Spring 2020/Pasadena

TC515

Felix-Jager

TC515: THEOLOGY AND POP MUSIC (4 Units: 161 hours). Steven Felix-Jager.

DESCRIPTION: The course will investigate some of the social, ethical, and psychological implications of popular music upon theology, and in turn seek a theological engagement with the diverse and varied contours of popular music. We live in an age where popular music provides a “soundtrack” to our lives; this course will explore the theological implications of this cultural artifact. The course will explore the relationship between music makers and their audiences from a phenomenological and theological perspective. The primary objective of this course is to create an environment in which the highest possible academic engagement with theology and popular music results in students who are capable of deep and critical reflection and engagement with theology and popular music; that these students are able to identify and think critically about the places where theology and popular music converge and diverge, as well as and the implications for the church now and church future.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able, through examination and investigation of popular music, interactive discussion, and class lectures, to (1) demonstrate their understanding of both the structure and social contexts of popular music; (2) articulate the relationship between the moral and the philosophical within popular music; (3) demonstrate their theological engagement with a particular expression or genre of popular music; and (4) present their understanding of the ways in which popular music influences and shapes the contemporary church through integrating course material and course experiences.

RELATIONSHIP TO PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES: This course addresses MDiv PLO2 “Students will have demonstrated capacities to engage diverse cultural contexts for transformational discipleship, mission, and ministry” and MATM/MAT PLO2 “Students will have demonstrated capacities for historically informed theological and ethical reflection”. It may also contribute to MAICS PLO4 “Students will have demonstrated capacities to pursue vocations that engage the mission of God globally”.

COURSE FORMAT: This class meets once per week 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.

REQUIRED READING: 1075 pages required

10 hours of listening to music.

Beaudoin, Tom. Ed. Secular Music & Sacred Theology. Liturgical, 2013. ISBN: 978-0814680247. Pub. Price $24.95 [ix-xxiv, 35-58, 75-89, 108-125 pp. (70 pps.)].

Cone, James. The Spirituals and the Blues: An Interpretation. 2nd. Rev. Ed. Orbis, 1992. ISBN: 978-0883448434. Pub. Price $17.00 [1-130 pp.].

Félix-Jäger, Steven. With God on Our Side: Towards a Transformational Theology of Rock and Roll. Wipf & Stock, 2017. ISBN: 978-1498231794. Pub. Price $24.00 [1-172 pp.].

Howard, Jay and John Streck, Apostles of Rock: The Splintered World of Contemporary Christian Music. The University Press of Kentucky, 1999. ISBN: 978-0813190860. Pub. Price $40.00 [1-220 pp.].

Marsh, Clive an d Roberts, Vaughan S. Personal Jesus: How Popular Music Shapes Our Souls. Baker Academic, 2012. ISBN: 978-0801039096. Pub. Price $26.00 [1-189 pp.].

Scharen, Christian. Broken Hallelujahs: Why Popular Music Matters to Those Seeking God. Brazos, 2011. ISBN: 978-1441234438. Pub. Price $18.00 [1-156 pp.].

Watkins, Ralph. Hip Hop Redemption: Finding God in the Rhythm and the Rhyme. Baker Academic, 2011. ISBN: 9781441238146. Pub. Price $20.00 [1-138 pp.].

RECOMMENDED READING:

Beaujon, Andrew. Body Piercing Saved My Soul: Inside the Phenomenon of Christian Rock. Da Capo, 2006. ISBN: 9780306815980. Pub. Price $16.95 [304 pp.].

Beckford, Robert. Jesus Dub: Theology, Music and Social Change. Routledge, 2006. ISBN: 978-0415310192. Pub. Price $44.95 [182 pp.].

Detweiler, Craig and Barry Taylor. A Matrix of Meanings: Finding God in Pop Culture. Baker Academic, 2003. ISBN: 978-0801024177. Pub. Price $34.00 [352 pp.].

Dylan, Bob. Chronicles Vol. 1. Simon & Schuster, 2005. ISBN: 978-0743244589. Pub. Price $17.00 [320 pp.].

Dyrness, William. Poetic Theology: God and the Poetics of Everyday Life. Eerdmans, 2011. ISBN: 978-0802865786. Pub. Price $26.00 [352 pp.].

Eskridge, Larry. God’s Forever Family: The Jesus People Movement in America. Oxford University Press, 2013. ISBN: 978-0195326451. Pub. Price $41.95 [386 pp.].

Frith, Simon. Performing Rites. Harvard University Press, 1998. ISBN: 978-0674661967. Pub. Price $29.00 [278 pp.].

Storey, John. Cultural Studies and the Study of Popular Culture: Third Edition. Edinburgh University Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-0748640386. Pub. Price $38.95 (paperback) [pp. 1-8; 118-137 pp.].

Stowe, David W. No Sympathy for the Devil: Christian Pop Music and the Transformation of American Evangelicalism. University of North Carolina Press, 2013. ISBN: 978-1469606873. Pub. Price $35.00 [1-9; 11-33; 58-80; 81-104; 105-123; 215-242; 243-250 pp.].

Thompson, John. Raised by Wolves: The Story of Christian Rock & Roll. ECW, 2000. ISBN: 978-1550224214. Pub. Price $22.95 [17-243 pp.].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. 5-7 minute video which serves as an introduction for the student and outlines the student’s music preferences, instrumental capabilities, and aspirations (5%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1]. [2 hours].
2. Posts every odd numbered week (250-300 words) reflecting on assigned reading and as well as response to a two classmate’s post (100-150 words) (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3, and 4]. [5 hours, DLA].
3. Posts every even numbered week of the quarter (250-300 words) in a journal reflecting on lecture/activity and two response to a classmate’s post (100-150 words each) (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3, and 4]. [5 hours, DLA].
4. 1,075 pages of reading (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, and 3]. [65 hours, 10 hours listening to music].
5. A 3000-page paper rooted in research on one of the musical genres covered in the course. Papers will forge a theological response to the research gathered. Students will study specific music genres (guidelines will be given in class) and include a plan for a theological presentation in their life and ministry (35%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2, 3, and 4]. [21 hours].
6. Attendance of and participation in daily class meetings. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3, and 4]. [30 hours].
7. Research in Action: Pop concert attendance and 1250 word cultural/theological reflection. [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1 and 3]. [18 hours].
8. Take-home Final [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2, 3 and 4]. [5 hours].

* A more detailed schedule for papers will be given in the first class meeting.

PREREQUISITES: None.

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

FINAL EXAMINATION: Take-home.

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.