2010 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
City Seals as Representational Culture
| Project/Area Number |
20720028
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Research Field |
Aesthetics/Art history
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| Research Institution | Waseda University |
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Principal Investigator |
FURUKAWA Masayuki Waseda University, 文学学術院, 助教 (10409617)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2008 – 2010
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| Keywords | 西洋史 / 美術史 |
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| Research Abstract |
City seals, which have taken forms through self recognition of medieval cities in the dynamic transition of history, are at the same time the media through which the cultural identity is generated. In other words, city seals are historical materials of social representation, as defined by Durkheim. Contrary to the prevalent assumption, nature of cities represented in those symbols often does not demonstrate secular characteristics. Rather, they depict the identities of cities within the boundaries of Christian iconography, in which the cities viewed themselves as integrated religious communities. This study can demonstrate that city seals represent the multidimensional power relationships the cities took parts in and their self perceptions in such circumstances.
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