THEOREL 312

Special Topic: Religion in the Visual Arts


Please note: this is archived course information from 2017 for THEOREL 312.

Description

This course takes you on a fascinating journey through the many ways that religious themes, characters and traditions have been represented in the visual arts throughout the centuries, focusing in particular on fine art, decorative art and advertising. Students will consider the various means through which visual art has been used as a medium to convey the sacred, to interpret and retell religious texts and to challenge or critique religious beliefs and communities.

Each week, a particular theme relating to religion and spirituality will be explored through its presentation in the visual arts across space and time. Themes may include: visualising the sacred - images of god(s) in art; the art of telling religious stories visually; origin stories and creation myths; expressing religious trauma through the arts; visualising gender and sexuality in religion; iconography, idolatry and iconoclasm; the selling power of religion in advertising;  sacred, secular and sacrilegious art - who decides?

The course will appeal to students interested in learning more about the critical study of religion, the visual arts and how religion both shapes and is shaped by its many different visual presentations in local, national and global cultures.

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course students should:

  • Be able to articulate the value of the visual arts as a method of studying religion.
  • Learn the tools for studying religious themes, traditions and characters in the visual arts and be able to apply these to specific examples from a range of religious traditions.
  • Feel confident discussing religious themes, traditions and characters in the visual arts, both in class and within their assignments.
  • Become familiar with some of the secondary scholarly literature written about religion in the visual arts.
  • Be able to engage critically with this literature in class discussions and assignments and form opinions about its arguments and points of view.
  • Have learned the skills to plan their own research project on a relevant topic in the field of religion and the visual arts and to transfer these skills to other learning situations.
  • Have been shown some of the skills required in academic writing and guided through the process of composing an engaging, well-written, and well-argued assignment.

Availability 2017

Not taught in 2017

Lecturer(s)

Coordinator(s) Dr Caroline Blyth

Assessment

Coursework only

Points

THEOREL 312: 15 points

Prerequisites

30 points at Stage II from BA Schedule

Restrictions

THEOREL 212