Spring 2006/Pasadena
TC516
Dyrness
TC516: THEOLOGY AND ART. William Dyrness.
DESCRIPTION: This course is an introduction to Christian reflection on the
visual arts. Emphasis will be on developing a Christian perspective on the arts
and aesthetics that is informed by biblical, historical and theological
resources and that is familiar with ways the major Christian traditions have
made use of the arts. By PowerPoint and museum visits, students will be exposed
to significant examples of western 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.
COURSE OBJECTIVES/LEARNING OUTCOMES: Through reading, viewing, and discussion
of images and museum visits, students will (1) understand the historical
development of the arts in relation to the church, (2) see and experience the
connection between the visual arts and spirituality and worship, and (3)
integrate this with their own devotional and worship practices.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: A major characteristic of the past half-century is the
renewal of Christian worship on the one hand and a major advance in Christian
participation in the visual arts. Christians involved in ministry will be
challenged with integrating the Christian understanding of the arts and culture
into the demands of ministry and especially of planning and leading worship.
COURSE FORMAT: The course will include lecture and discussion that seeks to
give students a basic understanding of biblical, historical and theological
issues. Images and visits will present examples of great Christian art in order
to develop skills of visual literacy. Class will meet twice weekly in two-hour
sessions.
REQUIRED READING:
- Dyrness, William. Visual Faith: Art, Theology and Worship in
Dialogue. Baker, 2001.
- Rookmaaker, H. R. Modern Art and the Death of a Culture. Apollos,
1994 [orig. 1971].
- Steiner, George. Real Presences: Is There Anything in What We Say?
Faber, 1989.
- Zelensky, Elizabeth, and Lela Gilbert. Windows to Heaven: Introducing
Icons to Protestants and Catholics. Baker/Brazos, 2004.
- Course Reader.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Begbie, Jeremy. Voicing Creation's Praise: Toward a Theology of
the Arts. Blackwell, 1991 (2001).
- Bouchard, Margaret. A Journey Toward Christian Art. Fortress,
1999.
- Evdokimov, Paul. The Art of the Icon: A Theology of Beauty. Oakwood,
1986.
- Dyrness, William. Rouault: A Vision of Suffering and Salvation.
Eerdmans, 1971.
- Hofstadter, Albert and Richard Kuhns, eds. Philosophies of Art and
Beauty: Selected Readings in Aesthetics from Plato to Heidegger. University
of Chicago, 1976.
- Rookmaaker, H. R. The Creative Gift: Essays on Art and the Christian
Life. Crossways, 1981.
- Scarry, Elaine. On Beauty and Being Just. Princeton, 1999.
- Seerveld, Calvin. Rainbows for the Fallen World. Tuppence, 1980.
- Viladescau, R. Theology & the Arts: Encountering God through Music,
Art & Rhetoric. Paulist, 2000.
- Walford, E. John. Great Themes in Art. Prentice-Hall, 2000.
- Wolterstorff, Nicholas. Art in Action. Eerdmans, 1980.
ASSIGNMENTS: The course grade will depend on three elements. First, a 4-5 page
review of a work of art (or comparison of 2 works) either from an art book (see
recommended reading) or an art exhibition or museum, interacting with the work
from the Christian perspective developed in the first part of the course (20%
of grade). Two longer papers (8-10 pp., each worth 40%) will focus on (1) the
art of a particular religious tradition and (2) a particular artist or art
movement.
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: MDiv/MA in Theology and Arts, core; meets the MACL
in Integrative Studies requirement for an interdisciplinary course (IDPL).
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.