God in Contemporary Culture: Theology and The Arts (DA2013Z)

Content

This subject addresses the role of the arts as integral to Christian theology and life, both in classical and popular understanding, by exploring the ways in which theology and the arts mutually interpret each other to give a broader understanding of human life and of God. Attention is given to the role in theology, worship, and discipleship of the verbal, visual, performing and fine arts. Selected genres including, for example, literature, poetry, painting, sculpture, music, dance/mime, drama/theatre, architecture, photography and film are explored. The relationship between aesthetics and religious experience in the context of worship and discipleship, and the role of media and culture in the contemporary Christian Church, are also addressed.

Learning outcomes

Unit sequence

This unit requires two undergraduate foundation units in Mission and Ministry.

Pedagogy

This unit fosters a collaborative peer learning environment in which students are encouraged to engage in constructivist and experiential approaches to learning. It will facilitate the development of reflective practice to support the integration of learning.

Indicative Bibliography

Texts

• Apostolos-Cappadona, Dianne. (2020). A guide to Christian art. T&T Clark.
• Begbie, J. (2018). Redeeming transcendence in the arts: Bearing witness to the Triune God. SCM Press.
• Begbie, J. (2002). Sounding the depths: theology through the arts. SCM Press.
• Begbie, J. (1991). Voicing creation's praise: towards a theology of the arts. T & T Clark.
• Blizek, W. L. (Ed.). (2013). The Bloomsbury companion to religion and film. Bloomsbury Publishing.
• Deacy, C., & Arweck, E. (Eds.). (2009). Exploring religion and the sacred in a media age (Ser. Theology and religion in interdisciplinary perspectives series). Ashgate.
• De Heer, M. (2015). Religion: A Discovery in Comics. NBM Publishing.
• Deacy, C., & Ortiz, G. W. (2008). Theology and film : challenging the sacred/secular divide. Blackwell Publishing.
• Hebron, C.A. (2016). Judas Iscariot: Damned Or Redeemed?: a Critical Examination of the Portrayal of Judas in Jesus Films (1902-2014). Bloomsbury T&T Clark.
• Lynch, Danielle. A. (2018). God in sound and silence: music as theology. Wipf and Stock Publishers.
• Moberg, M., & Partridge, C. (2023). The Bloomsbury handbook of religion and popular music. The Bloomsbury Handbook of Religion and Popular Music, 1-512.
• O'Brien, Catherine. (2018). Martin Scorsese's Divine comedy: movies and religion. Bloomsbury Academic.
• Robinson, D. C. (2007). God's grandeur: the arts and imagination in theology. Orbis Books.
• Solano, Jeanette. R. (2021). Religion and film: The basics. Routledge.
• Viladesau, R. (2000). Theology and the arts: Encountering God through music, art, and rhetoric. Paulist Press.
• Vrudny, K. J., & Yates, W. (2005). Arts, theology, and the church : new intersections. Pilgrim Press.

Films

• Bergman, I. (Director). (1963). Winter Light [Film]. Svensk Filmindustri
• McDonagh, J.M. (Director). (2014). Calvary [Film]. Reprisal Films & Octagon Films
• Scorsese, M. (Director). (2016). Silence [Film]. SharpSword films
• Villeneuve, D. (Director). (2017). Blade Runner 2049 [Film]. Alcon Entertainment

Assessment