Peter Francis

William Telford

Eric S. Christianson

Cinema Divinite sets out various critical approaches to the study of film and theology such as formalism, expressionism, realism, textual analysis, contextual analysis, post-modern eclecticism, narrative criticism and cultural studies. It examines the major concepts in film studies such as cinema spectatorship, the nature and application of film theory to theology, and includes a discussion of the extensive literature which has been published recently on the film and religion. The book also examines case studies of specific films, filmmakers, and genres - from film noir to animation and the western. The final part looks specifically at religion within film with a concluding discussion of the recently released The Passion of the Christ.

Religion, Theology and the Bible in Film

Cinéma Divinité

Ecclesiastes Through the Centuries “A rich tour down many significant streams of Western interpretation of this fascinating biblical book... Heartily recommended, without reservation.” Bible and Critical Theory “A fundamental resource on biblical interpretation, especially in the modern world, this book is a winner.” International Review of Biblical Studies “The introduction and commentary proper cover many topics, from patristic and rabbinic exegesis through to modern science-fiction, with numerous stops on the way... Very well written and accessible...an excellent book.” Society for Old Testament Study Book List Over the centuries, Ecclesiastes has influenced numerous aspects of life and thought. Ecclesiastes Through the Centuries assesses the diverse effects of the book on culture in religion, art, and social contexts. Ecclesiastes shaped the life of European abbeys of the middle ages. For Renaissance thinkers, it provided a sceptical line of inquiry weighted with the disquieting authority of Scripture. It has inspired the imaginations of artists, musicians, and poets from the Renaissance to the present day. The influence of Ecclesiastes on literature has engaged authors as diverse as Bacon, Donne, Eliot, Hardy, Melville, and numerous Elizabethan poets. This commentary traces these influences as well as the fascinating range of Jewish and Christian readings. The result is an informative and broad-ranging approach to the impact of this book through the centuries that will engage all those studying the Bible. For further information about the Blackwell Bible Commentaries please visit www.bbibcomm.net.

Ecclesiastes Through the Centuries

Christopher H. Partridge

Demons, devils, spirits and vampires are present throughout popular Western culture in film, music and literature. Their religious significance has only recently begun to be explored. 'The Lure of the Darkside' brings together the work of some of the most important and creative scholars in the field of Biblical and Religious Studies. The essays explore demonology in popular culture from a range of perspectives: Satanism within contemporary music; the relationship between hymn and horror film; the career of Hannibal Lecter; the portrayal of Satan in films about Christ; and spiritual perversion in the Harry Potter Stories. This fresh and ground-breaking volume will be of interest to students of religious studies and theology, as well as literary and popular culture.

Satan and Western Demonology in Popular Culture

The Lure of the Dark Side

Christopher Partridge

The authors of religious scriptures had little difficulty enhancing sacred narratives with the rhetoric of violence. The phenomenon continues in the habitual linkage of violence and religion in contemporary film, music and literature. 'Holy Terror' brings together scholars of religious studies, biblical studies, film studies and sociology to examine the social function of violence in popular discourse. The book questions how violent rhetoric shapes belief and values, how audience empathy with violent protagonists can be understood, and the significance of the association of violence with particular religious groups and ideas. A range of phenomena are analysed, including terrorism in Scripture, apocalyptic texts in film and violence in sport.

Eric S. Christianson

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