Image – Summer 2003

You don’t have to be a religious scholar to appreciate the essays, short stories, art and poetry found in Image. In fact, many of the individual pieces included would easily fit in “general” literary journals. As a collection, the text explores the relationships between religion (mainly Judeo-Christian), culture and art in contemporary times. This issue offers two enlightening essays on the work of artists George Gittoes and Eric Fischl (artist of last year’s controversial Tumbling Woman, which generated a debate of how artists should represent the horrors of 9/11).

You don’t have to be a religious scholar to appreciate the essays, short stories, art and poetry found in Image. In fact, many of the individual pieces included would easily fit in “general” literary journals. As a collection, the text explores the relationships between religion (mainly Judeo-Christian), culture and art in contemporary times. This issue offers two enlightening essays on the work of artists George Gittoes and Eric Fischl (artist of last year’s controversial Tumbling Woman, which generated a debate of how artists should represent the horrors of 9/11). Also of note is an interview with poet Caroyln Forche in which she discusses being a one-time fallen Catholic, her time in El Salvador and reaction to her latest book. Some of the poetry tends to rely a bit heavily on Christ and redemption imagery for my taste, but it did make me confront why I’m so uncomfortable with it. It’s a thoughtful magazine that’s not afraid to bring up questions. [ http://www.imagejournal.org]