Jay Johnston

Biography

Jay Johnston is Professor in Religion within the School of Humanities at the University of Sydney. She is a leader in conceptual and methodological innovation particularly in the new subfields of subtle body studies and aesthetics of religion. As a cross-disciplinary specialist her work demonstrates the importance of Religious Studies scholarship for the fields of heritage studies, wildlife conservation and environmental humanities, art history, Norse and Celtic studies. Jay’s research encompasses theories of embodiment, humananimal relations and the natural world and their rendering in belief systems. It particularly focuses on the interrelationship of ethics and aesthetics in everyday experiences, with past projects focused on the role of ritual objects, artworks and landscapes in identity formation, healing practices and cultural exchange.