Washington University in St. Louis
Legends of Light: Crafting middle grade fantasy in the tradition of Catholic philosophy and medieval visual culture
Abstract
dc:description.abstract<p>This essay promotes the writing and illustrating of middle grade literature that mirrors the wonder-inducing experiences of leafing through an illuminated manuscript and stepping into a Gothic cathedral. An examination of Catholic medieval visual culture moves into a discussion on its underlying philosophy and theology, which are profoundly centered on relational healing and the dignity of the human person. Christian writers including St. Pope John Paul II, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Josef Pieper, Madeline L’Engle, Dr. Bob Schuchts, Makoto Fujimura, and Andrew Peterson inform an exploration of mercy, forgiveness, and love as self-gift in the context of illustration and storytelling at large.</p> <p>By highlighting a selection of middle grade/young adult fantasy novels and introducing my MFA thesis project as a part of that tradition, I discuss the need for books which invite families to come together and contemplate the joys and sorrows of the human experience.</p>
Degree
thesis:*- Name thesis:degree_name
- Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Illustration & Visual Culture
- Level thesis:degree_level
- Thesis
- Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
- Graduate School of Art
- Year dc:date.available
- 2023
Author and committee
dc:creator, dc:contributor.*- Author dc:creator
-
- Lamb, Bernadette
Subjects
dc:subject × 27- children's literature
- illustration
- visual culture
- reading
- writing
- middle grade fiction
- medievalism
- Catholic philosophy
- Catholic theology
- Thomism
- Aesthetics
- Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque Art and Architecture
- Art and Design
- Art Education
- Book and Paper
- Catholic Studies
- Children's and Young Adult Literature
- Christianity
- Creative Writing
- Education
- European History
- Fiction
- Literature in English, British Isles
- Medieval History
- Medieval Studies
- Philosophy
- Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion
Rights
- Language dc:language
- English
Identifiers
dc:identifier.*- OAI identifier oai:identifier
- oai:openscholarship.wustl.edu:mfa_illustration-1020