Winter 2020/Pasadena

TC530

Callaway

TC530: THEOLOGY AND FILM (4 Units: 160 hours). Kutter Callaway.

DESCRIPTION: This course will consider a theology of culture by focusing on one particular aspect: theology and film. The course will (1) view, discuss, and analyze a multicultural and global selection of films, (2) provide the student methodological and critical perspectives for engaging culture, both from the humanities and the social sciences, and (3) explore theological and biblical perspectives foundational to theology and film criticism.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will be able to (1) articulate the relationship between theories and practices for sympathetic engagement with culture as expressed in the media, (2) engage appreciatively and critically in film interpretation, (3) explore and construct possible theological and biblical approaches for engaging with our contemporary culture, (4) articulate something of the presence and purposes of God in human culture, and (5) describe approaches for Gospel demonstration, articulation and invitation through the use of film in their Christian witness and discipleship.

RELATIONSHIP TO PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES: TC courses introduce students to an aspect of culture along with one or more interpretive method(s) for both understanding it and engaging with it theologically.

Addresses the MDiv PLO that states “Students will have demonstrated capacities to engage diverse cultural contexts for transformational discipleship, mission, and ministry.”

Addresses the MATM/MAT PLOs that state “Students will have demonstrated capacities for historically informed theological and ethical reflection.”

Addresses MAICS Area of Interest Class “Students will have demonstrated capacities to pursue vocations that engage the mission of God globally.”

COURSE FORMAT: The class will meet weekly for three-hour sessions for a total of 30 hours of classroom instruction for lecture and discussion plus 10 hours of directed learning activities for a total of 40 instructional hours. There will be some lectures by the professor, but class time will largely be devoted to dialogue with film, making use of the material in the readings and practicing how we can best engage film as Christians, believing that theology can serve as a useful “critical theory” for unpacking film.

REQUIRED VIEWING AND READING: Approximately 1,100 pages of reading required.

Eighteen films: Decalogue I (Poland); Stranger than Fiction (German/Swiss/USA); Moulin Rouge (Australia); Coco; Lucky; Run Lola Run (German); Little Miss Sunshine; Roma (US/Mexico); Children of Men (Us/Mexico); Water (Indian); The Lunchbox (Indian); Get Out; BlacKkKlansman; Calvary (Ireland/UK); Silence; Smoke Signals (Native American); Departures (Japanese) and one film of the student’s choice from a list of provided.

The following texts:

Boorstin, Jon. Making Movies Work. Silman-James Press, 1995. ISBN: 978-1879505278, Pub. Price $19.95. Kindle $9.95 and used copies [224 pp.].

Callaway, Kutter. Scoring Transcendence. Baylor University Press, 2013. ISBN: 978-1602585355, Pub. Price $29.95 [253 pp.].

Callaway, Detweiler and Johnston. Deep Focus: Film and Theology in Dialogue. Baker Academic, 2019. ISBN: 9781540960030, Pub. Price $26.99 [272 pp.].

Ecclesiastes (multiple readings during the quarter) [50 pp.].

Johnston, Robert. Useless Beauty. Wipf & Stock, 2011. ISBN: 978-1610978293, Pub. Price $25.00/Kindle $6.99, Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [100 pp. assigned].

Villarejo, Amy. Film Studies: the basics. 2nd ed. Routledge, 2013. ISBN: 978-0415584968, Pub. Price $26.95/Kindle $15.31, Available as an e-book from the Fuller Library [184 pp.].

Class reader on e-reserves (approx. 100 total pages): critical essays and chapters by bell hooks, Kutter Callaway, Ellen Davis, Mako Fujimura, Joel Green, Gordon Lynch, Clive Marsh, and others.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. Weekly attendance and participation in class discussions. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3, 4 and 5]. [30 hours].
2. 1,100 pp. of required reading [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3, 4 and 5]. [50 hours]
3. Viewing the assigned movies. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3]. [30 hours].
4. Quiz on Boorstin, Making Movies Work (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2]. [5 hours].
5. One 500-word (2-page) critical review of Callaway, Detweiler and Johnston, Deep Focus. (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2, 3 and 4]. [5 hours].
6. DLA through facilitation of a movie group in a ministry context (10%) [This assignment is related to learning outcome #5]. [10 hours].
7. Signature Assignment: 1000-word (4-page) report and reflection on facilitation of a movie group using either a film of student’s choosing or one taken from Barsotti and Johnston, God in the Movies (25%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #5]. [10 hours].
8. 2,000-2,500 word (8-10-page) paper on a film(s) (approved by the instructor) bringing the movie(s) into dialogue with Ecclesiastes, whether letting the film shed light on the biblical text, using the biblical text to critique the movie, or otherwise engaging in dialogue (35%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3, 4 and #5]. [20 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.

NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change. Copyright 2019 Fuller Theological Seminary.