Constructing Imperial and National Identities: Monstrous and Human Bodies in Book of Watchers, Daniel, and 2 Maccabees
Monster theory illuminates the construction of imperial and national identities in the portrayals of monstrous and human bodies in three early Jewish texts; Book of Watchers, Daniel, and 2 Maccabees. Book of Watchers expresses anxiety about Judean/Jewish identity in the shadow of empire through its...
| Subtitles: | Articles |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Sage Publ.
[2020]
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| In: |
Interpretation
Year: 2020, Volume: 74, Issue: 2, Pages: 159-170 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Monster
/ Body
/ Unmensch
/ Identity
/ Ethnic identity
/ Enoch 1-36
/ Bible. Makkabäer 2.
/ Azariah
/ Antiochus IV Seleucid Empire, King 215 BC-164 BC
/ Seleukiden
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| RelBib Classification: | BC Ancient Orient; religion HB Old Testament HD Early Judaism |
| Further subjects: | B
Monster Theory
B Nebuchadnezzar B Martyrs B book ofDaniel B Dismemberment B Beasts B Decapitation B Nicanor B 2 Maccabees B 1 Enoch B Corpses B Giants B Judas Maccabee B Monsters B Antiochus IV B Judea B Book of Watchers B Body B Seleucids |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | Monster theory illuminates the construction of imperial and national identities in the portrayals of monstrous and human bodies in three early Jewish texts; Book of Watchers, Daniel, and 2 Maccabees. Book of Watchers expresses anxiety about Judean/Jewish identity in the shadow of empire through its portrayal of a vulnerable humanity terrorized by voracious giants and their demonic spirits. Daniel dehumanizes empire and its agents, imaging empire as a colossal statue, an animalistic were-king, and a series of monstrous beasts, while one like a human being poses an alternative to imperial rule. Second Maccabees, by contrast, demythologizes, decapitates, dismembers, and disintegrates the imperial body in order to portray the integral Judean political body (and soul) as mature, pure, capable, and ordered. |
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| ISSN: | 2159-340X |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Interpretation
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1177/0020964319896309 |