Course info

Sanibonani! Dumelang! 

This module introduces students to a variety of biblical genres and the diverse ways in which the Bible is used within popular culture, focusing on how Old Testament(OT)/Hebrew Bible(HB) narratives, specifically the Pentateuch and the Book of Esther, are interpreted through narrative theory, art, political speeches, and film.

This year, we will begin with a general overview of the first five books of the OT/HB, known as the Pentateuch. We will cover themes such as leadership, human sexuality, land, gender, politics and the economy in the OT/HB through the medium of narrative interpretation and popular culture. The study of the Pentateuch will take us through the first half of the module. In the next 2nd half of the module, we will apply narrative theory to interpret the book of Esther, examining various issues such as power and gender. We will critically evaluate popular culture related to the book and interact with relevant scholarly articles.