2019-2020 Syllabus

Theme

We will explore the story of Jonah in the Bible and the Quran and consider a variety of themes including the arbitrariness of unwarranted compassion and the desire to escape calls to human responsibility. When others cry out, Jonah runs away or sleeps. Might we see contemporary responses to crises through Jonah’s actions? What about the human desire to flee distasteful obligations? Through visual arts, poetry, and music we will explore the symbolism of the big fish as “reassuring womb” or “terrifying tomb” and the strange prophet who hates change but nevertheless brings it about in the end.

Faculty

Anila Quayyum Agha, Associate Professor of Drawing and Illustration in the Herron School of Art and Design at IUPUI
Julia Muney Moore, Director of Public Art for the Arts Council of Indianapolis
Sandy Sasso, Rabbi Emerita of Congregation Beth-El Zedeck
Steven Stolen, Host of WFYI's Stolen Moments
Shari Wagner, Author and Indiana Poet Laureate (2016-2017)
Joseph Tucker Edmonds, Assistant Professor of Africana Studies and Religious Studies at IUPUI

Introduction in Religion

Readings:

Alter, Robert. “The Book of Jonah,” Strong As Death Is Love: The Song of Songs, Ruth, Esther, Jonah, and Daniel. A Translation with Commentary. New York: W.W. Norton, 2015.
Alter, Robert. “Jonah: A Better Conversation with Dr. Robert Alter,” The Better Questions Podcast, March 18, 2019, accessed August 15, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkbXIDmekYU&feature=youtu.be. [OPTIONAL]
“Inside and Outside the Whale: Views from the Writer and the Artist.” Handout. (Prepared by Sandy Sasso.)
“Interpreting Jonah.” Handout. (Prepared by Sandy Sasso.)
Ostriker, Alicia. “Jonah: The Book of the Question,” For the Love of God: The Bible as An Open Book. 2007: 99-116.
Ostriker, Alicia. "White Fire: The Art of Writing Midrash." Reform Judaism Magazine 58 (1999).
Sasso, Sandy Eisenberg. Midrash: Reading the Bible with Question Marks. Reprint edition. Paraclete Press, 2013. Part 1 & Part 2.

19 September 2019

Presenter: Sandy Sasso
6 - 8:30 pm

Jonah in Visual Art

Readings:

“Fish/Sea Monsters in Art.” Handout. (Prepared by Julia Muney Moore)
Lawrence, Marion. “Ships, Monsters and Jonah,” American Journal of Archaeology 66:3 (July 1962): 289-296.
Narkiss, Bezalel. “The Sign of Jonah,” Gesta 18:1 (1979): 63-76.
Stracke, Richard. “Jonah the Prophet: In Iconography,” Christian Iconography, 2014, accessed August 15, 2019, https://www.christianiconography.info/jonah.html.
Zygmont, Bryan. “John Singleton Copely, Watson and the Shark,” Smarthistory, August 9, 2015, accessed August 15, 2019, https://smarthistory.org/copley-watson-and-the-shark/.

26 September 2019

Presenter: Julia Muney Moore
6 - 8:30 pm

Jonah in Music

Readings & Listenings

Handout Part 1 & Part 2
Karen and the Sorrows, “Jonah and the Whale,” Fluid Magazine, October 3, 2019. https://bsidesbadlands.com/karen-and-the-sorrows-jonah-and-the-whale-song-premiere-interview/.

3 October 2019

Presenter: Steven Stolen
6 - 8:30 pm

Jonah in Literature

Readings

Campbell, Joseph. “The Belly of the Whale,” The Hero With A Thousand Faces, 90-94.
Selections from poetry and prose

10 October 2019

Presenter: Shari Wagner
6 - 8:30 pm

Other Perspectives on Jonah

Readings:

Campaign Nonviolence: A Project of Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service, accessed August 16, 2019, https://paceebene.org/. (organization referenced by HuffPost article below.)
Dear, John. '“Jonah and the Mission of Peace (Part 1).” HuffPost, July 18, 2013, accessed August 15, 2019, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jonah-and-the-mission-of_b_3620050?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAJa3wJpQG-6jz2Wi3fdbvhy-YiVuNCeziE2rCPaG6dAFOn1PLgYbibTzrnwFsHbHUjryptz6RUZCp7_rAW7gjayMymQMcuUvjyuU2SN1vPBydMUlX2dvjl3GC5CdwIN4X6n6fXNJAI6lWQ1_pu3IScEg5_JqJyh4uOzL1LCUCUFx.
Gafney, Wil. “Turn That Motha Out,” The Rev. Wil Gafney, Ph.D. Biblical Scholar, Seminary Professor, Episcopal Priest, Accessed August 15, 2019, http://www.wilgafney.com/2015/01/25/turn-that-motha-out/.
Mabee, Charles. “African Americans and American Biblical Hermeneutics.”

7 November 2019

Presenter: Joseph Tucker Edmonds
6 - 8:30 pm

12 December 2020

Open Discussion
6 - 8:30 pm

9 January and 16 January 2020

Artist Presentations
6 - 8:30 pm

6 February 2020

TBA
6 - 8:30 pm

20 February 2020

Exhibition Opening and Performances
Jewish Community Center of Indianapolis, 6701 Hoover Road, Indianapolis, IN 46260
5:30 pm reception; 6:30 pm performance

Art exhibit will run February 15 - March 29, 2020.

3 April 2020

Exhibition Opening and Performances
Harrison Center for the Arts, 1505 N Delaware St, Indianapolis, IN 46202
6 - 9 pm

2019-2020 Syllabus

Theme

Faculty

Introduction in Religion

Readings:

19 September 2019

Jonah in Visual Art

Readings:

26 September 2019

Jonah in Music

Readings & Listenings

3 October 2019

Jonah in Literature

Readings

10 October 2019

Other Perspectives on Jonah

Readings:

7 November 2019

12 December 2020

9 January and 16 January 2020

6 February 2020

20 February 2020

3 April 2020

LOCATION

HOURS

RESEARCH, CONSULTING, & EVALUATION