DESCRIPTION:

This course will engage students in a two-way dialogue between pop culture and theology, with particular emphasis upon music, movies, TV, art, fashion, and sports. Students will develop a biblical, theological and historical understanding of these art forms and a critical understanding of the advertising, consumerism and celebrity that drives pop culture.

Ministry in a postmodern context must contend with the rising impact of technology and entertainment. This course will equip students to think critically and theologically about pop culture. Special attention will given to finding God in and through pop cultural art forms.

The class will utilize lectures, discussions, pop cultural forms and student input. The class will meet for three-hour sessions, one evening per week.

Dark, David, Everyday Apocalypse. Brazos Press, 2002.

Detweiler, Craig and Barry Taylor. A Matrix of Meanings. Baker Academic, 2003.

One book tied to the art form/discipline chosen for students' research project.

Current issues of magazines, newspapers, online publications.

Selected videos, recordings, shows listed in the course syllabus including one movie, three TV shows, an art gallery and/or fashion show, a sporting event.

Course grade will be based upon:

1. Class attendance and participation. 10%

2. A weekly report/journal entry/response to a particular pop cultural form in which students looked closer and heard/glimpsed/missed God. 30%

3. Two 2-page book reviews. 20%

4. A 12- to 15-page research paper that concentrates upon one particular postmodern trend and one pop cultural form. Special emphasis will be placed upon the practical ministry application of the research (a sermon series, a Bible study guide, a Young Life talk, an outreach event). 40%

None.

Fulfills requirement for M.A. Theology & Arts, M.A. Worship, Theology & Arts, M.Div. Worship, Theology and the Arts. Elective for M.Div. and M.A. in Theology.

None.