The Book of Revelation and the Visual Culture of Asia Minor

In this book, Andrew R. Guffey argues that part of the confusion surrounding the book of Revelation stems from the fact it was first and foremost a work to be “seen,” but that few interpreters address the visuality of the book.

Guffey describes a connection between rhetorical discussions of ekphrasis, visual culture, and John’s images—a “concurrence of images”— using theory and thick historical description. His analysis situates the text and its rhetorical performativity in the context of ancient visual and rhetorical culture, arguing that Revelation is not merely a work of literary craft, but also of visual culture.