Monday, October 24, 2005
(8:26 PM) | Dave Belcher:
Theology and the Arts
Since I've been playing my guitar a lot more lately than I had for the past two or three years, I realized something: I really miss it. Let me contextualize for those who don't know me that well. I came to Olivet Nazarene University and the wintry north in order to study classical guitar; even though I couldn't stomach being a music major, I still took private lessons and performed a junior and a senior recital; I have been to Spain to play in masterclasses with guitarists from all over the world, including a class with Cuban composer, Leo Brouwer; when I made the decision to pursue a master's degree in theology, I was simultaneously making the decision not to hand in my already completed application for a master's degree in guitar; in other words, this is not simply a hobby I am picking up again. And for this reason, this love of mine asks more of me than I have been willing to give the past three years. The problem is, just as I didn't want to make the decision to give up the guitar for theology, I don't want to make the opposite decision now. I realize that the only way that I will be happy is if I can do both. And in fact--I have realized--that is exactly what I have wanted to do all along. But again, that problem: there just isn't a space for such a thing. While there are many programs in universities across the country for the study of "sacred music" or even programs in "theology and the arts," I have not found a program that actually fosters the mutual performance of philosophical/theological reflection and the performance of art (If you have, then please let me know!). It is no surprise to me that aesthetics is such a lacking discipline within theology (simply because of the placement of theological studies within an academy that increasingly grows afraid of "the arts"), but I want to find some way to fix that...or at least to create a space where I can play guitar
theologically. Any suggestions?
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(Dave Belcher has asserted the moral right to be identified as the author of this post.)
