Handling the Theme of Hands in Early Modern Cross-over Contexts

Anne Sophie Haahr Refskou; Laura Søvsø Thomasen

Handling the Theme of Hands in Early Modern Cross-over Contexts

Anne Sophie Haahr Refskou, Laura Søvsø Thomasen

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Abstract

The human hand is a complex phenomenon within the contexts of early modern visual and textual culture. Its frequent presence in early modern texts and illustrations - as well as the many different types of described and depicted hands - raises a number of questions as to its functions and significances. In this article, we examine the role of the hand and two of its familiar functions –pointing and touching – against diverse and diverging understandings of human perception and cognition in the period focussing particularly on relations between bodies and minds. Through comparative analyses of cross-over examples from both medicine, manuals and drama – primarily John Bulwer’s Chirologia and Chironomia, William Harvey’s de Motu Cordis and extracts from Shakespeare’s plays – we explore the questions implied by hands and their contributions to the knowledge probed and proposed by these texts and illustrations.

Original language	English
Journal	Early Modern Culture Online
Issue	5
ISSN	1892-0888
Publication status	Published - Jun 2014

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Cite this

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title = "Handling the Theme of Hands in Early Modern Cross-over Contexts",

abstract = "The human hand is a complex phenomenon within the contexts of early modern visual and textual culture. Its frequent presence in early modern texts and illustrations - as well as the many different types of described and depicted hands - raises a number of questions as to its functions and significances. In this article, we examine the role of the hand and two of its familiar functions –pointing and touching – against diverse and diverging understandings of human perception and cognition in the period focussing particularly on relations between bodies and minds. Through comparative analyses of cross-over examples from both medicine, manuals and drama – primarily John Bulwer{\textquoteright}s Chirologia and Chironomia, William Harvey{\textquoteright}s de Motu Cordis and extracts from Shakespeare{\textquoteright}s plays – we explore the questions implied by hands and their contributions to the knowledge probed and proposed by these texts and illustrations. ",

author = "Refskou, {Anne Sophie Haahr} and Thomasen, {Laura S{\o}vs{\o}}",

year = "2014",

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language = "English",

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AU - Refskou, Anne Sophie Haahr

AU - Thomasen, Laura Søvsø

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N2 - The human hand is a complex phenomenon within the contexts of early modern visual and textual culture. Its frequent presence in early modern texts and illustrations - as well as the many different types of described and depicted hands - raises a number of questions as to its functions and significances. In this article, we examine the role of the hand and two of its familiar functions –pointing and touching – against diverse and diverging understandings of human perception and cognition in the period focussing particularly on relations between bodies and minds. Through comparative analyses of cross-over examples from both medicine, manuals and drama – primarily John Bulwer’s Chirologia and Chironomia, William Harvey’s de Motu Cordis and extracts from Shakespeare’s plays – we explore the questions implied by hands and their contributions to the knowledge probed and proposed by these texts and illustrations.

AB - The human hand is a complex phenomenon within the contexts of early modern visual and textual culture. Its frequent presence in early modern texts and illustrations - as well as the many different types of described and depicted hands - raises a number of questions as to its functions and significances. In this article, we examine the role of the hand and two of its familiar functions –pointing and touching – against diverse and diverging understandings of human perception and cognition in the period focussing particularly on relations between bodies and minds. Through comparative analyses of cross-over examples from both medicine, manuals and drama – primarily John Bulwer’s Chirologia and Chironomia, William Harvey’s de Motu Cordis and extracts from Shakespeare’s plays – we explore the questions implied by hands and their contributions to the knowledge probed and proposed by these texts and illustrations.

M3 - Journal article

SN - 1892-0888

JO - Early Modern Culture Online

JF - Early Modern Culture Online

IS - 5

ER -

Handling the Theme of Hands in Early Modern Cross-over Contexts

Abstract

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