LS3: Studying the Art of Christianity Lesson Objectives: To know what is required to answer (A) questions in the exam. To understand how we will be approaching each Christian art object. To reflect on how Christians use religious art.

This is our definition of ‘religious art’ for the purposes of this course: ‘Religious art’ is that art which reflects the system of a religious tradition’s belief, in both its public and social context. Art that is found in (or as) that tradition’s place of worship, scripture, festivals and the homes of believers. Taking this into account we will be studying the art of Christianity in this context – leaving out the modern uses of religious imagery as found in the institutional art pieces you discussed in your first homework. These art objects are traditional artefacts of Christianity.

The Christian Art Objects you will be learning about over the next six lessons: FESTIVAL: THE DAY OF THE DEAD SYMBOLS ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPTS ICONS STATIONS OF THE CROSS CRUCIFORM ARCHITECTURE For the NATURE of each art object you need to be able to write about: What its features are (what it looks like, how its made) Where its are found (be specific, e.g. what kind of church?) What it is used for

Example (A) exam questions for Modules 1 and 2. These are worth 30 marks: (a)Examine the range of religious art. (a) With reference to the art of one religion you have studied, explain the contribution of art to worship. (a)Examine how religious art contributes to religious experience in one religion you have studied. (a) Examine the variety of ways in which religious art is used to convey religious teaching.

For the PURPOSE of an art object, you need to be able to explain how it contributes to worship: The inducing of RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE  Devotional: Art as an aid to prayer, meditation etc. (Invocational) Inspirational: How the art draws a viewer to a higher realm. (Evocational) Unifying worshippers: How the art draws participation in corporate (officially organised) worship. The LITURGICAL FUNCTION  Providing a focal point for worship: The art present where believers worship (e.g. symbols, icons). Visual forms of the liturgy: The art objects used in a religious service. Didactic function: Art that directly educates an observer of a religion and its subjects. Above are the two main routes that are considered in the (A) exam questions

Focus on the LITURGICAL FUNCTION of religious art objects Liturgy – the structured, corporate act of worship i.e. those lead and organised by church leaders. The LITURGICAL FUNCTION  Providing a focal point for worship: The art present where believers worship (e.g. symbols, icons). Visual forms of the liturgy: The art objects used in a religious service. Didactic function: Art that directly educates an observer of a religion and its subjects. Corporate worship – organised public worship led by the church (i.e. the liturgy) Remember: a glossary was included with your introductory course pack. Didactic – educational (e.g. as a function of religious art)

The inducing of RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE  Devotional: Art as an aid to prayer, meditation etc. (Invocational) Inspirational: How the art draws a viewer to a higher realm. (Evocational) Unifying worshippers: How the art draws participation in corporate (officially organised) worship. Focus on how religious art objects induce (bring forth) religious experience. THE EVOCATIONAL FUNCTION OF RELIGIOUS ART This means religious art can evoke or inspire emotions, and acts as a reminder of holy beliefs and divine subjects (such as saints, prophets and God itself). THE INVOCATIONAL FUNCTION OF RELIGIOUS ART To invoke is to call on a believer to do something. With icons and other Christian art objects, the artist has been invoked to create the art piece; and believers are expected to worship through the images (though, importantly, they should not worship the actual image).

THE INVOCATIONAL FUNCTION OF RELIGIOUS ART Invocation for the artist: To invoke is to call on a believer to do something. With icons and other Christian art objects, the artist has been invoked to create the art piece; in doing so, the artist is blessed by the holy spirit Invocation for the observer: To invoke is also to call on the observer to do something. For an art object to have an invocational function means observers have to be pro-active in their approach to the image. This means believers are expected to worship through the images (though, importantly, they should not worship the actual image). The way believers can do this is through CHRISTIAN MEDITATION. Q. Have you ever watched a movie, read a book or listened to a song that has made you feel as if you have been taken some place else? CHRISTIAN MEDITATION Christian meditation is thought, emotion, and imagination that leads to prayer, to conversation with God. The art can help us to see something in a new way, or to feel the emotion of an event centuries before. We can use the image as a visual template to enter a scene in our imagination and thus experience the great events of our salvation.

For the PURPOSE of an art object, you need to be able to explain how it contributes to worship: The inducing of RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE  Devotional: Art as an aid to prayer, meditation etc. (Invocational) Inspirational: How the art draws a viewer to a higher realm. (Evocational) Unifying worshippers: How the art draws participation in corporate (officially organised) worship. The LITURGICAL FUNCTION  Providing a focal point for worship: The art present where believers are expected to worship (e.g. symbols, icons). Visual forms of the liturgy: The art objects used in a religious service. Didactic function: Art that directly educates an observer of a religion and its subjects. Above are the two main routes that are considered in the (A) exam questions