Cedarville Magazine, Spring 2014

ENGLISH, LITERATURE, AND MODERN LANGUAGES In the Department of English, Literature, andModern Languages, we believe that the study of art, culture, language, and writing is foundational to the development of the Christian mind. We challenge all of our students to be as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves (Matt. 10:16), cultivating both a full understanding about how the worldworks, including all of its possibilities and problems, as well as a deep appreciation of what itmeans to be a peaceful, productive follower of Christ in the 21st century. Our students read widely, and we are dedicated to studying literature and art in a way that leaves us with an accurate view of the world in which we live, as well as a healthy idea of how to excel as Christians in such a world. As scholars of culture, we are committed to examining the most pressing issues of our time from Christian perspectives. As developing artists, we are dedicated to crafting poetry and prose that is informed by our faith and that brings glory to God by rendering beauty and truth, and by insisting on the possibility of redemption. As students of foreign languages and cultures, we are committed to equipping each other to be respectful servants of God who are capable of thriving abroad both professionally and spiritually. In all things, we are committed to fostering a community of Christ-centered learning that allows us to build and renew a sustainable Christian intellectual and spiritual foundation in all of our students and faculty. Donald Deardorff, Ph.D. Professor of English cedarville.edu/langlit THEATRE Recognizing creativity as a reflection of God raises the value of every aspect of theatrical work. As designers, performers, directors, writers, and administrators, we have the incredible opportunity to advance more than our own careers. Motivated to use our gifts to light candles of truth rather than simply cursing the darkness, we can integrate excellence with honest labor as genuine worship. The stories we bring to the stage or screen can reveal what it is to live in the complexity of a fallen world, and they also reflect a faith-shaped perspective, as grace is seen touching lives. As a professor in the performance concentration of our major, I encourage acting students to celebrate creativity with discipline (no one is going to make it easy for you in this field). Layered onto this, I ask them to see powerful character portrayal as another gift, one that mirrors the humility of Jesus in taking on human form. Because He put on our sandals and walked in the same dust we do, Jesus felt every human emotion we do. None of us can match His depth of compassion, but actors can grow in grace every time they think beyond themselves to life experienced by another.Theatre students, I encourage them to believe, should be the most empathetic, least self-centered people on campus! With eyes open to the world around them, theatre artists have the amazing opportunity to shape their culture — be that at Cedarville, in Hollywood or other major venues, or in their own communities. Rebecca Baker, M.A. Associate Professor of Theatre cedarville.edu/theatre Cedarville Magazine | 21