Winter 2016/Pasadena

TC516

Dyrness

TC516: THEOLOGY, WORSHIP, AND ART. (4 Units: 167 Hours). William Dyrness. (Guest Lecturer: Makoto Fujimura).

DESCRIPTION: This course is an introduction to Christian reflection and practice in the visual arts. The major emphases will be (1) the actual practice of viewing and making art in the context of prayer and meditation, focusing on art and character (with support of Mako Fujimura); (2) the historical and theological context of art and faith; and (3) the role of the arts in the wider community and in worship. By lectures, discussions, art projects and museum visits, students will engage with significant examples of 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.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Through reading, viewing and discussion of images, museum visits, and the experience of making art, students will (1) explore and reflect on the role of the place of the arts in the church; (2) see, experience, and enjoy the connection between the visual arts and spirituality and worship; and (3) integrate this with the student’s own devotional and worship practices.

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. The course will include brief lectures and discussion that seek to give students a basic historical and theological orientation. But the focus will be on engaging works of art and reflecting on them as they relate to the spiritual and devotional life of the student.

REQUIRED READING:

Daniel A. Siedell. God in the Gallery: A Christian Embrace of Modern Art. Baker, 2008. ISBN: 978-0801031847, Pub. Price $25.00 [165 pp.].

Dyrness, William. Visual Faith: Art, Theology and Worship in Dialogue. Baker, 2001. ISBN: 978-0801022975, Pub. Price $22.00 [160 pp.].

Fujimura, Makoto. Refractions: A Journey of Faith Art and Culture. NavPress, 2009. ISBN: 978-1600063015, Pub. Price $24.99 [176 pp.] ORCulture Care: Reconnecting Beauty with our Common Life International Arts Movement and the Fujimura Institute, 2015. AISN: B00VQJ0QUS, Pub. Price $25.00 [124 pp.].

Miles, Margaret. Image as Insight: Visual Understanding in Western Christianity and Secular Culture. Beacon Press, 1985; reprint by Wipf and Stock. ISBN: 978-1597529020, Pub. Price $25.00 [50 pp.].

Steiner, George. Real Presences: Is There Anything in What We Say? Faber, 1989. ISBN: 978-0226772349, Pub. Price $17.00 [200 pp.].

Zelensky, Elizabeth, and Lela Gilbert. Windows to Heaven: Introducing Icons. . . . Baker/Brazos, 2004. ISBN: 978-1587431098, Pub. Price $18.00 [200 pp.].

RECOMMENDED READING: See course syllabus for recommended texts.

ASSIGNMENTS, ASSESSMENT and TIME ALLOTTED: The following activities make up the course requirements:

  1. Meeting for ten weeks in class [27 hours].

  2. Required reading 1250 pages [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2, 3]. [80 hours].

  3. A 1250 word reflection paper on the experience of visiting the Norton Simon Museum and making art; (25% of the grade). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2 and 3]. [10 hours].

  4. Take-home midterm (25%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2]. [10 hours].

  5. Directed Learning activities, two outside visits to Museum/Church [10 hours].

  6. A 3000 word project/paper that can focus on an artist or an art movement, or reflect on use of art in worship, individually or in small groups (40%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1 and 3]. [30 hours].

  7. Class participation, studio session, and visits to museum (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets the culture (CULT) requirement in Cultural Literacy for MA programs; meets the MACL in Integrative Studies requirement for an interdisciplinary course (IDPL). Option to count in the Theology and the Arts emphasis, Worship and Music Ministry emphasis, Worship, Theology and the Arts emphasis, and Youth, Family and Culture emphasis.

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.

For your convenience, order these texts online through the Archives Bookshop.