Reading Objects in the Contact Zone

The cultural effects of globalization constitute one of the most important
challenges for the discipline of art history today. The aim of this publication is
to take a critical look at art historical narratives. Based on transcultural object
biographies, the volume brings together analyses of objects and images that
circulate in transcultural contact zones: their histories of origin, circulation and
perception slice through space and time. The histories of these objects and images
thus demonstrate in exemplary fashion how knowledge and understanding can be
generated, communicated or also challenged in cultural contact zones. Hence, the
publication is designed as a methodological contribution to a transcultural art and
cultural history. It is also conceived as an instrument for teaching and contains a
critical-discursive glossary of key-terms that combines theory and practice of
transcultural art history.