Iconic Books and Texts

James W. Watts is Professor of Religion at Syracuse University and the author of Ritual and Rhetoric in Leviticus: From Sacrifice to Scripture (Cambridge University Press, 2007).

Together the 22 essays in this volume creatively and effectively draw together different historical epochs, varied religious and cultural traditions and ritual practices, and diverse scholarly methodologies to create a finely woven tapestry depicting the enduring, transcultural, and mutually supportive significances of iconic books and texts. In addition to giving these previously published essays a wider audience, this collection will help foster meaningful cross-disciplinary conversation between readers interested in al aspects of the history of the book.

• Introduction James W. Watts I. Categorizing Iconic Books1. The Three Dimensions of Scriptures James W. Watts 2. "Winged Words": Scriptures and Classics as Iconic Texts William A. Graham, Harvard University 3. Talking about "Iconic Books" in the Terminology of Book History Deirdre C. Stam, Long Island University II. Images and Texts4. The Iconic Book: The Image of the Bible in Early Christian Rituals Dorina Miller Parmenter, Spalding University, Louisville, KY 5. Images to be Read and Words to be Seen: The Iconic Role of the Early Medieval Book Michelle P. Brown, School of Advanced Study, University of London 6. Looking at Words: The Iconicity of the Page S. Brent Plate, Hamilton College, Clinton, NY 7. Between the Textual and the Visual: Borderlines of Late Antique Book Iconicity Zeev Elitzur, Israel Center for Excellence through Education, Jerusalem 8. It Is What It Is (Or Is It?): Further Reflections on the Buddhist Representation of Manuscripts Jacob Kinnard, Iliff School of Theology, Denver 9. The Tell-Tale Iconic Book M. Patrick Graham, Emory University III. Materials and Markets10. Mus h af and the Material Boundaries of the Qur'an Natalia K. Suit, University of North Carolina (PhD candidate) 11. The End of the Word as We Know It: The Cultural Iconicity of the Bible in the Twilight of Print Culture Timothy Beal, Case Western Reserve University 12. Iconic Books from Below: The Christian Bible and the Discourse of Duct Tape Dorina Miller Parmenter 13. Be-Witching Scripture: The Book of Shadows as Scripture within Wicca/Neopagan Witchcraft Shawn Loner, Syracuse University (PhD candidate) IV. Book Rituals14. Engaging with the Guru: Sikh Beliefs and Practices of Guru Granth Sahib Kristina Myrvold, Linnaeus University, Sweden 15. A Birthday Party for a Sacred Text: The Gita Jayanti and the Embodiment of God as the Book and the Book as God Joanne Punzo Waghorne, Syracuse University 16. Possession and Repetition: Ways in which Korean Lay Buddhists Appropriate Scriptures Yohan Yoo, Seoul National University 17. The Bible in British Folklore Brian Malley, University of Michigan V. Power and Scholarship18. The Pride and Prejudice of the Western World: Canonic Memory, Great Books and Archive Fever Karl Ivan Solibakke, Syracuse University 19. Indigenous "Texts" of Inhabiting the Land: George Washington's Wampum Belt and the Canandaigua Treaty Philip P. Arnold, Syracuse University 20. The Gospels as Imperialized Sites of Memory in Late Ancient Christianity Jason T. Larson, The Hotchkiss School, Lakeville, CT 21. Possessing the Iconic Book: Ben Sira as Case Study Claudia V. Camp, Texas Christian University 22. Ancient Iconic Texts and Scholarly Expertise James W. Watts