Between Destruction and Development

Dynamics of Transformation in the Sensory Landscapes of the Apocalypse of St John

Abstract

This article examines the dynamics of the transformation of sensory landscapes in the Book of Revelation, seeking to demonstrate that – contrary to the prevailing view – the transformations of space are not confined solely to progressive destruction but also encompass development. The source material is the text of Revelation in Koine Greek, studied with attention to the Hebrew roots of the apocalyptic genre. The study is situated within interdisciplinary research, bordering on Biblical Performance Criticism, affect theory, sensory anthropology, and orality studies. Its point of departure is a synchronic analysis of the text combined with elements of exegesis, supplemented by the tools of ethnography and sensory anthropology. In accordance with the Semitic conception of the seven senses (sight, hearing, taste, smell, touch, movement, and speech), the article investigates the sensoriality and the direction of transformation within each space, while also taking into account the euphonic and performative layer of the text. It identifies the direction of these transformational dynamics, the principle that orders them, and their persuasive dimensions.