The Uses of Anachronism : On Cultural and Methodological Diversity in Islamic Art

Islamic art history at the present time is in a state of upheaval.

This results from its relatively recent appearance on the academic scene, its distance from modish art historical or literary theory, and its search for identity and direction.

The reflections within this volume, taken from an inaugural lecture delivered on 17th October 1991, attempt to diagnose the problems which have given rise to this crisis of confidence, notably the need to rationalize the diversity and eclectism of the arts of Muslim cultures and their specific individuality and ethnicity.

The second half of the book draws from Ottoman history to explain the art industries in Muslim cultures and their still problematic role in determining cultural, technological and stylistic change.