Religion, Music, and the Search for Meaning
In this course we will explore the complex and fascinating relationship between religious ideas and artistic creativity. Our focus will be on how religion is represented in music and literature, both globally and historically. We will begin our exploration in Ancient Egypt in the Third Millennium BC and progress into the 21st Century. Among the themes we will examine are 'ultimate questions' such as the origins of creation , the search for immortality, and the meaning of life. We anticipate that students will be encouraged to respond creatively – in musical or literary ways (or a combination of both) – to these explorations. 3 hrs. lect.