“Do this in anamnesis of me” -Luke 22:19

Anamnesis…huh?

What is anamnesis? Well, let’s break it down.

Anamnesis [an-am-nee-sis] noun

the recollection or remembrance of the past; reminiscence.
Platonism. recollection of the ideas, which the soul had known in a previous existence, especially by means of reasoning.
a prayer in a Eucharistic service, recalling the Passion, Resurrection, and Ascension of Christ.

A way that really helped me understand the word though was this: (an- = un-, amnesis = forgetting, as in amnesia).

So, why do we care? Well, personally, I believe this is a concept all humans have experienced in the same way, even without realizing it. What do I mean by that? I believe we are all made in God’s image, yet this image has been distorted by sin. We cannot clearly see or understand all that “being made in God’s image” encompasses. However, I would argue that there is something in us that cannot fully forget or ignore it. There is something that exists inside each and every one of us that we cannot deny. I fully believe we can go through seasons where that “thing” is so covered by distraction that we don’t even know it’s there. However, in moments of anamnesis, we remember it even if we don’t know what it is.

I would encourage you to take a quick break from my nonsensical thoughts to watch this video. It is a clip from a movie that picks up with a man who has been on a raft in the middle of the ocean for days. It is a great example of one experiencing this anamnesis I am talking about.

What does Rowan Williams have to say about this?

Rowan Williams is the reason I’m even talking about anamnesis in the first place. I was quite intrigued by this part of Grace and Necessity. He says, “the modern artist in general, though, does not know where she is”…however, “artists know more than they think they know” (77). “It is God who makes meanings because it is God, speaker of the eternal Word who becomes flesh, who connects finite reality with the communicative, the self-imparting, action that is divine life” (78). So, what is he saying? I’m honestly not 100% sure. However, the way I interpreted this is that the modern artist may not think she knows where she is or what she’s doing; but, she actually knows more than she thinks because of God in her. It is God who sent His son Jesus to earth to connect the dots for us. He then brings this entire argument to fruition by saying “Do this is anamnesis of me” (Luke 22:19). The word anamnesis in that verse is often translated to remembrance. Christ is fully aware that we are going to experience moments of amnesia, times when we forget about Him. Thus, He encourages us to practice remembering Him.

How does this apply to art?

I believe William’s argument is that we cannot create art apart from Christ. As I stated earlier, there is something in all of us that we cannot forget. This is because I believe we are made in God’s image. We cannot forget or get rid of who we are, we can only mask it. It is in moments of anamnesis that the mask is lifted. Thus, our art subconsciously reflects our anamnesis. If we aim to serve our work, then naturally, our remembrance of God will flow into it. We can’t escape it. We know more than we think we know. I hope this made sense. I am not nearly as good as Williams in my articulation.

The Scream - Edvard MunchI included this because it’s a very famous piece of art. Why is it so famous? Does it communicate on a deeper level? — The Scream - Edvard Munch
I included this because it’s a very famous piece of art. Why is it so famous? Does it communicate on a deeper level?

Another thing I found interesting…

“Human beings are those creatures who uniquely have the capacity and responsibility to uncover for one another the nature of the world in which sameness and otherness constantly flow into each other”. (I cannot find the page number, I’m sorry). I just loved this quote. I think this is even more evidence for my argument above. Because we all know more than we think we know, and we all remember different aspects of our own creation, we can aid each other in that. I think that’s awesome.

I included the wedding video I just made because in a sense, I wonder if this uncovers the nature of the world to someone else. If my capturing of a beautiful marriage can reflect the metaphor of us as Christ’s bride to someone else? Interesting.

In conclusion

I usually like to make my posts more personal, however, I was so intrigued by this concept that I wanted to try to explain it myself. I’m not so sure I did a great job but I’m thankful to have a better understanding of this concept. I think understanding this term will even add to my time in communion at church. God amazes me every single day. He is so big, wonderful, and faithful. How do I ever dare to forget Him even for a second?

Sources

Williams, Rowan. Grace and Necessity: Reflections on Art and Love. Continuum, 2005.

http://www.john-uebersax.com/plato/words/anamnesis.htm

http://www.justforcatholics.org/a164.htm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=114&v=H1EOnVSSJYs

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/anamnesis

Grace and Necessity - Part Two

Grace and Necessity - Part Three

Grace and Necessity - Part One