Communication Arts, Theatre and Art

Department Chair: Christine Gardner

Faculty: Bruce Herman, Norman Jones, Jeffrey S. Miller, Rachel Yoo. Part-time: Dave Ells, Bill Franson, Noelle Guerin, Jay Lindsay, Jean Sbarra Jones, Deborah Stanton, Dan Stevens, C. Sue Trent.

Communication Arts Program

MISSION: The Communication Arts program cultivates wisdom in understanding, evaluating and creating visual stories. Recognizing the responsibilities of meaning-making through the interplay of visual and verbal symbols, we explore how forms of visual storytelling mediate culture and human relations in our participatory, global context of media convergence. We seek to reflect the image of God as Creator and Mediator, developing creative and critical sensibilities shaped in the traditions of Christian theology and communication theory.

Communication Arts Major

American Studies Program

Students interested in pursuing strategic communication or political journalism are encouraged to consider attending the American Studies Program (ASP) during their junior or senior year. This competitive 16-credit, semester-long program (12 credits applied to Communication Arts) is sponsored by the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), and is located in Washington, D.C. The program includes a required internship and courses in leadership, advocacy and communication. Acceptance into the program is by application through the Global Education Office and enrollment cannot be guaranteed.

Contemporary Music Center

Students interested in pursuing vocational interests in the music business or technical sound are encouraged to consider attending the Contemporary Music Center (CMC) during their junior or senior year. This competitive 16-credit, semester-long program (12 credits applied to Communication Arts) is sponsored by the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), and is located in Nashville, TN. The program includes a required internship and courses related to either the music industry business or in technical areas of sound support. Acceptance into the program is by application through the Global Education Office and enrollment cannot be guaranteed.

Los Angeles Film Studies Center

Students interested in pursuing areas of film studies are encouraged to consider attending the Los Angeles Film Studies Center (LAFSC) during their junior or senior year. This competitive 16-credit, semester-long program (12 credits applied to Communication Arts) is sponsored by the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), and is located in Los Angeles, CA. The program includes a required internship and courses in acting, scriptwriting, and technical areas. Acceptance into the program is by application through the Global Education Office and enrollment cannot be guaranteed.

Theatre Arts Program

MISSION: If, as John Calvin suggests, “the primary duty of the Christian is to make the invisible kingdom visible,” theatre is uniquely endowed to vividly fulfill this calling. Whether by creating work which decries what is cheap, hollow, pretentious and evil or by celebrating what is valuable, excellent, good and holy in our culture, quality theatre has the potential to awaken an audience to its own spiritual failures and capabilities.

Theatre Arts Major

Theatre Arts seeks to prepare students for a life of service and leadership in such a theatre-within a variety of settings, from the commercial and nonprofit to the school, community and church. Grounded on a solid foundation of theatre history, dramatic literature, acting, directing and technical production, the theatre program strives to develop and nurture students who approach all their work from a mature Christian perspective, equally equipped for both sound intellectual critique and compelling artistic expression.

Studies in the British Stage

Professor Jones regularly leads a two-week, 4-credit trip to England under the College’s International Seminar program. Students attend at least two dozen plays, enjoy backstage visits with producers, directors, playwrights and actors, and engage in vigorous discussion and journal keeping. Based in London, the program takes excursions to such other theatre venues as Stratford, York, Edinburgh and Dublin.

Art Program

MISSION: The Art program is a visual arts program in a Christian liberal arts tradition. Our aim is to equip students to think visually; to engage with traditional Western, non-Western and contemporary art culture in the studio, gallery and lecture hall; and to provide students with the means to discern their vocational calling within the spectrum of art-related careers and ministries.

Art Major

Studio courses teach methods, materials and concepts of art making with an eye to their historical and theoretical dimensions. Drawing is foundational to our curriculum, as is the study of the human figure, including the use of the undraped model. Beyond acquiring a working knowledge of foundations in studio practice and historical contexts, our students commit to a concentration in fine arts, design, or art education. Upper-level courses address traditional as well as experimental approaches to art making and are seen as a means of preparing for the senior thesis exhibition and/or other options (such as upper-level independent studies and internships in a variety of art professions).

Portfolio Requirement for Admission to the Major

In order for prospective students to apply for the art major at Gordon, they must first submit a portfolio and be approved by a faculty review board. The Department of Art accepts portfolio submissions twice a year; deadlines for submission are no later than December 1 for early action and March 1 for all others. Contact the Admissions Office, the Department of Art or the College website for detailed guidelines regarding portfolios.

Gordon in Orvieto Semester

Gordon’s off-campus program offers an opportunity to study the arts during a semester in Orvieto, Italy. Students take a 2-credit course in Italian language plus four 4-credit courses selected from offerings in visual arts, history, literature and creative writing. Students and faculty study and live in Orvieto, an ancient city located between Rome and Florence. Regular field studies are arranged to sites of artistic and cultural significance. Contact departmental faculty and the Global Education Office.

Programs

Major

Minor

Courses

Art

Communication Arts

Theatre Arts