'Ecce Homo': lecture by Mark Cousins, 4th February, 2000

Extent: 1 audio cassette (90min), 4 digital files (711 MB)

Comprises audio recording of a lecture entitled 'Ecce Homo', given by Mark Cousins on the 4th February, 2000. The recordings consist of a Maxwell 90 audio cassette tape, 2 digital preservation files (580 MB, .wav format) and 2 digital access files (131.7 MB, .mp3 format). Duration of access version: 55min 13sec

Copyright: Architectural Association

Creator: Mark Cousins

Admin History: The recording is of the 6th lecture in the series entitled 'Imago', given by Mark Cousins as part of the AA General Studies programme, 1999-2000. In this lecture Mark Cousins presents a discussion based around representation of the concept of the humanity of Christ, as the flesh - regarded within the Christian tradition as providing a bridge between a humanity and divinity. He raises the problem of monotheism, where God is one, without a form and cannot be represented, but is incarnated as three identities: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost. Cousins points out that in the doctrines of artistic representation, there emerges another technical fantasy within the Byzantine quest for proximity to the flesh. The artist's role is to become humble and to skilfully reproduce the image without altering in any respect. In elaborating upon this argument, Mark suggests that the fundamental relation of the spectator to the image, in this case, is almost tactile and is implicated in the process of incarnation.

Custodial History: Audio cassette recording was made by the AA Audio Visual Department and retained by the AA Photo Library until 2019, when it was transferred to the AA Archives.

Aquisition: Audio cassette was transferred from the AA Photo Library to the AA Archives in 2019. Digital preservation and access copies were created by the AA Archives in 2021.

Archive Note: Catalogue description by Ke Bo Tsai

Publication Note: AA Events List, Week 4, Spring Term, 1st - 4th February, 2000