Ph.D., Graduate Theological Union
Professor, Chair of the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies
Office: Living Learning Academic 118
Phone: (828) 262-3177
E-mail: carprm@appstate.edu
Coming from Northern Illinois University, where he chaired the School of Visual Art, Dr. Richard M. Carp envisions his task as Chair of the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies as akin to that of a theatrical director. He sees himself as a leader whose vision inevitably plays a role in the production, but who depends on the contributions of the ensemble in creating a unified artistic whole.
In a complex and interactive world which doesn't correspond to mutually exclusive academic arenas, the idea of interdisciplinary thinking and practice is of tantamount importance. When one pursues any significant problem or question, one single academic discipline may not be able to provide the methods, evidence, and analysis for a solution. Thus, the goal of a university education must include the development of interdisciplinary capacities, combining self-questioning, respect for evidence, reason, critical inquiry, synthetic thought, and dialogical encounter.
Dr. Carp's academic background rests firmly within the Humanities and Social Sciences. He received his undergraduate degree from Stanford University and his graduate degrees from the Pacific School of Religion and the Graduate Theological Union. His professional career began at the California College of Arts & Crafts and led him to the Art Institute of Southern California and the Kansas City Art Institute. In addition to teaching a wide variety of interdisciplinary classes, Dr. Carp has a consistent record of publications and presentations in an interdisciplinary area that draws on religion, visual art, anthropology, cognitive science and performance. He has also worked in administrative positions and university governance, and has received grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Yet, he did find the time to complement academic and administrative duties with the practice of the theatre, and has cultivated a long-standing association with artists, designers, and their professional students. Dr. Carp's presence will certainly enrich Appalachian State University and the College of Arts & Sciences -- welcome as part of the ensemble!
Richard M. Carp works in the spaces between the academic study of religion, performance, semiotics, anthropology, neuroscience, and visual art and design.
Recent publications include:
2004 Art, Education, and the Sign(ification) of the Self. Semiotics and Visual Culture: Sights, Signs, and Significance. Debbie Smith-Shank, ed. Reston, VA: National Art Education Association, 132-137.
2002 "Integrative Praxes: Learning from Multiple Knowledge Formations", Issues in Integrative Studies - 2001 , No. 19, pp. 71-121.
"Semiotrix Deux", Trickster's Way: An On-Line Journal of Trickster Studies, Vol. 1, Issue 2, April 1.
"Living Images: Japanese Buddhist Icons in Context, Edited by Robert H. Scharf and Elizabeth Horton Shcharf", a Booknote, Religious Studies News , Vol. 28, #4, pp. 355.
"Anarchist Modernism: Art, Politics, and the First American Avant-Garde. By Allan Antliff" , a Booknote, Religious Studies News , Vol. 28, #2, pp. 155.
Reading Zen in the Rocks: The Japanese Dry Landscape Garden. By François Berthier", a Booknote, Religious Studies News , Vol. 28, #1, pp. 60.
2001 Semiotrix . Trickster and Ambivalence: the Dance of Differentiation. C. W. Spinks, ed. Madison, WI: Atwood Publishing, 35-42.
The Life of Judaism, (Harvey E. Goldberg, editor; volume two of series, Life of Religion general editor, Mark Juergensmeyer, photo editor Richard Carp) Berkeley: University of California Press.
"Art and Intimacy: How the Arts Began. By Ellen Dissanayake", a Booknote, Religious Studies News , Vol. 27, #4, pp. 388.
2000 "Intermediation: Arts' Contribution to General Integrative Theory" Issues in Integrative Studies - 1999 , no 17, pp. 55-17.
"Infusing the Core Throughout the Curriculum" (with Harold A. Kafer) Proceedings of the Annual Meeting on Liberal Arts and the Education of Artists , NY: School of Visual Art.
The Life of Buddhism, (Frank E. Reynolds and Jason Carbine, editors; volume one of series, Life of Religion general editor, Mark Juergensmeyer, photo editor Richard Carp) Berkeley: University of California Press.
