Winter 2014/Park City, Utah

TC588

Callaway

TC588: ENGAGING INDEPENDENT FILMS. Kutter Callaway.

DESCRIPTION: The course will engage postmodernity and globalization theologically by studying one of our primary, culture shaping forces: the movies. This course will investigate some of the social, ethical, and psychological implications of international, independent film upon theology. It will in turn seek a theological dialogue/critique with these movies.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: Contemporary, postmodern ministry must engage individuals and communities barraged by electronic overload and largely cut off from traditional, Biblical understandings of God. This course will sharpen the skills of ministers in analyzing culture, ‘reading’ a film, and forging appropriate theological responses. Special emphasis will be given to the global, spiritually-charged visions of independent filmmakers at the Sundance Film Festival. Students will learn how to anticipate the cultural dialogue and make applications to emerging trends in their own “glocal” Christian communities.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Through this course students will learn to (1) develop skills in cultural analysis and interaction when viewing film; (2) grapple with the filmmaker’s intent and utilize various critical film theories while discussing the social, political, and economic implications of these film(s); (3) consider possible theological/apologetic responses and the necessity of public theological discourse for effective ministry.

COURSE FORMAT: Interactive/Hybrid. The class will meet daily in conjunction with the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, January 20-26, 2014. Course content will include background lectures from the instructor, panel discussions, collective film viewing and debriefings, and guided discussion groups. Additional course content and interaction will take place online, which will include weekly group discussions, readings, and assignments.

REQUIRED VIEWING:

Fruitvale Station (Coogler, 2013) – To be watched prior to the festival as a common film for discussion.

Ten to fifteen films from the 2014 Sundance Film Festival including several world premieres.

REQUIRED READING: All students should read the following books and articles:

Johnston, Robert K. God’s Wider Revelation. Baker Academic, 2014. [250 pp. assigned]. Copies of required chapters will be provided in class.

Johnston, Robert K., Craig Detweiler and Barry Taylor, eds. Don’t Stop Believin’: Pop Culture and Religion from Ben-Hur to Zombies. Westminster John Knox, 2012. ISBN: 978-0664235055, Pub. Price $20.00 [176 pp. assigned].

Volf, Miroslav. A Public Faith: How Followers of Christ Should Serve the Common Good. Brazos Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-1587432989, Pub. Price $21.99 [145 pp. assigned].

Selected chapters including Jurgen Moltmann, Experiences in Theology (chapter on Natural Theology, pp 64-86), Kenneth Turan, Sundance to Sarajevo. (chapter on Sundance, pp 31-48), and selected articles on past Sundance films found on the Reel Spirituality website. [approx. 50 pp. assigned].

Choose ONE of the following:

Callaway, Kutter. Scoring Transcendence: Contemporary Film Music As Religious Experience. Baylor University Press, 2013. ISBN: 978-1602585355, Pub. Price $29.95 [250 pp. assigned].

Detweiler, Craig. Into the Dark: Seeing the Sacred in the Top Films of the 21^st Century. Baker Academic, 2008. ISBN: 978-0801035920, Pub. Price $25.00 [320 pp. assigned].

Johnston, Robert K. Reel Spirituality: Theology and Film in Dialogue. Baker Academic, 2006. ISBN: 978-0801031878, Pub. Price $25.00 [300 pp. assigned].

For the final project students will be asked to select a theme in a number of the Sundance films they viewed and read an additional 250 pages of selected books and articles related to that theme. The following books (or approved substitutes) may be chosen:

Brueggemann, Walter. The Prophetic Imagination. Rev. ed. Augsburg Fortress, 2001. ISBN: 978-0800632878, Pub. Price $19.00 [155 pp. assigned].

Dyrness, William A. Poetic Theology: God and the Poetics of Everyday Life. Eerdmans, 2010. ISBN: 978-0802865786, Pub. Price $26.00 [338 pp. assigned].

Johnston, Robert K. Useless Beauty: Ecclesiastes Through the Lens of Contemporary Film. Baker Academic, 2011. ISBN: 978-1610978293, Pub. Price $23.00 [189 pp. assigned].

Marin, Andrew. Love is an Orientation: Elevating the Conversation with the Gay Community. InterVarsity Press, 2009. ISBN: 978-0830836260, Pub. Price $15.00 [204 pp. assigned].

McFague, Sallie. Life Abundant: rethinking Theology and Economy for a Planet in Peril. Augsburg Fortress, 2000. ISBN: 978-0800632694, Pub. Price $21.00 [268 pp. assigned].

Ramachandra, Vinoth. Subverting Global Myths: Theology & the Public Issues Shaping our World. InterVarsity Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-0830828852, Pub. Price $23.00 [292 pp. assigned].

Roberts, J. Deotis. Liberation and Reconciliation: A Black Theology. 2^nd ed. Westminster John Knox, 2005. ISBN: 978-0664229658, Pub. Price $25.00 [120 pp. assigned].

Rollins, Peter. How (Not) to Speak of God. Paraclete Press, 2006. ISBN: 978-1557255051, Pub. Price $19.99 [144 pp. assigned].

___________. Insurrection: To Believe is Human To Doubt, Divine. Howard Books, 2011. ISBN: 978-1451609004, Pub. Price $16.00 [208 pp. assigned].

Taylor, Barry. Entertainment Theology: New-Edge Spirituality in a Digital Democracy. Baker Academic, 2008. ISBN: 978-0801032370, Pub. Price $7.99 [249 pp. assigned].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. Online Discussion Forums/Class Participation (15%).
2. Two 2-page book reviews of (1) Johnston OR Callaway OR Detweiler and (2) Volf (20%).
3. One 2-3 page paper integrating student’s Sundance experience and general revelation (10%).
4. Viewing and journaling on films (10%).
5. Public Theology Assignment (10%).
6. A 10-12 page Final project/paper (35%).

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: M.Div.: Elective; MAT (pre-2007): Theology/History; requirement; MAT/MACL: Culture requirement.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.