As Christmas draws near, Trinity Western University professors offer their expertise.
(1) "Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up?"Joanne Pepper, PhD, professor of anthropology and religious studies at Trinity Western University discusses artistic portrayals of Jesus in other cultures.
During the North American Christmas season, images of a white baby Jesus saturate holiday memorabilia. But how ought one to depict the human form of Jesus in works of art? Christ was not a white man, but neither was he a black African or a native North American. Dr. Pepper has spent years collecting and interpreting artwork by individuals from non-western cultures. The artwork gives expression to essential, biblical understandings of the person of Jesus Christ as seen through their eyes.
A sample of the discussion Dr. Pepper can provide is included below, as extracted from an article she wrote:
"For example, Latin American images of Christ can often startle, offend or delight—depending on one's viewpoint. This Christ is often dark, earthy and intensely engaged with townsfolk in the daily tasks of life. His cross is rough-hewn and heavy, not a gilded jewel-encrusted spiritual 'throne'. Sometimes Christ's guise is as a poor labouring peasant. Other times he is an itinerant homeless evangelist, and on other occasions he appears as a revolutionary warrior. But always, he is a man of the people, a populist leader intimately concerned for the welfare of and connected to the socio-political realities of the masses. Latin American images of Christ can be seemingly grotesque, often depicting real physical marks of torture."
"Though African representations of Christ can vary greatly from region to region, certain constants remain. For example, Christ is typically depicted as a sovereign ruler. He is frequently imaged as a chief receiving homage from his 'tribespeople' (e.g. the magi; the disciples; the mourners at the cross; the post-resurrection encounters with Mary and Thomas). In scenes of chaos or frenzy, Christ is the still point of control and calm. He is the source of safety, well-being, healing, provision and knowledge for the clans of his extended kinsmen. Is the African Christ black? Yes. For him to be owned by this people group, how can he be otherwise?"
Possible areas of discussion:
i) What did Jesus really look like? ii) If modern portrayals of Jesus are not precise, are they still relevant? iii) What are some other examples of how different cultures express who Jesus was through art (ie: Asian, Eastern-Orthodox, and native North-American.) iv) What are the benefits to various visual representations of Jesus?
(2) "I'm dreaming of a commercial Christmas." Todd Erickson, MM, Assistant Professor of Marketing in the Trinity Western University School of Business is available to speak on the topic of Christmas and marketing: i) How does Christmas marketing work? When does it start? ii) Santa Clause: The most famous Christmas icon was made famous by a marketing company. What implications does this have on the holiday? iii) Discussion of Christmas marketing trends iv) Discussion of the disgust that many people (religious and non-religious alike) feel as result of North America's over-consumerist Christmas v) Does impulse buying have a large function at Christmas time?
Further areas of expertise: i) Advertising and promotional strategies ii) Marketing management iii) Marketing research
For further expertise on Christmas literature or the history of Christmas, see contact.
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