Queer-religious symbol analysis (QRSA): A semiotic method for reframing Hindu iconography

Area of Science:

• Religious Studies
• Visual Semiotics
• Cultural Heritage Studies

Background:

• Sacred traditions are undergoing increased scrutiny, necessitating new analytical approaches for religious iconography.
• Traditional interpretations of Hindu iconography often rely on cisnormative and heteropatriarchal frameworks, limiting nuanced understanding.
• There is a need for methods that recognize the fluidity and potential for new meanings within religious symbols.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the Queer-Religious Symbol Analysis (QRSA) method, a visual-semiotic framework for reinterpreting Hindu religious iconography.
• To enable the identification of latent meanings in Hindu deity forms, ritual symbols, and mythic visual narratives.
• To provide a method for inclusive reinterpretation of religious imagery that respects cultural sanctity.

Main Methods:

• The Queer-Religious Symbol Analysis (QRSA) method comprises five systematic phases.
• Phase 1: Iconographic Inventory - Cataloguing visual elements and attributes of religious images.
• Phase 2: Textual Contextualization - Linking iconography with scriptural and ritual sources.
• Phase 3: Queer Semiotic Reframing - Reinterpreting symbols through queer theoretical codes.
• Phase 4: Integrative Visual Analysis - Synthesizing symbolic, textual, and cultural layers.
• Phase 5: Reflexive Documentation - Recording the analytical process with cultural accountability.

Main Results:

• The QRSA method facilitates the identification of meanings previously obscured by cisnormative and heteropatriarchal paradigms.
• This approach allows for a more inclusive and nuanced understanding of Hindu religious iconography.
• The method supports reproducible academic and curatorial practices for visual culture and heritage conservation.

Conclusions:

• The QRSA method offers a novel and effective framework for analyzing sacred Hindu symbols through queer theoretical lenses.
• It enables the inclusive reinterpretation of religious imagery without violating cultural sanctity.
• The method promotes reproducible academic and curatorial practices, contributing to visual culture and heritage conservation.