Winter 2010/Pasadena
WS508
Taylor

WS508: MINISTRY AND MEDIA: THEORY AND PRODUCTION. Barry Taylor.


DESCRIPTION: This course will offer students a visual theology and the opportunity to learn the fundamental skills relating to digital video production as a tool for ministry. It will also introduce various related forms of media (podcasting, blogging) in ministry.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: The twenty-first-century church is evolving into a multimedia ministry model that requires leaders to understand and appreciate how to incorporate technology as a ministry and outreach tool. This course will introduce the basic skills relating to media and technology in ministry.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: The student will develop a theology of media and demonstrate its applicability through development of 1 to 3 minute videos for use in church ministry. Students will learn the basic skills of script development, visual aesthetics, and digital editing for use in a ministry context. The student will come to understand the collaborative processes of video production.

COURSE FORMAT: The format is designed to allow for the creative time needed to develop a theologically driven media project as well as the post-production time necessary to complete a project. The class will meet for 9 sessions (Mondays 11am-2:50pm) on the following dates: Jan. 4, 11, 18, Feb. 1, 8, 15, 22; March 1, 8.

REQUIRED READING:

Elsheimer, Janice. The Creative Call: An Artist's Response to the Way of the Spirit. Shaw, 2001.

Mamet, David. On Directing Film. Penguin. 1991.

Vanhoozer, Kevin J. The Drama of Doctrine: A Canonical-Linguistic Approach to Christian Theology. Westminster John Knox, 2005.

Online resources available at http://http://www.sermonspice.com; http://www.worshiphousemedia.com; http://www.worshiphousemedia.com; http://www.worshiphousemedia.com; and http://www.worshiphousemedia.com.

RECOMMENDED READING:
Baker, Johnny, and Doug Gay. Alternative Worship. Baker, 2004.

Balthasar, Hans Urs von. Theo-Drama: Theological Dramatic Theory--Prologomena. Ignatius, 1988.

Noland, Rory. The Heart of the Artist. Zondervan, 1999.

Sample, Tex. The Spectacle of Worship in a Wired World. Abingdon, 1998.

Wilson, Len. Digital Storytellers: The Art of Communicating the Gospel. Abingdon, 2002.

Vanhoozer, Kevin J. Everyday Theology. How to Read Cultural Text and Interpret Trends. Baker Academic, 2007

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
  1. Complete all assigned reading and viewing (10%).

  2. Two-page reviews of Vanhoozer's Drama of Doctrine and Elsheimer's Creative Call (20%).

  3. Participate in the writing, shooting, and editing of one group production project (30%).

  4. Write, shoot, and edit one individual production project (40%).

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: This course fulfills the Worship, Theology and the Arts specialized course requirements for the MA in WTA and MDiv concentration in WTA.

This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (11/09)