Four contexts including the Societal, Ecclesial, Educational and Digital, inform the structure and content of all learning and teaching resources for religious education by Other Spaces Institute. Recognising that each religion has its own unique visual tradition that accompanies and supports their religious narratives, myths and rituals, these educational resources explore the role and necessity of art and visual culture in shaping belief.
From ancient carvings, Renaissance masterpieces, to videogame art, the stories that art leaves as its legacy can bring about a greater understanding of different belief systems. These lessons expose students to a variety of cultures and religions, and in the process, hopefully inspire tolerance and respect for those with different belief systems than themselves. While learning and reviewing different religious customs, students are guided through a study of major themes, issues and concepts, where art and architecture reveal the many similarities between religions and worldviews.
Education Packs
Stations of the Cross
This slideshow looks at how artworks can help us reflect on social justice issues in relation to the 14 Stations of the Cross.72 artwork slideshow (.ppt/.pdf); Resource for teachers (.pdf); Interactive Assessment Task (.pdf/.html)
Incarnations
This lecture traces the History of Representations of Jesus in visual culture. 72 artwork slideshow (.ppt/.pdf); Resource for teachers (.pdf); Interactive Assessment Task (.pdf/.html)
Immaculate Conception
This lecture traces the History of Representations of the Virgin Mary in visual culture. 72 artwork slideshow (.ppt/.pdf); Resource for teachers (.pdf); Interactive Assessment Task (.pdf/.html)
Art and Social Justice
This lecture explores the ways in which art can affect change through drawing attention to social injustice, providing a platform for the otherwise voiceless and offering cathartic opportunities for the oppressed to express their rage and discontent.72 artwork slideshow (.ppt/.pdf); Resource for teachers (.pdf); Interactive Assessment Task (.pdf/.html)
Buddhist Art
This lecture outlines the central concepts of Buddhism, and their historical diffusion while exploring the history of Buddhist art in its various religious, social and cultural contexts. 72 artwork slideshow (.ppt/.pdf); Resource for teachers (.pdf); Interactive Assessment Task (.pdf/.html)
Early Christian Art
In this lecture, we look at the earliest appearances of Christian artwork, their forms, and nascent iconographies in the early centuries of this “common era” and observe the earliest foundation being laid for what would ultimately become the dominant content and style of artwork in the West for the next millennium.72 artwork slideshow (.ppt/.pdf); Resource for teachers (.pdf); Interactive Assessment Task (.pdf/.html)
Art of Islam
This lecture outlines the central concepts of Islam, and their historical diffusion while exploring the history of Islamic art in its various religious, social and cultural contexts. 72 artwork slideshow (.ppt/.pdf); Resource for teachers (.pdf); Interactive Assessment Task (.pdf/.html)
Hindu Art
This lecture outlines the central concepts of Hinduism, and their historical diffusion while exploring the history of Hindu art in its various religious, social and cultural contexts. 72 artwork slideshow (.ppt/.pdf); Resource for teachers (.pdf); Interactive Assessment Task (.pdf/.html)
Judaism and Art
This lecture outlines the central concepts of Judaism, and their historical diffusion while exploring the history of Jewish art in its various religious, social and cultural contexts. 72 artwork slideshow (.ppt/.pdf); Resource for teachers (.pdf); Interactive Assessment Task (.pdf/.html)
The Blind Men and the Elephant
This lecture looks at different representations of the parable of the Blind Men and an Elephant, a story that is often used to illustrate the differences and similarities between the major world religions. It is the story of a group of blind men who cannot make sense of the whole elephant (reality) because they are limited by what they are able to percieve through their sense of touch (ears, legs, trunk, tail, etc.) 72 artwork slideshow (.ppt/.pdf); Resource for teachers (.pdf); Interactive Assessment Task (.pdf/.html)
Rites, Rituals and Architecture
This lecture examines the role of ritual and rites in religious space. Performing the appropriate rituals in a religious space helps to activate meaning, and is often a requisite to understanding a religion's core beliefs as they are expressed through rites, art and architecture. 72 artwork slideshow (.ppt/.pdf); Resource for teachers (.pdf); Interactive Assessment Task (.pdf/.html)
Sacred Space for Atheists
This lecture looks at the history of art and architecture which represent a significant decline in the numbers of people attending religious space in most western countries. With an increase in atheism, there is an increasing void in contemporary culture for particular community-based, ritual-oriented inclusive activities that were formerly the domain of organised religion. What would a sacred space for atheists look like? Can we assume that there is an innate need for setting aside spaces for contemplation, community and the enacting of rituals? 72 artwork slideshow (.ppt/.pdf); Resource for teachers (.pdf); Interactive Assessment Task (.pdf/.html)
Interventions of Contemporary Art in Churches, Synagogues and Mosques
This lecture looks closely at a series of contemporary artworks that were installed in ritual spaces. The education kit invites students to reflect on the unique encounter of contemporary art in an ideological, historic context.72 artwork slideshow (.ppt/.pdf); Resource for teachers (.pdf); Interactive Assessment Task (.pdf/.html)
Reformation and Counter-Reformation
This lecture looks at how the christian churches have typically used art and architecture as a form of propaganda to promote belief or defend against attacks and suspicion. 72 artwork slideshow (.ppt/.pdf); Resource for teachers (.pdf); Interactive Assessment Task (.pdf/.html)
7 Deadly Sins & 7 Heavenly Virtues
This lecture looks at artworks that illustrate or accompany a reflection on the seven deadly sins and the seven heavenly virtues. The seven deadly sins are pride, envy, gluttony, lust, anger, greed and sloth. The seven heavenly virtues are faith, hope, charity, fortitude, justice, temperance and prudence. 72 artwork slideshow (.ppt/.pdf); Resource for teachers (.pdf); Interactive Assessment Task (.pdf/.html)
Art and Contemplation
This lecture looks at how our visual imagination is involved in thought and contemplation. We explore how images often accompany conceptual thinking and our ability to recall vivid imagery is essential to recalling moments from our lives. The education kit offers students an opportunity to reflect on how particular images have come to be associated with particular feelings, thoughts and ideas. 72 artwork slideshow (.ppt/.pdf); Resource for teachers (.pdf); Interactive Assessment Task (.pdf/.html)
Sacrilege and Blasphemy in Art
This slideshow looks at art that has caused offense and forms part of an examination of the troubled, often explosive relationship between religion, politics and art.22 artwork slideshow (.ppt/.pdf); Resource for teachers (.pdf); Interactive Assessment Task (.pdf/.html)
Religious Kitsch and Sentimentality
Kitsch is the word for art and design which is overly sentimental and sugar-sweet. Kitsch and Sentimentality can be dangerous when they are used to illustrate religious narratives, represent religious figures or decorate the interiors of religious belief. This lecture outlines the reasons why religious kitsch can be misleading and detrimental to a healthy relationship with reality.72 artwork slideshow (.ppt/.pdf); Resource for teachers (.pdf); Interactive Assessment Task (.pdf/.html)