Christianity and the Arts

At Regent College, we recognize and value the arts as profoundly important domains of human creativity and reasoning that are not merely supplementary or peripheral to Christian theology but have in fact been vital forms of theological reasoning down through the centuries. In turn, we also recognize that theology is not merely supplementary or peripheral to the arts; it is capable of identifying and expanding vital aspects of what is going on in the practice, theory, and history of the arts, in both historical and contemporary contexts.

The Christianity and the Arts concentration at Regent seeks to deepen both scholarly study and artistic experimentation at the intersections of theology and the arts. Through teaching, research, special arts events, and the Dal Schindell Gallery, our aim is to increase the two-way traffic through those intersections, expanding and enriching theological intelligence within the arts and artistic intelligence within theology.

Our focus on “the arts” spans both a wide interdisciplinary range (visual art, music, theatre, film, literature, poetry, and beyond) and a wide diversity of historical, cultural, and geographical positions. Similarly, our investigations of “Christianity” span across its own wide range of theological traditions and historical forms from around the world. With careful attention to both historical traditions and contemporary artmaking, our studies of the interfacing of Christianity and the arts includes not only the full range of Christian art through the centuries and around the world but also the many ways in which contemporary art is shaped by and in dialogue with Christian theology.

This concentration is well suited for both artists and scholars who want to undertake a deeper study of the interrelations of art and theology.

Concentration Coordinator: Jonathan Anderson

Learn More: [email protected]

Integrated Project in the Arts and Theology (IPIAT)

One of the most distinctive aspects of this concentration within the MATS program is the opportunity for your studies to culminate in an Integrative Project in Art and Theology (IPIAT). Reserved for students who already have some experience in art-making, the IPIAT is an opportunity to create and present a major new work of art (e.g., an exhibition of paintings, a short film or documentary, a concert of original music, a screenplay, a play script, a collection of poetry or short stories), accompanied by a research paper investigating the historical contexts and theological dimensions of the work. An IPIAT may be taken for either 6 or 12 credit hours, depending on the scope of the project. Additional details about the IPIAT are available on our Final Projects page.

Notes:

Students choosing the IPIAT option must:

• Have a minimum 3.3 GPA.
• Take the seminar Vocation of the Artist (ARTS 701). Students must submit an Arts Portfolio prior to registering for this course.
• Attend the IPIAT Orientation Seminar (GENR 313).