An Infidel’s Interpretation of the Islamic State Mother and Child Case

Abstract

An Infidel’s Interpretation of the Islamic State Mother and Child Case reframes images of Islamic State wives and children as Madonna and child artworks to trouble ideologies that represent such women and children as enemies, as dangerous minds, as detritus, unworthy of statehood. The overlaying of news photographs of Islamic State mothers and children atop artworks referencing the Madonna and child also serves to decolonize traditional, art historical, visual analyses of artworks employing the Madonna and child motif. The additional redrawing of each overlay in the style of a court sketch satirically comments upon the violence of law as well as the violence of its denial.