Art History 101 Research Paper Guidelines Art and Religion Due Thursday, April 23 by 6:00pm.   Must be at least 5 pages in length, but not longer than 7 pages Include title page, works cited page (not counted in above total pages) Double space, times new roman, 12-point font, 1-inch margins Must use at least 3 book sources, be sure to cite your sources throughout the paper Must use at least 3 pieces of art, but not more than 5.  Include images of these at the end of paper following works cited page. Use whichever format you are most familiar with (mlb, apa, chicago)  Is there a special relationship between art and religion?  There are many reasons to think so; indeed, there seems to be a rich web of relationships between the two.  The arts have always been integral to religion.  Sacred pictures, sacred symbols, sacred dances, chants, hymns and tunes have been used in rituals, in places of worship, and as aids to prayer and meditation in every religion.  Judging by this alone, the arts seem to be natural vehicles for expressing or connecting with the transcendent. Outside of formal religious contexts, religion has traditionally been as integral to the arts as to the rest of culture.  The arts in traditional cultures transmit the central beliefs and values of those cultures, and those beliefs and values have a strong religious or spiritual dimension. Art that is described as spiritual may reference or represent a spiritual and/or religious tradition. Whether referring to specific religious traditions or not, spirituality concerns the feelings stirred or probed by the art, which may prompt viewers to reflect on the meaning of life, often drawing on existential questions, such as: Why are we here?  What are we doing?  What happens after life ends?  A sense of the spiritual also gives people the sense of belonging that they crave, a feeling that they are part of something greater than the self.  The spiritual also contrasts with the material, where the material concerns acquisitiveness and worldly success.   The relationship between art and spirituality has been historically mediated through the relationship between art and religion, something which has been periodically problematic throughout the centuries.  Central to the role of the artist has been a preoccupation with the deeper questions of life, often to reveal sights that are normally kept hidden from the public gaze and to challenge entrenched beliefs.  The process of creating art is often described in quasi-mystical terms, whereby the artist-as-shaman unleashes or channels special creative powers in a process of making that transports the viewer to a different realm of the imaginary.  Given these affinities between the roles of art and spirituality, it is unsurprising that spirituality has been an enduring feature of art over the centuries. In interrogating the relationship between art and religion, some questions to answer in this research paper are:  What is the n.

1. Art History 101
Research Paper Guidelines
Art and Religion
Due Thursday, April 23 by 6:00pm.
Must be at least 5 pages in length, but not longer than 7 pages
Include title page, works cited page (not counted in above total
pages)
Double space, times new roman, 12-point font, 1-inch margins
Must use at least 3 book sources, be sure to cite your sources
throughout the paper
Must use at least 3 pieces of art, but not more than 5.
Include images of these at the end of paper following works
cited page.
Use whichever format you are most familiar with (mlb, apa,
chicago)
Is there a special relationship between art and religion? There
are many reasons to think so; indeed, there seems to be a rich
web of relationships between the two. The arts have always
been integral to religion. Sacred pictures, sacred symbols,
sacred dances, chants, hymns and tunes have been used in

2. rituals, in places of worship, and as aids to prayer and
meditation in every religion. Judging by this alone, the arts
seem to be natural vehicles for expressing or connecting with
the transcendent.
Outside of formal religious contexts, religion has traditionally
been as integral to the arts as to the rest of culture. The arts in
traditional cultures transmit the central beliefs and values of
those cultures, and those beliefs and values have a strong
religious or spiritual dimension.
Art that is described as spiritual may reference or represent a
spiritual and/or religious tradition. Whether referring to specific
religious traditions or not, spirituality concerns the feelings
stirred or probed by the art, which may prompt viewers to
reflect on the meaning of life, often drawing on existential
questions, such as: Why are we here? What are we doing?
What happens after life ends? A sense of the spiritual also
gives people the sense of belonging that they crave, a feeling
that they are part of something greater than the self. The
spiritual also contrasts with the material, where the material
concerns acquisitiveness and worldly success.
The relationship between art and spirituality has been
historically mediated through the relationship between art and
religion, something which has been periodically problematic
throughout the centuries. Central to the role of the artist has
been a preoccupation with the deeper questions of life, often to
reveal sights that are normally kept hidden from the public gaze
and to challenge entrenched beliefs. The process of creating art
is often described in quasi-mystical terms, whereby the artist-
as-shaman unleashes or channels special creative powers in a
process of making that transports the viewer to a different realm
of the imaginary. Given these affinities between the roles of art
and spirituality, it is unsurprising that spirituality has been an
enduring feature of art over the centuries.

3. In interrogating the relationship between art and religion, some
questions to answer in this research paper are:
What is the nature of the dialogue between art and religion?
How do the two come together?
What form does the meeting take?
How does art define religion?
What influence does art have on religion? Ex: did the art lead
to changes in religion?
What influence does religion have on art? Ex: did religion lead
to changes in art?
Discuss the dichotomy of art and religion in terms of the effects
on culture and society.
Is religious art propaganda? Choose a side and support your
argument with your chosen pieces of art.