Summer 2019/Orvieto, Italy

TC569

Buturain

TC569: MEDIEVAL ART AND THEOLOGY (4 Units: 160 hours). Leah Marie Buturain.

DESCRIPTION: This hybrid course offers students the opportunity to engage with the cultural treasures of fourteenth- and fifteenth-century-western Christianity through theological and spiritual writings, liturgy, art and architecture. The course begins in Orvieto, Italy, and features a study of Clare and Francis of Assisi, Thomas Aquinas, Catherine of Siena, and Bonaventure along with other spiritual and theological texts. It will also explore the art, architecture, and artifacts of piety of Gothic Umbria. Using the work of Gonzalez-Andrieu as a lens, this course will explore the relationship between faith, theology, culture and art in medieval Europe and today. After Orvieto, students will continue the course online, examining the theological relationship of art, beauty, and meaning past and present.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: A student successfully completing this course will be able to: 1) reflect on the theological and historical context of the medieval church; 2) articulate an understanding of the visual literacy inherent in 13th to 15th century Christian rituals, liturgy, and devotional praxis; 3) demonstrate an understanding of the dramatic and communal nature of medieval theology, art and culture by exegeting some of its practices through their signs and gestures; 4) examine the relationship of images and narratives of holy personages as examples of Christian living; 5) complete an in-depth application of the hermeneutic methods learned in this class to a particular religious art form from this period.

COURSE FORMAT: This hybrid course will be conducted on a ten-week schedule aligned with Fuller’s academic calendar for a total of 40 instructional hours, comprised of one week in Orvieto and nine weeks of online instruction. In the subsequent nine weeks of the course, students will build on their experience in Italy by means of lectures, collaborative and individual work online.

REQUIRED READING: 1000 total pages required.

The Course Reader (eReserves) [400 pages]

Bonaventure. The Soul’s Journey Into God, The Tree of Life, The Life of St. Francis. Paulist Press, 1978. ISBN: 978-0809121212, Pub. Price $26.95 [220 pages assigned].

Gonzalez-Andrieu, Cecilia. Bridge to Wonder: Art as a Gospel of Beauty. Baylor University Press, 2012. ISBN: 978-1602583511, Pub. Price $24.95 [98 pages assigned].

Hilkert, Mary Catherine. Speaking with Authority: Catherine of Siena and the Voices of Women Today. Paulist Press, 2001. ISBN: 978-0809145867, Pub. Price $15.95 [122 pages assigned].

Steindl-Rast, O.S.B., Brother David. May Cause Happiness: A Gratitude Journal From the Teachings of Brother David Steindl-Rast. Sounds True, 2018. ISBN: 978-1683640578, Pub. Price $15.95 [150 pages assigned].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

Completion of readings and site visits in Orvieto (June 24-28). In Orvieto, 9 hours of instructional time, 7 hours of group work (praying the hours, discussions, etc.), 5 hours journaling for reflection later in the course (1,000-1,250 words), 12 hours field work in and around Orvieto. At home: Reading (67 hours), 5 hours of video lectures [This assignment is related to learning outcomes # 1-5] [33 hours in Orvieto plus 72 hours = 105 hours total].
Each student will be responsible for creating and adding 250-500 words to a timeline of major religious and cultural events between 1220 and 1460. (5%) [This assignment is related to learning outcomes # 1, 2, 4, and 5] [2 hours total].
Students will complete four reflection and journaling assignments over the course of the quarter. Total amount of writing will not exceed 2,000 words (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome # 3 and 4] [8 hours total].
Student will post twice online (no more than 300 words) and share responses (no more than 150 words) to classmates as outlined in the syllabus. (10%) [These assignments are related to learning outcomes # 1-4] [4 hours total].
One 1,000-1,750 word essay integrating course content with your experience. (30%) [These assignments are related to learning outcomes # 1-5] [10 hours].
Signature Assignment: A 2,000-2,500 word paper approved by the professor in which students demonstrate their knowledge of the methods introduced in the class by applying them to a specific work of art or series of images within a narrative arc, e.g. the Frescoes in the Basilica of St. Francis, intended for engendering devotion and spiritual formation. The paper will introduce and apply the exegetical method of cultural interpretation learned in the course. The student will, provide a background on, and engage in theological reflection of their particular work of art. (40%) [This assignment related to learning outcomes #1-5] [31 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the TH5 or C2 requirement in the 120 MDiv program. Option to meet the C2 requirement in the 80 MATM Program (Fall 2015).

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.