Spiritual Symbolism
My intention for making Spiritual Symbolism was to show how diverse religions have more in common than one may think. Every religion worships its own set of symbols, however, many of them are universal across spiritual practices. While they may hold different connotative meanings, essentially, they are the same. This documentary explores these universal symbols as well as individualistic ones across diverse religions. Completing this piece involved interviewing a Catholic Priest, a Presbyterian Pastor, a Jewish Rabbi, and a Strega Witch to learn more about the types of symbols they worship. After meeting with these religious figures from the Pittsburgh community, Brent Robbins, a psychologist of religion, analyzes the use of symbolism in spiritual practices from a multicultural perspective. The goal of this project is to highlight the similarities and differences between these religions, as well as how they use these symbols to strengthen their spiritual connection.
Artist Statement:
Senior Thesis
Documentary by Joie Knouse
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Je'Amour P. Matthews
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Fr. Christopher Donley
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Rabbi Seth Adleson
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Pastor Dan Turis