The visuality understood as the set of discursive practices that concern the valorization of the visual and the social construction of the gaze is my key to reading the v. Anton. Two main themes emerged: the devil and his demons and Antony himself. By means phantasiae and performances, the first try to take over men through sight appearing to them in the form of scary apparitions. They are contrasted by Antonio who teaches to control the emotions and to orient the gaze towards the interiority in order to recognize the true nature of the demonic phantasiae. The v. Anton. describes several times the physical aspect of Antonio who is an antagonist of the demons also from this point of view: so much the former are unseemly, violent, changeable, so much the latter is steady. The permanence of his physical state through so many battles and sacrifices is the visible sign of his perfect inner balance and imperturbability. However the v.Anton. does not offer a portrait of Anthony, but invites to look and recognize the signs of his relationship with the divine.
Sottrarsi alla vista, addestrare lo sguardo: la visualità nella Vita di Antonio di Atanasio di Alessandria
Adele Monaci Castagno
2020-01-01
Abstract
The visuality understood as the set of discursive practices that concern the valorization of the visual and the social construction of the gaze is my key to reading the v. Anton. Two main themes emerged: the devil and his demons and Antony himself. By means phantasiae and performances, the first try to take over men through sight appearing to them in the form of scary apparitions. They are contrasted by Antonio who teaches to control the emotions and to orient the gaze towards the interiority in order to recognize the true nature of the demonic phantasiae. The v. Anton. describes several times the physical aspect of Antonio who is an antagonist of the demons also from this point of view: so much the former are unseemly, violent, changeable, so much the latter is steady. The permanence of his physical state through so many battles and sacrifices is the visible sign of his perfect inner balance and imperturbability. However the v.Anton. does not offer a portrait of Anthony, but invites to look and recognize the signs of his relationship with the divine.
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