Email: jeeshan.gazi@rutc.ac.uk

Tel: 0208 6078 339 Office room: 2E7

Workshop time (if you need extra help): Tuesday at 2.00 to 3.10 pm

Lessons times:

IRS1

With Jeeshan:

Mon: 2.00 (2C12)

Tues: 3.25 (2C12)

With Alison:

Wed: 10.20 (2E9)

Fri: 9.00 (2E9)

IRS2

With Jeeshan:

Mon: 3.20 (2E6)

Wed: 11.50 (2E6)

With Adrian:

Tue: 2.00 (2E6)

Thu: 9.00 (2E6)

IRS5

With Jeeshan:

Mon: 10.20 (1E8)

Fri: 3.20 (2E6)

With Alison:

Wed: 9.00 (1E8)

Thu: 10.20 (2E6)

There are four modules we will be studying on this course:

MODULES 1 & 2: The Nature and Purpose of Religious Art

Here you will look at traditional Christian art, comparing it to the art of other religions, debating freedom of speech and looking at how contemporary art uses religious imagery today.

MODULE 3: Religion, Art and Pop Culture

This is split into two sections: Fiction and Humour.

For ‘Humour’ we will look at things like The Simpsons and Futurama, as well as scripture, to look at the relationship between religion and humour.

For ‘Fiction’ you will read and study two pieces of fiction: ‘Franny and Zooey’ by JD Salinger (a short prose novel) and ‘Watchmen’ by Alan Moore (a graphic novel).

VERY IMPORTANT: YOU NEED TO READ THESE TWO BOOKS FOR ‘RELIGION, ART AND POPCULTURE’ (MODULE 3) OF THE COURSE

There should be three copies of each novel in the college library.

Though buying them should cost less than £20 and you can sell them back to the college book shop (though not at full price) at the end of

the year.You will have to read and complete ‘Franny and

Zooey’ for a homework due in at the first half term

(2ND NOVEMBER).

So get this novel and read it ASAP.

‘Watchmen’ will have to be read and the homework

handed in first lesson after xmas.

We will study both books in class in January.

As with the ‘Philosophy of Religion’ course that you will be studying with either Adrian or Allison, the written exam for ‘Religion, Art and the Media’ will be sat in either May or June 2010.

There is no coursework for either course, but you will have to answer four essay length questions in each exam.

This is why hand written homework is extremely important, we need to help guide your writing and make sure you are up to standard.

Lack of completion of homework will result in your removal from the course.

MODULE 4: Cyber Religion and TV Religion

Again, this is split into two sections: cyber religion and TV religion.

For ‘cyber religion’ you will look at virtual religion (interactive sites like Second Life) as well as looking at the breadth of religious websites and communication online.

For ‘TV religion’ we will look at how British broadcasting of religion has changed and will focus on the televangelists of America.

ALL RESOURCES USED IN CLASS CAN BE FOUND AT:

WWW.RICHMOND-PHILOSOPHY.NET OR ON BLACKBOARD

Q. What do we mean by ‘sources of religious authority’?

The sources of authority in religion are the things that provide or build faith or belief in religious worshippers.

THE SOURCES OF RELIGIOUS AUTHORITY

RELIGIOUS ART

SCRIPTURE

TRADITION

RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE

REASON

The communication of theological concepts through visual imagery.

The holy texts of a religion. Primary scripture are holy books like the Bible and Qu’ran. Secondary scripture are guidance notes like the Catechisms (for Catholics), and the Hadiths (for Muslims).

These are the customs and practices of a faith. Tradition is enforced by the organisational aspect of a religion: church leaders / imams etc,

Religious experience is private and subjective. They are said to take several forms, such as visions (e.g. the burning bush), mystical experiences (e.g. St. Teresa’s spiritual marriage), and conversion (which is usually the result of any of the previous types).

Reason is the opposite of ‘blind’ faith, it is when a believer takes a rational approach to his or her faith to gain a further understanding of their faith, e.g. through debate and logical argumentation.

STAINED GLASS WINDOWS

ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPTS

RELIGIOUS ART ENGAGING WITH SCRIPTURE

RELIGIOUS ART ENGAGING WITH TRADITION

SYMBOLS

FESTIVAL: THE DAY OF THE DEAD

ICONS

RELIGIOUS ART INDUCING RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE

RELIGIOUS ART ENGAGING WITH REASON