Courses

This foundational interdisciplinary course introduces the arts as a way of knowing, especially through some of the complex issues in the arts, such as: arts and interpretation, arts and technology, arts and justice, arts and gender, and arts and faith. Students will explore these issues through the engagement of representative works of both artists and scholars from varying viewpoints and historical periods. Students will be expected to participate fully in individual and collaborative research projects applying both developing skills and critical evaluation. The format of the course includes lectures supplemented by assigned readings for discussion and debate. The course will be delivered by an interdisciplinary teaching team. Students attend weekly lectures, and participate in one of three discussion groups.

A foundational interdisciplinary introduction to key historical developments in Western artistic practice and concepts from ancient times to present. Students critically engage artistic materials (paintings, music, theatrical scripts, etc) and writings of the various style periods, developing their ability to meaningfully experience, interpret, and articulate different approaches to the arts in relation to the changing ideas of Western culture. Students are encouraged to think critically, charitably, and divergently, exploring and evaluating how the arts were understood and written about in different periods, and investigating the relationship of past artistic ideas to contemporary ideas and practices. The format of the course includes lectures, readings, discussion, and individual investigative assignments and research projects. The course is delivered by an interdisciplinary teaching team. Students attend weekly lectures, and participate in one of four discussion groups.

This course doesn't merely explore different questions about the nature, value, and meaning of beauty, artworks, and aesthetic experience; its primary goal is to assist students in developing lifestyles that embody the values, pleasures, and risks of moving through God's creation with deep aesthetic attention coupled to an expansive imagination