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 daily for four-hour sessions for two weeks.

Barth, Karl and Emil Brunner. Natural Theology. Wipf and Stock reprint (ISBN 1592441122).

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
(check recommended reading list).

Current issues of magazines, newspapers, online publications.

Selected videos, recordings, events including movies, TV shows, art exhibit, and/or fashion show, a sporting event.

Reading list will be provided in class.

This class will emphasize practical theology. Course grade will be based upon:

1. Class attendance and participation (10%).

2. Journal entries/response to a particular pop cultural form in which students looked closer and heard/glimpsed/missed God (30%). Due July 18.

3. Two 2-page book reviews (20%). Due July 8 and August 1.

4. One 12-15 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%). Due August 22.

None.

Elective. Fulfills requirement for MA Theology and the Arts, MA Worship, Theology and the Arts, MDiv Worship, Theology and the Arts,

None.