The Image as Mediator of Knowledge in the Middle Ages. A Research Path for the History of Education
Luca Odini
In this contribution we will frame, from a theoretical point of view, the function of the image as a source in the history of education in the Middle Ages. After examining the importance and the evolution of the use of a source such as the visual for the history of education, we will try to grasp the function of the image within the medieval context, highlighting its repercussions from an educational point of view. In addition to the theoretical aspect, we will investigate its role not only as an object among objects, but also the other three elements that constitute it: its referent, its role as an image that is reconstructed in the referent’s mind, and its function in social interactions. After framing these aspects, we will identify some possible research paths to enhance their importance and significance in the history of education.
Keywords
History of education, Visual source, Image, Medieval iconography, Role of the image.
