Category
Oral (LUO Remote) - Textual or Investigative
Description
This paper examines how Bob Jones University, a Christian Fundamentalist institution, amassed an impressive and valuable collection of religious art – mostly Catholic in origin – without a seeming conflict of interest. Major emphasis will be on primary sources – particularly the writings of Bob Jones, Jr., those of his family members, and of others that aided and/or worked alongside him. Secondary sources - newspaper and magazine articles, and the catalogues produced in conjunction with exhibitions - will be examined as well. The paper will begin by providing background on the founding, purpose, and history of BJU, especially as it relates to its emphasis on culture and the arts as important components of a Christian education. Next, it will define fundamentalism as explained by Bob Jones, Jr., second president of BJU and collector and founder of the Bob Jones Art Museum. Then, it will describe how Jones acquired the art and his purpose and motivation for doing so. This will be followed by a brief discussion of the paintings themselves – their artists, subjects, importance, and relevance to Jones’s idea that they would serve as inspiration to BJU students and others outside of the university. Of the over four-hundred paintings in the collection, most are from the Italian Baroque period - roughly spanning the late seventeenth through the mid-eighteenth century - although there are examples of Flemish, Dutch, Spanish, and French Baroque art as well, along with works from other schools and periods. Some of the more familiar artists represented are Caravaggio, Botticelli, and Tiepolo. Only the work of one American painter – Benjamin West – is represented. The paper will conclude with a discussion of the legacy of Bob Jones, Jr., as to his work with the museum and the future of the collection.
Fundamentalism and Religious Art at Bob Jones University: Is There a Problem?
Oral (LUO Remote) - Textual or Investigative
This paper examines how Bob Jones University, a Christian Fundamentalist institution, amassed an impressive and valuable collection of religious art – mostly Catholic in origin – without a seeming conflict of interest. Major emphasis will be on primary sources – particularly the writings of Bob Jones, Jr., those of his family members, and of others that aided and/or worked alongside him. Secondary sources - newspaper and magazine articles, and the catalogues produced in conjunction with exhibitions - will be examined as well. The paper will begin by providing background on the founding, purpose, and history of BJU, especially as it relates to its emphasis on culture and the arts as important components of a Christian education. Next, it will define fundamentalism as explained by Bob Jones, Jr., second president of BJU and collector and founder of the Bob Jones Art Museum. Then, it will describe how Jones acquired the art and his purpose and motivation for doing so. This will be followed by a brief discussion of the paintings themselves – their artists, subjects, importance, and relevance to Jones’s idea that they would serve as inspiration to BJU students and others outside of the university. Of the over four-hundred paintings in the collection, most are from the Italian Baroque period - roughly spanning the late seventeenth through the mid-eighteenth century - although there are examples of Flemish, Dutch, Spanish, and French Baroque art as well, along with works from other schools and periods. Some of the more familiar artists represented are Caravaggio, Botticelli, and Tiepolo. Only the work of one American painter – Benjamin West – is represented. The paper will conclude with a discussion of the legacy of Bob Jones, Jr., as to his work with the museum and the future of the collection.
Comments
Graduate