Jessie Landau
Pound Ridge, N.Y.
Studio art and religion
PICTURING ETHICS: JESSIE'S STORY
"I'm a double major in studio art and religion, a member of the women's soccer team, an assistant for the religion department and I work in the art collection study room. I became a double major because, during my freshman year, I took a class from every department that interested me, and I instantly loved Professor Jonathan Brumberg-Kraus's Literature of the New Testament class. I've always loved art, and after taking a few classes decided to apply for that major, too."
CANIS MAJOR: "For my senior thesis, I am planning to focus on Christian traditions surrounding animals, especially what Christian art has to say about the subject. As it frequently seems, the majority belief taken from Genesis is that animals are on this earth for human consumption, use and domination. I think, as many others do, that this belief is incorrect and that Genesis as well as New Testament scripture tell a different story of harmony with nature and compassion for animals. I will be looking at medieval Christian art depicting animals, especially dogs, to find a basis for the compassionate treatment of animals in the Christian tradition."
ARTISTIC INSPIRATION: "In my own artwork this year, I want to inspire more humane treatment of animals by telling stories of compassion. Instead of focusing on animal cruelty to inspire positive action, I want to tell stories of the good that people have done by rescuing and adopting animals through telling portraits of these animals."