Fall 2013/Pasadena
TC591
Fee
TC591: THEOLOGY AND THE ARTS CAPSTONE COHORT (4 units). Maria Fee.
DESCRIPTION: The master’s project is an integrative and culminating portion of the MA-WTA, MA-WMM, and MAT-TA degree programs. It provides students the opportunity to carefully and reflectively integrate their course work with their particular areas of artistic, ministerial, and/or cultural interest. The incorporation of applied fine and worship arts, course work, research, spirituality, and theological reflection lead to the development of a summative thesis or project (which will be undertaken in the Winter quarter).
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: Whether students are preparing to be theologically trained artists, cultural critics, or worship artists, their work will depend upon their ability to integrate theology and practice. This course will provide the integrative tools for the students to begin working toward a summative project.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students who pass this course will have demonstrated that they (1) know the work of others in the integration of theology and the arts; (2) understand the range of artistic identities and vocations within the church and can articulate their own relationship to these vocations; (3) recognize theological themes and issues relating to the production of artistic and/or liturgical projects; (4) can think critically and theologically in the production of their own creative projects; and (5) are prepared to move forward in the development of a summative project or final paper.
COURSE FORMAT: This course will meet weekly for three-hour sessions during the first nine weeks of the quarter. During week ten and finals week, students will meet privately with the instructor to discuss potential summative project ideas. Plenary class periods will involve lectures and presentations by professor, guest artists, and worship practitioners, as well as discussion of reading material, student presentations, and group discussion on project idea development.
REQUIRED READING:
Buster, Ned, ed. It was Good Making Art to the Glory of God. 2nd ed. Square Halo Books, 2006. ISBN: 978-0978509712, Pub. Price $24.99 [79 pp. assigned.
Gunton, Colin. The One, The Three and the Many. Cambridge University Press, 1993. ISBN: 978-0521421843, Pub. Price $42.00 [231 pp. assigned].
Taylor, W. David. For the Beauty of the Church: Casting a Vision for the Arts. Baker Books, 2010. ISBN: 978-0801071911, Pub. Price $15.99 [184 pp. assigned].
Course Reader.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
Class attendance, participation in discussions, and assigned readings. (25%)
Two presentations (20% each) in the form of either a devotional, showcase of own artwork, or an art review. (40%)
Annotated bibliography on sources relevant to their subject. (5%)
Proposal for Master’s project. This includes bibliography, resource list, and timeline dates (15 pages.) (30%)
PREREQUISITES: Students are eligible (and encouraged) to take this course after completing 48 units of their degree program.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: This cohort course meets the four-unit core requirement for work toward a master’s project in the MA degrees with Emphases in TA, WTA, and WMM.
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.