2015): Historical Catholic 18

–

–

6

7 8. 04. . Translated by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak. Spivak. Chakravorty Gayatri by . Translated 55 2016): (Fall 129 . Boston: Beacon Press, 1986. Press, Beacon . Boston: . Forty-Fifth Anniversary Edition. ­ a nd Hand-Prints and Other Other and Hand-Prints nd . Cambridge: Cambridge Cambridge . Cambridge:

–

4 – . Cambridge: Cambridge Cambridge . Cambridge: 79, no. 3(1997): 518 0.

3 1. beyond the Holy Land.” Land.” Holy the beyond , 2 vols. Translated by by Translated , 2vols.

–

4 109 , 5. Washington, 5. Washington,

–

1

– 800

26. .

–

4 . . 6.

Bynum • Xenophilia: Part 4 309 COMMON KNOWLEDGE 310 Itinera Hierosolymitana, Saec. IV Saec. Hierosolymitana, Itinera ed. Paul, Geyer, Depositions: Scenes from the Late Medieval Church and the Modern the Modern and Church Medieval the Late from Scenes Depositions: Knight. Amy Powell, ——— Bynum, In of Krishna.” Poetry the in of Gender “Images Hawley, Stratton. John Critical Aura.” Inquiry “Benjamin’s Bratu. Miriam Hansen, , 2vols. Begerin Ursula of Book Prayer Palmer. The Nigel and Jeffrey, Hamburger, Mechtild of Magdeburg and Her Book: Gender and the Making of Textual Textual of the Making and Gender Book: Her and Magdeburg of Mechtild Poor, S. Sara “An Open- Linda. Hess, Reliquaries, of Meaning and the Making in Issues Beauty: Strange Cynthia. Hahn, Geniza The Mediterranean: the Medieval in Trade Institutions and Jessica. Goldberg, Gendered Voices: Medieval Saints and Their Interpreters Their and Saints Voices: Medieval Gendered ed. M., Mooney, Catherine The Bengal: of the Goddesses for Longing and Rivalry, Fell. Revelry, Rachel McDermott, History ACritical Medievalism: David. Matthews, The Madonna of 115th Street: Faith and Community in Italian Harlem, Harlem, Italian in 115th of Community Faith and Madonna The Street: A. Robert Orsi, Signaturenlehre der Frühen Neuzeit: Bemerkungen zur zur Bemerkungen Neuzeit: Frühen der Signaturenlehre Zur Ohly, Friedrich. Lévi- Patrologiae cursus completus: series latina series completus: cursus 31. Patrologiae Epistle of Nola, In Paulinus Ancient from Aspects Changing Its on Lectures Four Tomb Sculpture: Erwin. Panofsky, of Holy Veneration Land in Water, Stone, Objects Oil: and “Earth, Limor, Ora. Pilgrims and Temples, Images, of Identities Fluid The Motion: in Jacob N. Places Kinnard, Museum Harrell, and Richman, Gender and Religion Richman, and Harrell, Verlag, Urs Graf 2015.Dietikon-Zurich: Authority Hinduism of Life 2005. Press, University Oxford 400 2012. Press, University Cambridge World. Cambridge: Business Their and Merchants F. 39. Tempsky, Vienna: 1898. latinorum ecclesiasticorum Fortunes of Hindu Festivals Hindu of Fortunes 1880 1999. Hirzel, Stuttgart: Wissenschaft, Literatur, und Kunst in Denkform epochalen einer Eigenart zur Vorgeschichte and mittelalterlichen Press, 1999. of Pennsylvania University Philadelphia: Bynum. Walker Foreword Caroline by 245 Anthropology Structural 2014. Press, University York:New Oxford Migne, 221 vols. Paris: Migne, 1844 221 Migne, Migne, Paris: vols. 1992. H. W. by York: New , edited Abrams, Janson. Bernini to Egypt Land the Holy of Materials Natural Kühnel, and Bodner, Bartal, In Travel Narratives.” 2006. Press, of California University Berkeley: ­S

–

trauss, Claude. “Split Representation in the Art of Asia and America.” In In America.” and of Asia Art the in Representation “Split Claude. trauss, –

. .

–

6

3 , ic 1204 circa Three Bhakti Voices: Mirabai, Surdas, and Kabir in Their Times and Ours and Times Their in Kabir and Surdas, Voices: Bhakti Mirabai, Three

1950 8. New York: Basic Books, 1963.8. York: New Books, Basic

– . New York: Zone Books, 2012. York:. New Books, Zone

18. . Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2004. Press, of Pennsylvania University . Philadelphia: , 3rd ed. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2010. Press, CT: Haven, New , 3rd Yale ed. University . University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press, 2012. Press, University State Pennsylvania Park: University , edited by John Stratton Hawley and Vasudha Narayanan, 115 Narayanan, Vasudha and Hawley Stratton John by , edited ­A . Translated by Claire Jacobson and Brooke Schoepf, Schoepf, Brooke and Jacobson Claire by . Translated The The In Experience.” Audience the Ramlila, Ramayana: ir . New York: Columbia University Press, 2011. Press, York:. New University Columbia . Edited by Uwe Ruberg und Dietmar Peil. Peil. Dietmar und Uwe Ruberg by . Edited

–

6 4, vol. 61, vol. 4, 325 cols. 231 ,

– . Woodbridge, UK: Brewer, 2015. UK: . Woodbridge,

V

– III

56. . Corpus scriptorum scriptorum . Corpus 34(2008): 336

–

3 0. , edited by J.- by , edited

–

7 5. . Delhi: . Delhi: .

–

3 ­P 9. . . Sciorra, Joseph. “ Joseph. Sciorra, Germany: Gütersloh, . 4vols. Kunst christlichen der Ikonographie Gertrud. Schiller, Jerusalem of Kingdom the Crusader of Churches The Denys. Pringle, 219, Present and Past no. 1 Renaissance.” Material the in “Matter Ulinka. Rublack, Ransome, Amazons and Arthur. Swallows Smith, Julia M. H. “Portable Christianity: Relics in the Medieval West (c. 700 Medieval the in Relics Christianity: “Portable M. H. Julia Smith, Diary Indian ASouth Rains: Heat, Spring, David. Shulman, Nationalism Hindu of the Idea Exploring Hindutva: Jyotirmaya. Sharma, euae Plrmg, 1099 Pilgrimage, W. F. and Jerusalem Hill Joyce Ryan. with John, Wilkinson, Worm, Andrea. “Steine und Fussspuren Christi auf dem Ölberg. Zu zwei Ölberg. dem zwei auf Zu Christi Fussspuren und “Steine Worm, Andrea. Making Material, Sculpture, Ages: the Middle in Object Bronze The Ittai. Weinryb, of Significance Religious The Shoes: of Ishtar’s Riddle “The Brian. Paul Thomas, Magic of the Decline and Religion Keith. Thomas, et traduction, Texte Sévère: critique, Sulpice de Chronique La Severus. Sulpicius Grammatology Of Derrida, “Translator’s Preface.” In Gayatri. Spivak, on 1966 Mohn, Jerusalem 21) 41 (2013): the City: Religion and the American Urban Landscape Urban the American and Religion the City: aMulti- in Markers Territorial and Chicago Press, 2009. 2006. Penguin, 1999. Press, University Indiana Bloomington: Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2016. Press, University Cambridge Cambridge: f Zeitschrift Christi.” Himmelfahrt der Darstellungen bei Motiven ungewöhnlichen 1988. Society, Hakluyt London: History Religious of Journal Perspective.” aComparative from Dara at ‘Ain Footprints the commentaire

1200).” 1200).” ü r 66, no. 3(2003): 66, 297 Kunstgeschichte 32, no. 3(2008): 303 181 (2012): Academy the British of Proceedings 143

. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993. Press, University Cambridge . Cambridge: –

85. , 2 vols., edited by André Lavertujon. Paris: Hachette, 1899. Hachette, Paris: Lavertujon. André by edited , 2vols.,

–

80.

‘ We Go Where the Italians Live’: Religious Processions as Ethnic Ethnic as Processions Live’: Religious Italians the We Where Go

–

1 9. ­e Gods of of Gods Neighborhood.” In Brooklyn thnic . London: Jonathan Cape, 1930. Cape, Jonathan . London:

–

3 20. . New York: Scribners, 1971. York:. New Scribners, , edited by Robert Orsi, 310 Orsi, Robert by , edited . Chicago: University of University . Chicago:

–

6 8. . Vol. of City 3of The vii , . London: . London:

–

lxxiv.

–

1185 – .

–

4 . 0.

Bynum • Xenophilia: Part 4 311