Beauty and the Sacred: Understanding Islamic Cultures through the Arts
Beauty and the Sacred: Understanding Islamic Cultures through the Arts
(31) Beauty and the Sacred: Understanding Islamic Cultures through the Arts - Kara Skora, Department of Religious Studies and First-Year Seminar Staff
Whirling, chanting, drawing, praying, celebrating—there are many ways to “bring down” the sacred; to envision, hear, imagine, and remember what is wondrous. The result: Great beauty and creativity as humans reach for answers to questions concerning our common struggles and dilemmas: Who are we as human beings? Why are we here? Is there life beyond death? How should we structure our community and behave in order to be in accordance with what we hold true? Can we transform ourselves and our world by accessing spiritual power? This seminar explores how Muslim peoples express and practice what is meaningful to them through art and ritual. We will learn the basics of Islam, then delve into Sufism, “the interiorization and intensification of Islamic faith and practice” (William Chittick) as it has manifested in music, poetry (Rumi), timeless literature (Attar's Conference of the Birds), and intricate architecture from Persia through Egypt, examining the gender-laden, paradoxical metaphors of gardens, trees, lovers, and veils, for instance, throughout the course. We will employ experiential methods of learning such as geometric design, storytelling, and even culinary and musical ventures in order to interpret and evaluate Islamic aesthetic experience as holistically as possible. A possible field trip may include travel to Cleveland to view Persian and Arabic art, visit the Grand Mosque for Friday prayers, followed by a Lebanese meal in Cleveland, journeying to a deeper appreciation of this religious tradition. Closer to home, we will study the special exhibit at The College of Wooster Art Museum and attend the Forum series. As burgeoning scholars, you will hone your learning strategies in this seminar by analyzing the multi-faceted ideas concerning artistic Islamic cultures through a variety of written responses and discussion activities.