REL 121: Christianity & the Arts

REL 121 Christianity & the Arts

David Snider, Instructor

Student Evaluation: Katherina Buyer

Katherina, I am glad you were in this class. You are intelligent, assertive and outspoken--good leadership qualities.  You express a passion for christianity and art.  I was happy for you that your final exam demonstrated the level of understanding and articulation I had hoped to see throughout the term.

I sense that this class provided some unexpected challenges and opportunities to the question “What fuels your passion?”. It was puzzling to see below average work on your essay and research assignments, and to have your original art piece lack aesthetic wholeness.   There were also times in group discussions where your passion to speak became a demand that dominated the group, and your investment in your point turned to personal defensiveness. You expressed that this was uncomfortable for you, and humbling. 

There is an exciting potential opportunity here that a better mark may have hidden from your view.   At the same time you are gifted and experienced in popular christian culture, I think this class revealed areas where that background is also a hindrance to your growth as a christian and an artist. It can feel vulnerable and scary to realize that an investment in being an “expert” can subvert the discussion at hand.  Put simply, though you are culturally informed and talented, without intentional work and focus you will gain little new cultivation and growth.  I encourage you to let this class and some of the negative challenges of Fall term fuel a renewed focus in Winter term.  Keep the questions raised by this class alive, even if it means a season of feeling uncomfortable.  Consider it “growing pains”.  

I look forward to working with you next term. 

Thoughts:
While I can’t say I’m perfect yet (or ever will be) seeing this evaluation 10 years later leads me to believe this has been the most growth I have done over my 20’s. I have had a journey of deconstruction, I have gone from the confident “expert” to the searching soul, with a deeper realization that every person holds a dear truth in their soul. Realizing that I could be wrong on some things and that I don’t know everything have been two of the biggest revelations of my life, and if I had learned that lesson earlier I am sure I would have put more work into the projects I had for this class.