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
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 Magazine
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