Active Outline

General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
HUMID007.
Course Title (CB02)
The Arts and the Human Spirit
Course Credit Status
Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Course Description
Explores the expression of spiritual and religious thought and aspiration in the arts. Examines religious art in various media in particular, and analyzes the roles of creativity and spirituality in the arts in general. Critical, reflective and experiential in approach.
Faculty Requirements
Course Family
Not Applicable

Course Justification

This course meets a general education requirement for °®¶¹´«Ã½, CSUGE and IGETC and is included in the Arts and Letters emphasis in the °®¶¹´«Ã½ Liberal Arts Associate Degree. It is UC and CSU transferable. This course is an option for students working towards the Humanities Certificate of Achievement. This course explores the myriad ways in which human communities express their spiritual aspirations through artistic media.

Foothill Equivalency

Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?
No
Foothill Course ID

Course Philosophy

Formerly Statement

Course Development Options

Basic Skill Status (CB08)
Course is not a basic skills course.
Grade Options
  • Letter Grade
  • Pass/No Pass
Repeat Limit
0

Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options

Transferability
Transferable to both UC and CSU
°®¶¹´«Ã½ GEArea(s)StatusDetails
2GC2°®¶¹´«Ã½ GE Area C2 - HumanitiesApproved
CSU GEArea(s)StatusDetails
CGC2CSU GE Area C2 - HumanitiesApproved
IGETCArea(s)StatusDetails
IG3BIGETC Area 3B - HumanitiesApproved

Units and Hours

Summary

Minimum Credit Units
4.0
Maximum Credit Units
4.0

Weekly Student Hours

TypeIn ClassOut of Class
Lecture Hours4.08.0
Laboratory Hours0.00.0

Course Student Hours

Course Duration (Weeks)
12.0
Hours per unit divisor
36.0
Course In-Class (Contact) Hours
Lecture
48.0
Laboratory
0.0
Total
48.0
Course Out-of-Class Hours
Lecture
96.0
Laboratory
0.0
NA
0.0
Total
96.0

Prerequisite(s)

Corequisite(s)

Advisory(ies)

EWRT D001A or EWRT D01AH or ESL D005.

Limitation(s) on Enrollment

Entrance Skill(s)

General Course Statement(s)

(See general education pages for the requirements this course meets.)

Methods of Instruction

Lecture and visual aids

Discussion of assigned reading

Discussion and problem solving performed in class

Quiz and examination review performed in class

Homework and extended projects

Field observation and field trips

Guest speakers

Collaborative learning and small group exercises

Collaborative projects

Other methods as appropriate

Assignments

  1. Regular reading assignments from a minimum of one college-level, book length textbook related to religion, spirituality, creativity, and/or art, from the library reserve and in or out of class articles and papers of various lengths.
  2. Viewing assignments of videos shown in-class or in media lab. Each viewing assignment is accompanied with specific questions or prompts to assess and summarize.
  3. Writing assignments that will demonstrate the student's increased ability to both critique and empathize with the complexities of the intersections of the arts and the spiritual traditions, through discussion questions, reflection papers, journal entries, comparing and contrasting, a comprehensive assessment of course material, and a guided research paper and/or team project.
  4. An individual or collective creative project that will require students to synthesize their critical thinking, imaginative, cooperative, and empathetic abilities as whole persons in order to contextualize their knowledge: a panel presentation, interview project, CD/DVD, video, film, musical, theatrical, poetic, graphic or artistic expression that reflects both the exploration and comparison of material covered.

Methods of Evaluation

  1. Short "prep" quizzes that are evaluated according to students' ability to analyze and critique the concepts being studied, then reviewed, and discussed in class. These quizzes will be on limited topics found within the lecture, audio and video presentations, and course reading assignments.
  2. A minimum of three examinations based on lectures, audio and visual presentations, and reading assignments that test students' ability to evaluate, critique and appraise course material.
  3. A minimum of one critical analysis papers: one or two, 500 words, informed reaction essays to concerts, performances, museums, religious site visits, etc., out of class, to be evaluated based on demonstrated mastery of course objectives.
  4. Journal or homework assignments that incorporate reactions to artistic examples and comprehension of course concepts, to be evaluated based on demonstrated mastery of course objectives.
  5. Final exam OR Final paper of at least 5 pages OR a Final experiential project - designed by the instructor to demonstrate the capacity to define, structure, and analyze topics related to spirituality and visual expression, to be evaluated based on demonstrated mastery of course objectives.

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

Essential Student Materials: 
  • None.
Essential College Facilities:
  • None.

Examples of Primary Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisherDate/EditionISBN
Cameron, Julia. "The Artist's Way: 25th Anniversary Edition." San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2016.
Dunham, Bandhu. "Creative Life: Spirit, Power, and Relationship in the Practice of Art." Prescott, AZ: Hohm Press, 2005.
Plate, S. Brent. "Religion, Art, & Visual Culture: a cross-cultural reader." New York, NY: Palgrave. 2002.
*Smith, Huston. "The Illustrated World's Religions: A Guide to our Wisdom Traditions - Revised edition". Harper, 2009.
*Willis, Roy (Editor). "World Mythology: The Illustrated Guide". Oxford University Press, 2006.

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisher
Archive for Research in Archetypal Symbolism (ARAS). "The Book of Symbols: Reflections on Archetypal Images." Cologne, Germany: Taschen, 2010.
Austen, Hallie Iglehart. "The Heart of the Goddess: Art, Myth and Meditations of the World's Sacred Feminine," 2nd Edition. Berkeley, CA: Wingbow Press, 2018.
Burckhardt, Titus. "Sacred Art in East and West." Louisville, KY: Fons Vitae, 2001.
Campbell, Joseph. "The Hero with a Thousand Faces (The Collected Works of Joseph Campbell)," 3rd Edition. Novato, CA: New World Press, 2008.
DeLoria, Jr., Vine, and Silko, Leslie. "God is Red: A Native View of Religion, 30th Anniversary Edition." Golden, CO: 2003.
Dyrness, William A. "A Visual Faith: Art, Theology, and Worship in Dialog". Baker Academic, 2001.
Eliade, Mircea. "Images and Symbols: Studies in Religious Symbolism." Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1991.
Gimbutas, Marita. "The Goddesses and Gods of Old Europe." London: Thames and Hudson, 1974.
Grey, Alex, and Wilbur, Ken. "The Mission of Art, 20th Anniversary Edition." Boston: Shambala, 2018.
Harshananda, Swami. "Hindu Gods and Goddesses." Madras, India: Sri Ramakrishna Math, 1987.
Hattstein, Markus, and Delius, Peter. "Islam: Art and Architecture." Pottsdam, Germany: h.f.ullmann, 2015.
Hope, Jane. "The Secret Language of the Soul: A Visual Guide to the Spiritual World." San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2003
Jung, Carl. "Man and His Symbols." New York: Doubleday, 1972.
Kandinsky, Wassily. "Concerning the Spiritual in Art." New York: Dover, 1977.
Lewis, Samella, and Hewitt, Mary Jane. "African American Art and Artists." Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press, 2003.
Little, Stephen et al. "Taoism and the Arts of China." Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2000.
Olupona, Jacob, K.. "African Spirituality: Forms, meanings, and expressions (World Spirituality)." New York: The Crossroad Publishing Company, 2001.
Pal, Pratapaditya. "Divine Images, Human Visions." Ottawa: National Gallery of Canada, 1997.
Pattanaik, Devdutt. "Indian Mythology: Tales, Symbols, and Rituals." Rochester, Vermont: Inner Traditions International, 2003.
Penney, David. "North American Indian Art (World of Art)." London: Thames, 2004.
Reichard, Gladys. "Navaho Religion: A Study of Symbolism." Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1990.
Rhie, Marilyn M, and Thurman, Robert. "Wisdom and Compassion: The Sacred Art of Tibet (Expanded Edition)." New York: Harry N. Abrams, 2000.
Temple, Richard. "Icons: Divine beauty." London, Saqi Books, 2004.
Thury, Eva M., and Devinney, Margaret K. "Introduction to Mythology: Contemporary Approaches to Classical and World Myths," 4th Edition. New York: Oxford University Press, 2016.
Wilson, William Scott. "The One Taste of Truth: Zen and the art of drinking tea." Boulder, Colorado: Shambala, 2013.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Create an historical and aesthetic framework for analyzing major religious art in various media (visual art and architecture, language, dance, music, drama) as an expression of the worldviews, experience and values of Western, non-Western, and indigenous cultures.
  • Interpret, synthesize, and evaluate religious artistic expression (visual, verbal, aural, kinesthetic) and make connections among the religious art of various cultures.
  • Evaluate the role of women and minorities in religious disciplines.
  • Analyze the relationship between creativity, spirituality, and the arts.
  • Develop creative new ways of seeing and interpreting ideas, building on increased critical thinking and creative skills, and an increased ability to think independently and holistically.

CSLOs

  • Synthesize critical thinking, imaginative, cooperative, and empathetic abilities as whole persons in order to contextualize knowledge, interpret and communicate meaning, and cultivate capacity for personal, as well as social change.

  • Interpret and communicate the correlations between creativity, spirituality and artistic expression.

Outline

  1. Create an historical and aesthetic framework for analyzing major religious art in various media (visual art and architecture, language, dance, music, drama) as an expression of the worldviews, experience and values of Western, non-Western, and indigenous cultures.
    1. Analyze the historical evolution of religious consciousness as a broadly human phenomenon.
      1. Pre-history: cave art and artifacts
      2. Tribal culture: ritual, magic, myth
      3. Civilization: rational egoic
      4. Mystical: transpersonal
    2. Examine the centrality of myth, symbol, and ritual to religious expression.
    3. Assess multiple ways of approaching, for example:
      1. life's origins, ends and meaning
      2. nature of the divine
      3. human relationship to nature and the earth
      4. disasters, death, social structure and roles
    4. Compare intellectual, emotional and ethical aspects of religious systems articulated in, for example:
      1. Indigenous oral traditions
      2. Hindu Vedas, Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita
      3. Buddhist Sutras
      4. Tao Te Ching
      5. Old and New Testaments
      6. Qur'an
    5. Compare varieties of sacred space: altars, shrines, stupas, kivas, temples, synagogues, churches, mosques, etc.
  2. Interpret, synthesize, and evaluate religious artistic expression (visual, verbal, aural, kinesthetic) and make connections among the religious art of various cultures.
    1. Assess interactive methods of accessing information and problem solving: independent and group exploration of texts, art works, web sites, responses; evolution of independent perspectives and methods of response.
    2. Analyze experiential methods peculiar to religious art such as mythic Lectio Divina, rabbinic scribes, icon gazing, yantra meditation, ritual storytelling, dance and drama.
    3. Evaluate the multiplicity of approaches and sensory responses, such as:
      1. reading and listening (texts, poetry, myth, legend, music)
      2. viewing (videos/films, artwork)
      3. contemplating or meditating
      4. speaking, moving, drawing
  3. Evaluate the role of women and minorities in religious disciplines.
    1. Analyze the consequences of the emergence of patriarchal religions and submergence of goddess worship.
    2. Assess the changing roles of women in world religions, and the emergence of Women's Spirituality and other New Age paradigms.
    3. Compare treatment of issues related to gender, culture and values, such as: virtues, lovingkindness, origins and afterlife, matriarchy and patriarchy, earth.
    4. Develop teamwork and collaborate within culturally diverse contexts.
  4. Analyze the relationship between creativity, spirituality, and the arts.
    1. Experiment with and analyze the interactions of creative activity, in all its forms, and spirituality, as defined both by religion and by the students themselves.
    2. Experiment with and analyze the complexities of creative action within the artistic process.
    3. Experiment with and analyze the ways that spirituality, variously defined, both shapes and is shaped by the arts.
  5. Develop creative new ways of seeing and interpreting ideas, building on increased critical thinking and creative skills, and an increased ability to think independently and holistically.
    1. Think critically and imaginatively, synthesizing and projecting probable outcomes: the literal, analogical, allegorical and anagogical approaches to meaning.
    2. Explore creatively, both individually and in groups, religious and/or mythic themes and motifs, such as:
      1. axis mundi
      2. rites of passage
      3. spiritual beings
    3. Analyze origins and purposes of religions, in society and in relation to student's own religious stance.
    4. Exercise aesthetic judgment regarding religious art versus art on religious themes.
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