Art and Religion

Has art emerged within the cult? What is "the spiritual in art"? Does God act in images? How are images of God expressed visually?
In contrast to the natural science, modern visual art and architecture have never abandoned the religious questions; rather, they have incorporated these in a creative manner. This course offers an orientation about 20th century contemporary art, with a special emphasis on issues related to religion, faith and spirituality. The competence that the students acquire through this course can be applied in a number of contexts - art practices, education, religious institutions, museums or the media.

According to the course curriculum, a candidate who passes this course is expected to have the following learning outcome (defined as knowledge and skills):

Knowledge:
The candidate has attained
- knowledge about visual expressions of faith and ideology in pictorial art and architecture
- knowledge about theories about the interrelation of art and religion in religious studies, art history and cultural studies
- knowledge about central notions such as “religion”, “faith”, and “the spiritual” and how these are used in the interpretation of visual art and architecture
- knowledge about different methodical tools to interpret the spiritual in art

Skills:
The candidate has acquired skills to
- apply different methods and theories in the interpretation of art and architecture with regard to religious expressions in images and buildings
- identify and interpret religious expressions in pictorial art and architecture, with special regard to the significance of Christianity in the European history of art and culture
- elucidate and explain the visual dimension in religious and Christian belief systems, in general as well as in selected art works
- interpret the spiritual in art, both orally and in writing

The teaching consists of lectures and/or seminars with one or two excursions. Selected works of art are studied in detail. In addition, approaches for religious studies and theology to the relationship of art and religion are discussed. An important part of the course are practical exercises that will provide students with methods for analysing art and architecture, enabling students to identify religious expressions in images and buildings. In order to take the exam a written assignment must be submitted (2000-2500 words) and approved by a deadline announced at the beginning of the semester. The written assignment is only given in the semester when the subject is taught, but is valid for this and the subsequent semester.

The exam consists of a written assignment (3000 - 4000 words). Participation in the seminars is highly recommended, as this course is not suitable for self-study.