Courses > 2019 Spring

Electives

CIMS 253 - THE BIBLE IN MOVIES

NELC 253 | RELS 253 | JWST 238
401 | SEM | Isabel Cranz | TR 4:30-6pm | WILL 201

In this course we will explore how the Bible comes to life on the silver screen. For millennia scripture has been subject to various forms of interpretation all aimed at extracting meaning from this essentially multi-vocal text. Transferring an ancient text like the Bible to a contemporary medium like film requires a similar process of interpretation as modern audiences expect to be presented with a meaningful movie that contains a coherent plot. In order to illustrate the selective process by which biblical narratives are turned into Hollywood epics, we will avail ourselves of biblical criticism and film theory. A close reading of biblical texts in conjunction with the movies they inspired will help us appreciate the rich nature of storytelling in the Bible. Furthermore, it will allow us to explore the different ways in which the message of the Bible has been made relevant in a largely secular society. In this course we will watch David and BathshebaThe Ten CommandmentsSamson and DelilahRuthThe Prince of EgyptExodusNoah and many others.