Panel: MATERIALITY IN LIVED RELIGIONS: RETHINKING RELIGION AND THEOLOGY



419.1 - UNVEILING VISUALITY AND MATERIALITY OF LIVED RELIGION: PHOTO-ETHNOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF ALEVI PLACES OF WORSHIP IN VIENNA

AUTHORS:
Cosan Eke D. (University of Vienna ~ Vienna ~ Austria)
Text:
This paper delves into the visual and material aspects of lived religion, particularly focusing on Alevi places of worship in Vienna, Austria. Drawing from the concept of lived religion, it explores how tangible objects and artifacts within religious spaces contribute to individual spirituality, communal memory, and religious identity. Combining photography and ethnographic techniques, the research aims to deepen understanding of religious experience and the transformative power of religious spaces. Through a photo-ethnographic approach and visual representations of Alevis, the study examines how Alevi religious centers visually embody distinct religious characteristics associated with Alevism. The research underscores the importance of visual representations in enhancing the visibility of Alevi faith and acknowledging its unique identity within the legal, political, and socio-cultural framework.