Potential Projects on "Religious Ceremonies of the Known World"
- Women's agency in the eighteenth century: How were women empowered during this period? How did this empowerment vary across cultures? Were different religions more tolerant of powerful women?
- Bernard includes lots of innuendos and sexual references throughout his writing on marriage. How did people talk about sex in the eighteenth century? Were there common jokes and tropes? Why did some cultures receive a more humorous look than others?
- Other than marriage ceremonies, Bernard and Picart also focus a lot of their attention on funeral ceremonies and childbirth. A comparative study similar to this digital project on either of those topics would be fascinating.
- While many of the religions and cultures Bernard and Picart mention are still very relevant to our world today, some have become archaic. Learn about them! Who were the Adamites, and why did they believe being naked in public was one way to salvation? What comparisons can be made between the Masonic culture of the eighteenth century and the culture that still persists today? What remnants of indigenous cultures in America fought to stay alive, despite considerable violence?
- "Truth" in Religious Ceremonies: How did Bernard and Picart--two men who never left Europe--establish credibility on religions from all over the world? What sources did they rely on? Can we consider their sources reliable? How do we read Religious Ceremonies knowing it is likely not everything is 100% accurate?
- While Picart did not illustrate an Islamic marriage ceremony, Bernard's coverage of the religion as a whole was one of the most tolerant Western European depictions of Islam in the eighteenth century. What did Islam mean to Bernard? How did readers respond?
- How did Religious Ceremonies get translated? What was lost in translation? Not long after the Dutch edition was published, another writer published a dupe, short English translation of the book, which incensed Bernard. Why did this happen?
- Bernard and Picart are themselves fascinating historical characters. Why did they end up in the Netherlands? Why do no engravings of Bernard exist? Were they friends, or merely writing partners? Why is the book now referred to as "Picart?"
- Look at Picart through an art history lens. What do his engravings add to the conversation?
- Religious Ceremonies of the Known World was not universally well-received. In fact, some places even banned the book. Why was it censored? Why does that matter?