God in Contemporary Culture: Theology and The Arts (DA3013Z)

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, Diane, and Gabriele Finaldi. A Guide to Christian Art. London: T&T Clark, 2020.
• Begbie, Jeremy. Redeeming Transcendence in the Arts : Bearing Witness to the Triune God. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2018.
• Brant, Jonathan. Paul Tillich and the Possibility of Revelation through Film. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012.
• Deacy, Christopher, and Elisabeth Arweck, eds. Exploring Religion and the Sacred in a Media Age. Farnham, England: Ashgate, 2009.
• Heer, Margreet de. Religion : A Discovery in Comics. Translated by Dan Schiff. New York: NBM Graphic Novels, 2015.
• Deacy, Christopher, and Gaye Williams Ortiz. Theology and Film : Challenging the Sacred/Secular Divide. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing, 2008.
• Knauss, Stefanie. Religion and Film: Representation, Experience, Meaning. Leiden: Brill, 2020
• Lynch, Danielle Anne. God in Sound and Silence : Music as Theology. Eugene, Oregon: Pickwick Publications, 2018.
• Scott, Jacqueline & Matthew Tesch, Matthew. (Eds). St John’s Cathedral: The Windows: The Complete Guide to the Stained-Glass Windows of the Cathedral Church of St John the Evangelist, Brisbane: St John’s Cathedral, 2019.
• Viladesau, Richard. Theology and the Arts : Encountering God through Music, Art, and Rhetoric. New York: Paulist Press, 2000.
• Wildfeuer, Janina. Film Discourse Interpretation: Towards a New Paradigm for Multimodal Film Analysis. London: Routledge, 2013.

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