Cinematic Savior : Hollywood's Making of the American Christ
Editorial Reviews
Book Description
From Cecil B. DeMille's production of King of Kings in 1927, to Mel Gibson's recent release of The Passion of the Christ, films that discuss the meaning of Jesus have provoked interest, discussion, and reevaluation on a large scale. The Hollywood films that deal with this subject have consistently managed to augment their inherent power by commenting simultaneously on political and cultural matters, and drawing from alternative cultural and mythological sources. The Greatest Story Ever Told, for instance, uses a landscape similar to that of the American West, while The Last Temptation of Christ deals with themes related to modern American notions of sexuality and sin. In many Westerns, dramas, and science fiction films, Jesus is even portrayed like a modern action hero. Humprhies-Brooks looks at the diverse content and often-surprising impact of these and other films to reveal how these depictions have helped determine, and been determined by, particularly American notions of who Jesus was, how he died, and what he means for both our religious and secular cultures.
About the Author
STEPHENSON HUMPHRIES-BROOKS is Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Hamilton College, where he teaches courses in film, religion, and popular culture. He has been interviewed frequently on the subject of Jesus in film for outlets including the New York Times and NPR. He has also contributed to a number of edited collections.
Cinematic Savior: Hollywood's Making of the American Christ,Stephenson Humphries-Brooks,Praeger Publishers,0275984893,Film & Video - History & Criticism,In motion pictures,Jesus Christ,Motion pictures,Performing Arts,Performing Arts/Dance,Pop Arts / Pop Culture,Theater - History & Criticism,United States,History / Military / General
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