Winter 2015/Pasadena

TC519

Taylor

TC519: ART, CINEMA, AND THEOLOGY IN DIALOG AND INTERACTION (4 Units: 167 Hours). Barry Taylor.

DESCRIPTION: This course engages with a theology of culture by focusing on one aspect: theology and art as it is represented in cinema. The course will examine significant artists using their own work as well as cinematic biopics, putting these works into dialogue with theological issues arising out of the same time periods. The course will (1) view, discuss and analyze a selection of films portraying visual artists from the Western art traditions, (2) provide methodological and critical perspectives for engaging culture, from the humanities and social sciences, (3) explore theological and biblical perspectives foundational to theology film and art criticism, and (4) provide contextual approaches for gospel engagement and articulation.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Through the viewing of selected films, art, interactive discussion and class lectures, students will be introduced to the work of selected artists from the Western tradition and will be able (1) to articulate the relationship between theories and practices for engagement with culture as it is expressed in both art and cinema; (2) gain a general understanding of Western art history and critique; (3) explore film criticism and theory; and (4) learn to interact theologically with art, film, and culture.

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. During each session students will (1) view and discuss artists’ work; (2) explore cinematic representations of the particular artists; (3) utilize various critical art and film theories; (4) consider possible theological responses to the material offered; and (5) explore missional possibilities within this engagement.

REQUIRED READING AND VIEWING: 1,458 pp. and 9 films required.

Brevans, Stephen B. Contextual Theology for the 21st Century. Wipf and Stock, 2011. ISBN: 978-1608999606, Pub. Price $18.00 [154 pp.].

Eco, Umberto. A History of Beauty. New York: Rizzoli, 2004. ISBN: 978-0847835300, Pub. Price $29.95 [440 pp.].

Elkins, James. What Painting Is. New York: Routledge, 2001. ISBN: 978-0415926621, Pub. Price $39.95 [256 pp.].

Ford, David, ed. The Modern Theologians. 3rd ed. Malden, MA: Blackwell, 2005. ISBN: 978-1405102773, Pub. Price $64.95 [450 pp. assigned].

Freeland, Cynthia. Art Theory: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001. ISBN: 978-0192804631, Pub. Price $11.95 [158 pp.].

List of Films and Artists for Required Viewing: The Agony and the Ecstasy (Michelangelo); Girl with a Pearl Earring (Vermeer); Lust for Life (Vincent Van Gogh); Surviving Picasso (Pablo Picasso); Frida (Frida Kahlo); Pollock (Jackson Pollock); The Life and Times of Andy Warhol (Andy Warhol); Love Is the Devil (Francis Bacon); Basquiat (Jean-Michel Basquiat).
Students should be aware that these include R-rated films.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. 1,458 pp. of required reading [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3, 4]. [72 hours].

2. Viewing and journaling on films and class participation (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3, 4]. [30 hours].

3. Quiz on Freeland: Art Theory (5%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1]. [1 hour].

4. Quiz on Bevans: Contextual Theology (5%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #4]. [1 hour].

5. A two to three page reflection paper on one of the artists covered in class material that encourages Gospel demonstration and articulation (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 3, 4]. [3 hours].

6. A four page reflection paper on art’s spiritual power (25%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3, 4]. [10 hours].

7. A ten page paper covering one of the artists examined in class. The paper will be divided into three sections: Section One will examine the artist’s work, offering critique and interaction. Section Two will critique the film related to the artists. Section Three will examine and respond to the theological issues raised by the artist and his or her work (35%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1, 2, 3, 4]. [20 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the C2 or TH5 requirement in the 120 MDiv Program. Fulfills the MAT in Theology & Arts format requirement in Integrative studies. Meets the MACL in Integrative Studies requirement for an interdisciplinary course (IDPL). Option to count in the TA or WMM or WTA or Youth, Family, and Culture emphases.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.