Constructions of Space I: Theory, Geography, and Narrative

by Claudia V. Camp

The Constructions of Ancient Space Seminar ran as a joint project of the American Academy of Religion (AAR) and Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) from 2000-05, the only cross-society venture of its time.  For the first time in the development of biblical studies, participants in the seminar attempted to foreground and critically analyze space with the same theoretical nuance that biblical scholars have traditionally devoted to history.  Among the noteworthy achievements were applications of different critical spatiality theories to both the traditional historical work of biblical geography and to the analysis of biblical narrative.
This volume begins with five essays that represent some of the seminar's most important interdisciplinary theoretical work.  It then moves to two essays on biblical mapping, considered from a cultural studies perspective as a historical enterprise. The volume concludes with two essays that show the interpretive value of critical spatiality theory when used as a lens for reading biblical narrative.

176 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Claudia V. Camp is Professor of Religion at Texas Christian University, USA and was on the steering committee of the Seminar. She is currently co-general editor of the LHBOTS series, as well as the author or editor of 4 books and numerous articles.