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Medieval orality, mothers, and bonding
1New York Medical College, USA.
Summary
Medieval women faced vilification, veneration, and exclusion. High mortality rates shifted bonding to institutions, impacting art and later cultural shifts towards humanism.
Area of Science:
- Social History
- Art History
- Medieval Studies
Background:
- Medieval society often vilified, venerated, or excluded women.
- High maternal and infant mortality rates disrupted typical mother-child bonding.
Observation:
- Art from the period shows limited eye contact between the Virgin Mary and Christ Child.
- This artistic convention may reflect a societal shift in parental figures, with the Church and royalty acting as pseudo-parents.
Findings:
- Lack of early mother-child bonding led to a cultural emphasis on orality in medieval art and legends.
- Decreased infant mortality and improved mother-child bonding correlated with cultural changes during the Renaissance.
Implications:
- These shifts influenced the development of self-realization concepts, contributing to the rise of secular humanism.
- Understanding these dynamics offers insights into historical family structures and their representation in art.