Page 44 - Studia Universitatis Hereditati, vol 13(1) (2025)

altars to commemorate the plague epidemics or juxtaposed ideas that contradict each other or
to give thanks for their end, they did not give up make a cultural or political statement, but some-
their belief in the help of the saints later on, ei- times they do not. The reference may be abstract
ther (Kostanjšek Brglez 2022b, 40). or implied. Whatever the context, it captivates
the viewer.
c) On the method of interpretation of the plague In this analysis, the two concepts are linked
altar in such a way that punctum signifies an anthro-
In this analysis, I have drawn on Roland Barthes’ pological close-up perspective that reflects what
concepts of punctum and studium (Barthes 1981) the author considers important, while studi-
to guide my exploration of the topic. My initial um refers to a culturally and historically specif-
emotional response and personal impressions – ic context.
which Barthes refers to as punctum – served as a The literature I have used to understand
44 catalyst for a more in-depth examination of the the message of the plague altar includes sourc-
historical events and public health implications es such as ethnographic and historical studies,
surrounding the plague in the region, which medical texts, legal documents, medical histori-
studia universitatis hereditati, letnik 13 (2025), številka 1 / volume 13 (2025), number 1
align with Barthes’ notion of studium. This dual cal accounts and extracts from the literature de-
approach allowed me to combine my subjective scribing the plague, which form a comprehen-
experiences with a broader contextual under- sive basis for the interpretation of the plague
standing, enabling a comprehensive examina- altar.
tion of the interplay between individual percep-
tion and collective historical narratives. The Plague: Transmission, Clinical
According to Barthes (1981, 26–28), the Manifestations and History
punctum is a personal detail in a photograph a) From the history of medicine about plague
that ‘pierces’ or ‘pricks’ a particular viewer and The plague, caused by the bacterium identified
has a private meaning that has nothing to do by Alexandre Yersin in an outbreak in Hong
with a cultural code. The punctum refers to Kong in 1894 (later named Yersinia pestis in his
those features of a photograph (in this case the honour), has been responsible for major pan-
painting) that seem to create or convey mean- demics throughout history. Understanding the
ing without invoking a recognisable symbolic different forms of plague and its transmission is
system. This kind of meaning is unique and de- crucial to understanding its devastating impact
pends on the reaction of the individual viewer on society. The spread of the disease usually fol-
of the image. The punctum not only pricks the lows a specific pattern: from wild rodents to ur-
viewer but also leaves a lasting bruise and evokes ban rats and finally to humans after the rats
a deep feeling of emotion. On the other hand, have died out. Modern medicine distinguish-
studium refers to the factor that initially draws es between three main forms of plague: bubon-
the viewer’s attention to a photograph. It refers ic plague (nodular plague), which has been the
to the intention of the photographer (in this most widespread throughout history, pneu-
case, the painter). The viewers can determine monic plague and septicaemic plague, in which
the studium of a photograph with their logi- the bacillus is found in inflamed lymph nodes,
cal, intellectual mind. The studium describes el- sputum and blood. Bubonic plague is transmit-
ements of an image and not the sum of the in- ted by infected flea bites and is characterised by
formation and meaning of the image. The study swollen, tender lymph nodes (buboes) near the
points to historical, social or cultural meanings original site of infection. If left untreated, the
that are extracted through semiotic analysis. In bacteria can enter the bloodstream and spread
other words, you can recognise references to cul- to various organs such as the liver, kidneys,
ture and time in the image. Sometimes these are spleen, lungs, meninges and eyes, sometimes