REL 318 Images of Jesus in Text and Art
This course explores the theological conception of Christ in word and image. Both theologians and artists have depicted Jesus in multifaceted ways from the first centuries to the contemporary period. This course intends to examine the early Christological controversies on the divinity of Christ and explore cognate artistic "portraits" that express doctrinal Christological impressions as well as reveal more popular and accessible conceptions of Christ. By examining the conciliar Christological debates alongside visual representations of Christ, a greater understanding of resonant religious, historical, and art historical movements can be achieved. The course involves the study of scripture and theological writings, and the investigation of artistic "portraits" of Christ. These "portraits" include artistic evidence from the third century to the present (including film), and students are expected to compare textual renderings of Christ to artistic portrayals of Christ with the goal of realizing the long tradition and prescient impact these examples continually embody.