Department of Art History

Stephen Houston, Dupee Family Professor, Brown University, will speak on Maya writing, a hieroglyphic system like ancient Egyptian, that existed at the interface between text and image.  His talk explores the carried navigations in that zone of turbulence, ranging from aesthetic judgements to the conviction that writing might literally live, its shapes and spellings erupting into active bodies. At times playful, often serious-minded, Maya writing offers enduring insights into the cultural and philosophical implications of graphic representation. 

Presented by the Department of Art History as part of the 2017/18 Smart lecture series supported by the Smart Family Foundation.