Theology and Film
Challenging the Sacred/Secular Divide
1. Edition December 2007
260 Pages, Hardcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd
This introductory textbook uses appreciation of film to explore debates between theology and contemporary culture. It examines both method and theory and features a range of film examples throughout.
* Explores how film can enrich our study of theology, opening up debates surrounding contemporary culture and theological inquiry
* Addresses a broad range of themes, including religion and the sacred, human dignity, eschatology, war and peace, violence, justice, feminism, and the environment
* Includes sections on methodological considerations as well as theoretical perspectives
* Features examples from a range of films, including Unforgiven, The Passion of Christ, An Inconvenient Truth, Jarhead, Something's Gotta Give, and Vanilla Sky
* Accompanied by website resources available at www.blackwellpublishing.com/theologyandfilm.
Acknowledgments.
Part I: Methodological Considerations.
1 Theology and Film.
Part II: Theological Perspectives and Filmic Themes.
2 Introduction.
3 Woman as Spectacle: Theological Perspectives on Women and
Film.
4 The Green Screen: Theological Perspectives on the Environment
and Film.
5 A Time to Kill?: Theological Perspectives on Violence and
Film.
6 The Final Verdict: Theological Perspectives on Justice and
Film.
7 Dark Beauty: Theological Perspectives on War as Cinematic
Mythology.
8 Heaven, Hell, and the Sweet Hereafter: Theological
Perspectives on Eschatology and Film.
9 Conclusion: Theological Perspectives on Cinematic
Storytelling.
Bibliography.
Filmography.
Index
site for theological exchange. The selection of films is
commendably catholic: the treatment of Iranian women's films
particularly will open up mew areas for Western readers."
(European Journal of Theology, April 2009)
"The authors do an admirable job of culling various
authors ... .[They] reaffirm that films contribute to
fundamental questions and keep the debate going.
Recommended." (CHOICE)
"It should hold much relevance for film students interested in
theology, and vice versa, as it offers a range of challenging ideas
and perspectives on the subject." (M/C Reviews)
"Ortiz and Deacy offer a singularly rich analysis of the ways that
theology and film interlace. Using Niebuhr's Christ and
Culture as an interpretive model, they put their fingers on the
theological pulse of thousands of contemporary and classic, pop and
art films with stunningly insightful success. Their command of both
film language and divergent currents in contemporary theology
allows them to respect each film as an artistic work in its own
right which illuminates issues such as violence, women's rights,
the environment, and apocalyptic discourse. I highly recommend this
thoughtful book for classroom use and just plain reading
pleasure."
-Sara Anson Vaux, Northwestern University
Gaye Williams Ortiz teaches Communication Studies at Augusta State University in Georgia. She has served as vice president of SIGNIS, the World Catholic Association for Communication, and is co-editor of Explorations in Theology and Film (Blackwell, 1997).