Theology and the Visual Arts

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

This course will approach the study of theology with and through the visual arts. The meaning and significance of the doctrines of the Incarnation, the Paschal Mystery, and the Holy Spirit will be explored by attending to the ways in which these teachings have been diversely embodied, tested and engaged by artists and artistic traditions throughout the Church's history. This dialogue will be structured through the framework of visual representations of key liturgical moments in the life of the Church, from Christmastide and Eastertide to Pentecost. We will consider how visual art is itself a form of theological reflection and come to appreciate its essential place within the Catholic tradition and its unique contribution to the Christian faith as a lived engagement with the world.