Winter 2015/Fuller Online

TC516

Yang

 

TC516: THEOLOGY, WORSHIP, AND ART (4 Units: 160 Hours). S. Edward Yang.

 

DESCRIPTION: This course is an introduction to Christian reflection on the visual arts. The major emphases will be (1) the actual practice of viewing art in the context of prayer, focusing on art and character, (2) the historical and theological context of art and faith, and (3) the role of the arts in the wider community and in worship. By presentations, discussions, online assignments and museum visit, students will engage with significant examples of art as a way of developing a critical appreciation and a Christian appropriation of this dimension of life—with respect to its value for worship and witness.

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students who successfully complete this course will (1) understand ways in which theology, art and worship have been related, (2) engage with artworks analytically and affectively, (3) evaluate the role of the arts in one’s worship practices, (4) construct a theological framework for engaging with art, and (5) integrate this with the student’s own worship and artistic practices.

 

COURSE FORMAT: This course will be conducted online on a ten-week schedule aligned with Fuller’s academic calendar for a total of 40 instructional hours, which is outlined below in the assignment and assessment section. Students are required to interact with the material, with each other, and with the instructor regularly through online discussions, reading, and other assignments that promote active learning.

 

REQUIRED READING: 995 pp. required.

Brand, Hilary and Adrienne Chaplin. Art & Soul: Signposts for Christians in the Arts, 2nd edition. IVP Academic, 2001/reprinted by Piquant, 2014. ISBN: 978-0830826742/reprint 978-0953575770, Pub. Price $34.00 [178 pp. required].

Dyrness, William. Visual Faith: Art, Theology and Worship in Dialogue. Baker, 2001. ISBN: 978-0801022975, Pub. Price $22.00 [156 pp.].

Miles, Margaret. Image as Insight: Visual Understanding in Western Christianity and Secular Culture. Wipf and Stock, 2006. ISBN: 978-1597529020, Pub. Price $25.00 [151 pp.].

Siedell, Daniel. God in the Gallery: A Christian Embrace of Modern Art. Baker, 2008. ISBN: 978-0801031847, Pub. Price $25.00 [110 pp. required].

Taylor, W. David O. (editor). For the Beauty of the Church: Casting a Vision for the Arts. Baker, 2010. ISBN: 978-0801071911, Pub. Price $14.99 [161 pp. required].

Treier, Daniel, Mark Husbands, and Roger Lundin (editors). The Beauty of God: Theology and the Arts. IVP Academic, 2007. ISBN: 978-0830828432, Pub. Price $22.00 [233 pp.].

Zelensky, Elizabeth, and Lela Gilbert. Windows to Heaven: Introducing Icons to Protestants and Catholics. Brazos Press, 2005. ISBN: 978-1587431098, Pub. Price $18.00 [150 pp.].

 

REQUIRED FIELD WORK: 2 hours for visiting an art museum.

 

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT: The course grade will depend on five elements:

  1. Weekly lessons that are usually in the form of transcribed lectures with PowerPoint slides. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, #4]. [20 hours].

  2. 250-word weekly initial forum posts made by Wednesday of each week (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, #3, #5] [10 hours].

  3. Weekly reply posts made on Friday and following Monday of each week, combined for 250 words (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, #3, #5] [10 hours].

  4. 995 pp. of required reading [60 hours].

  5. 5 bi-weekly quizzes based on readings, with the lowest score dropped (four quizzes x 5% = 20%) [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, #5] [2.5 hours].

  6. 1,250-word reflection paper on a work of art (10%) [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2, #4, #5] [7.5 hours].

  7. Participation in a group project that will be peer graded (20%) [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, #3, #5] [20 hours].

  8. 3,000-word final research paper with the option of making a final art project with an accompanying paper that is reduced in length (20%) [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2, #4, #5] [30 hours].

 

PREREQUISITES: None.

 

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the C2 or TH5 requirement in the 120 MDiv Program. Meets the culture (CULT) requirement in Cultural Literacy for MA programs; meets the MACL in Integrative Studies requirement for an interdisciplinary course (IDPL). Option to count in the Theology and Arts or Worship and Music Ministry, or Worship, Theology, and the Arts, or Youth, Family, and Culture emphases.

 

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.