Examples of Recontextualisation
Context
The research presented by Pollefeyt and Bouwens (Leuven University) assert that the preferred theological option for Catholic schools is that of recontextualisation.
Recontextualisation is purposefully looking for a renewed Christian profile that is meaningful within the current pluralistic culture. It tries to understand the Christian faith re-interpreted in a contemporary cultural context to ensure that the faith remains recognisable, credible and meaningful for contemporary people.
Throughout our Archdiocese and Australia, we have many examples of recontextualisation. In this section you can view some good examples of recontextualisation suitable for our Australian context.
Our BCE Religious Education Curriculum invites us to ensure that…
“From the first moment that a student sets foot in a Catholic school, he or she ought to have the impression of entering a new environment, one illuminated by the light of faith, and having its own unique characteristics. The inspiration of Jesus must be translated from the ideal into the real. The Gospel spirit should be evident in a Christian way of thought and life which permeates all facets of the educational climate.” (n.25)
Recontextualisation in the Arts
Artistic Expression through Visual Art, Dance, Drama, Media Arts or Music provides schools with a unique platform from which to express a recontextualised Catholic Identity.
Recontextualising artists find ways to reimagine a symbolic understanding of the wisdom of the Catholic tradition and reimagine it in a way that invites dialogue with a broader pluralised, detraditionalised cultural dynamic.
A creative expression of recontextualising Catholic Identity must be Catholic, meaning that a Catholic perspective should be a prominent element and contemporary. This means it needs to acknowledge and interact with a contemporary context; and multi-correlational, meaning it has multiple layers of meaning.
Often, a particular hermeneutic or framework of understanding helps an audience to interpret some levels of meaning.
Examples in Visual Art
The following websites provide examples of recontextualising art:
The following links may provide you with access to images and media with which to stimulate discussion around Catholic Identity.
Examples in Music
The links provided here are to clips which are created within a contemporary context and which invite recontextualisation into a Catholic perspective.
Recontextualisation in Prayer
These prayer outlines provide examples of possible ways to frame prayer which invites participants into a recontextualisation of the Catholic perspective.
Liturgy as the official prayer of the church is always celebrated within the liturgical framework. However, elements of the liturgy can be appropriately recontextualised to enhance the full conscious and active participation of the assembly.
Examples in Prayer
Further Links
There are many resources online which support the development of recontextualising Catholic Identity. The links below are resource portals which may support your goals in strengthening Catholic Identity.