Check out Religious Studies student Aldo Palomino's ('25) comparative take on Kendrick Lamar's album "DAMN" and the problem of evil, or "theodicy."
Professor Nancy McLoughlin had this to say about Aldo and the research that gave rise to this video:
"Aldo was in my Seven Deadly Sins (REL ST 140) class in Winter '24 and distinguished himself with his quiet thoughtfulness. He often asked questions after class about the broader context of the texts we were studying, especially when these were coming from the ancient Mediterranean. He also consistently expressed thoughtful analyses in our class discussions and group work. But it was Aldo’s final presentation that illuminated the strength of his work, comparing medieval deadly sins tradition, which we had studied in detail throughout the quarter, to lyrics in Kendrick Lamar’s “DAMN” album, which Aldo called a Hip Hop Psychomachia.
Here, Aldo’s analysis, was careful, detailed, thorough and captivating and I was truly impressed as he was able to analyze this album for our class, speaking without notes for fifteen minutes in which the audience was completely captivated. Notably, in addition to exploring how Lamar used the medieval sins of pride, lust, and wrath in his album, Aldo also explored how Lamar identified other oppositions of virtue and vice, such as justice vs. injustice and faith vs. idolatry. Moreover, by engaging with Lamar’s problematization of the concept of wickedness, Aldo demonstrated a keen understanding of the questions and concerns which drive our attempts to construct and deconstruct our own understandings of virtue and vice."
Aldo ('25) was a triple major in Religious Studies, History and Philosophy. He received the School of Humanities Undergraduate Major in Religious Studies Award in spring 2024, and the Keith L. Nelson Award in Religious Studies in spring 2025.
The RS Program welcomes creative student efforts to apply religious studies methods and tools to engage with culture. When you have the tools, religious studies is everywhere!
Check out our RS major & minor and new 3-course Certificate in Religions and Cultures.