Module THEO3781: Performative Theology

Department: Theology and Religion

THEO3781: Performative Theology

Prerequisites

• • Preliminary knowledge of Christian theology, and an informed interest in literature and the arts.

Corequisites

• • None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• • None

Aims

• To understand the role of the arts (particularly the literary arts) in the development of theological ideas.
• To develop close reading skills.
• To understand the interaction between some areas of literary theory and Christian theology.

Content

• This module will examine the relationship between form and content in the creation of theological meaning, located specifically in Christian theology. It will refer to work across the arts, including visual arts, film and music, but will focus principally on literary forms. A close reading of texts including confession, first-person account, epistle, diary, journal, memoir, song, poem, and new media, will show that by subverting accepted theological forms, or by creating new forms out of circumstantial necessity or opportunity, theological meaning is not merely conveyed by the literary forms in which it is written, but is in part created by them.

Learning Outcomes

• Familiarity with a range of works in different forms will enable the reader both to expand their grasp of layers of meaning in theological texts, and to make a theological reading of texts not usually included in the theological canon.

• Ability to identify and discuss texts in terms of genre, voice, orality.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Lectures will examine specific texts in relationship to their literary form, the exploration of key theological themes in interrelated art forms, and reading and interpretation methods.
• Seminars will include student presentations (which count as summative work), and will allow for a range of readings of any given text to be explored.
• Final summative essays (with an option of creative writing) will assess subject-specific knowledge and understanding.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

EITHER one essay, 1500 words OR one 1000-word piece written in one of the forms studied (e.g. memoir, personal essay) with an accompanying 500 word statement on the aims and assessment of that piece of writing.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University