There can be no doubt that we are influenced by what we see on the silver screen. Whether or not viewers are aware of it, films are a powerful way of educating and influencing people's perceptions. A filmmaker not only chooses the script, they also choose how to interpret the script. What one takes away from a movie depends upon how the viewer interprets what has been seen and heard.

In this class, we are concerned with ways in which the five major world's religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity) are depicted in film. We will explore various ways in which these religions are portrayed through film. We will analyze how movies, accurately or inaccurately, appropriate religious beliefs, practices, and imagery.

As we watch the films we will consider the following questions: What is the filmmakers' intention in presenting the religion in the manner in which they have chosen to present it? What does the film teach about the religion? Has the film given us a fair representation? Is the factual information given accurate? What ideas of the religion have been reinforced, represented, resisted? What role does the film play in the construction of religious stereotypes? If the Bible or another holy book is used, is it given a fair and accurate reading? If a viewer knew nothing about the religion what would they have learned? We will discuss these questions drawing upon our readings, our knowledge of the religions, and our own backgrounds. Although class is set up like a literature course in which the movies are the texts, the approach is through the lenses of religious studies.

By the end of the course, you should have (1) a working knowledge of the major religious of the world, (2) insight into viewing a film through the lenses of religious studies, (3) an awareness of how religion and film intersect, and (4) an awareness of how movies serve as an intersection point for religion and culture.

Response Papers
We will be viewing 11 movies in class. You are required to write a 2-page response/reflection paper on five of the movies we will view. You may chose which movies you would like to respond to; however, the paper must be handed in the class following the viewing of the movie. Select one or two aspects of the movie that stood out for you, either because you liked it or because you did not like it. All papers must be typed and double spaced. Please post all "A" and "B" papers on Blackboard for your classmates to read.

Weekly Quizzes
At the beginning each class, there will be a quiz. The quizzes will consists of questions from any assigned readings and from what was covered in the previous class. 2 quiz grades will be dropped (if you miss a class, the quiz that you missed will count as one of your quiz drops - there are no make-ups for quizzes).

Project
You may select from one of the following:

1. chose a movie list that deals with your religion OR
2. chose a movie that deal with a religion other than your own

Grades
Your grade will consist of the response papers (20%), weekly quizzes (25%), participation on Blackboard (15%), project (20%), and your final exam (20%).

Class Attendance Policy
Class attendance is required. If you miss 4 classes, you cannot pass the course. If you must miss a class, you are expected to make up the work. This will require your viewing the film and submitting a two-page synopsis.

1. Housekeeping Chores
2. The Five Major World Religions
3. Discussion of various conceptions you already have of the five major religions. Where did your knowledge come from? How much has your current understanding been influenced by what you have seen in the movies?
4. Concepts and language of cinematography
5. Introduction to Hinduism
7. Viewing clips from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom; Mississippi Masala, Bubble Boy, Tales from the Kama Sutra, Monsoon Wedding, Lagaan, The Razor's Edge,
8. Discussion

Assignment for next class

1. Read Chapter on Hinduism from Bowker.
2. Read section from Hindu sacred text on Blackboard
3. Become acquainted with material on Blackboard for this class. Post your comments on Hinduism as seen in clips shown in class today
.

1. Quiz
2. Discussion of Hinduism.
3. Background information for Richard Attenborough's Gandhi, 1982.
4. View Gandhi.
5. Class Discussion.

Assignment for next class

1. Continue your discussion of Gandhi on Blackboard.
2. Respond to questions on Blackboard.
3. Read chapter on Buddhism from Bowker.

1. Quiz
2. Discussion of Buddhism.
3. Film Clip Possibilities: Little Buddha, The King and I, Anna and the King, Seven Years in Tibet, The Cup, Why has Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East?, Jacob's Ladder
3. Class Discussion

Assignment for next class

1. Continue the discussion on Blackboard
2. Read selections from Buddhist's texts posted on Blackboard

1. Quiz
2. Background information for Kundun, 1997, a Martin Scorsese film
3. View the film
4. Discussion

Assignment for next class

1. Continue discussion and answer questions on Blackboard
2. Read Bowker's chapter on Judaism

1. Introduction to Judaism
2. DeMille's prologue to The Ten Commandments, 1956
3. Film Clip Possibilities: Fiddler on the Roof, The Believer, Kissing Jessica Stein, Sunshine, A Price Above Rubies, π: Faith in Chaos, Focus, Exodus

Assignment for next class

1. Continue discussion on Blackboard.
2. Read the Book of Exodus from the Hebrew Bible.

1. Quiz
2. Roger Young's Moses
3. Discussion

Assignment for next class

1. Continue discussion and answer questions on Blackboard.
2. Read chapter on Christianity from Bowker
3. Read one of the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. Be able to compare what you have read to the films/film clips we will view in class.

1. Quiz
2. Films about Jesus, Films Containing Christian motifs
3. Film Clip Possibilities - the Jesus films, The Mission, Luther
4. Discussion

Assignment for next class

1. Continue discussion and answer questions on Blackboard.
2. Read chapter on Christianity from Bowker.
3. Read Luke 4:1-13 and Matthew 4:1-11. Read a commentary for each.

1. Quiz
2. Discussion of the temptations of Jesus in the gospels.
3. Introduction to The Last Temptation of Christ, 1988.
4. View the film
5. Discussion

Assignment for next class

1. Continue discussion and answer questions on Blackboard
2. Read chapter from The Screening of America by Tom O'Brien (posted on Blackboard)
3. Read section on Islam from Bowker

1. Quiz
2. Discussion of Islam
2. Introduction to The Message, 1976
3. View the movie.
4. Discussion

Assignment for next class

1. Continue discussion and answer questions on Blackboard.
2. Read selections from the Koran posted on Blackboard.
3. Find and read one article on Black Muslims and one article on Malcolm X.

1. Quiz
2. Class discussion of Black Muslims and Malcolm X
3. Introduction to Malcolm X
4. View the film

Assignment for next class

1. Quiz
2. Film Clips
3. Discussion on Syncretism: Constantine
4. Introduction to The Matrix, 1999, a Wachowski Brothers film.
5. View the movie
6. Discussion

Assignment for next class

Prepare for your class project presentation

Class Presentations

Class Presentations
Review for Exam

Bach, Alice, ed. "Biblical Glamour and Hollywood Glitz." Special Issue of Semeia 74 (1996).

Baugh, Lloyd. Imaging the Divine: Jesus and Christ Figures in Film. Kansas City: Sheed & Ward, 1997. PN1995.9.J4B38

Bergesen, Albert J. And Andrew M. Greeley, with a preface by Roger Ebert. God in the Movies. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers, 2000. PN 1995.5.B44

Bernheimer, Kathryn. The 50 Greatest Jewish Movies: A Critic's Ranking of the Very Best. Secaucus, NJ: Carol Publishing, 1998. PN1995.9.J46 B47

Boggs, Joseph, M. The Art of Watching Films, 5th ed. Oxford, UK: Mayfield, 1999.

Bone, Jan and Ron Johnson. Understanding the Film: An Introduction to Film Appreciation. National Textbook Co.

Bordwell, David and Kristin Thompson. Film Art: An Introduction. NY: McGraw Hill, 1997.

Butler, Ivan. Religion in the Cinema. NY: A.S. Barnes & Co., 1969. PN1995.9.R4B8

Campbell, Richard. The Bible on Film: A Checklist, 1897-1980. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow, 1981.

Crossan, John Dominic. The Dark Interval: Towards a Theology of Story. Senoma, CA: Polebridge, l988. PN49.C7

Gianetti, Louis. Understanding Movies, 8th Edition. Prentice-Hall

Gire, Ken. Reflections on the Movies: Hearing God in the Unlikeliest of Places.

Hulsether, Mark. "Sorting Out the Relationships Among Christian Values, US Popular Religion, and Hollywood Films." Religious Studies Review 25 (January 1999): 3- 11.

Hurley, Neil P. Theology Through Film. NY: Harper & Row, 1970. PN1995.5.H8

Jewett, Robert. Saint Paul at the Movies: The Apostle's Dialogue with American Culture. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1993.

Johnston, Robert K. Reel Spirituality: Theology and Film in Dialogue. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2000. PN1995.5.J59

Kinnard, Roy and Tim Davis. Divine Images: A History of Jesus on the Screen. Sacramento: Citadel Press, 1992.

Kreitzer, Larry J. The New Testament in Fiction and Film: on Reversing the Hermeneutical Flow. Sheffield, England: Sheffield Academic Press, 19931993.

Marsh, Clive & Gaye Ortiz, Eds. Explorations in Theology and Film: Movies and Meaning. Blackwell Pub., 1998. PN 1995.5.E96

Martin, Joel and Conrad E. Ostwalt, eds. Screening the Sacred: Religion, Myth and Ideology in Popular American Film. Boulder, COL: Westview, 1995. PN 1995.5.S36

Martin, Thomas. Images and the Imageless: A Study in Religious Consciousness and Film. Cranbury, NJ: Bucknell Univ. Press, 1991.

May, John R. Image and Likeness: Religious Visions in American Film Classics. NY: Paulist Press, 1992. PN1998.5I

May, John R., ed. New Image of Religious Film. Kansas City: Sheed & Ward, 1997. PN1995.9.R4N48

May, John R., and Michael Bird, eds. Religion in Film. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Pre

ss, 1982. PN1995.9.R4R4 May, John R. "Close Encounters: Hollywood and Religion After a Century," Image: A Journal of the Arts and Religion 20 (Summer 1998): 72-78.

Miles, Margaret, Seeing and Believing: Religion and Values in the Movies. Boston: Beacon Press, 1996. PN1995.9.R4M56

Miller, Mark Crispin, ed. Seeing Through Movies. Pantheon Books

O'Brien, Tom. The Screening of America: Movies and Values from Rocky to Rain Man. NY: Continuum, 1990. PN 1995.5.O27

Phillips, Patrick. Understanding Film Texts: Meaning and Experience. British Film Institute

Prince, Stephen. Movies and Meaning: An Introduction to Film, 2nd ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2000.

Scott, Bernard B. Hollywood Dreams and Biblical Stories. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1994. PN1995.9.R4S36

Stern, Richard C., Clayton Jefford, and Guerric Debona. Savior on the Silver Screen. Paulist Press, 1999.

Stone, Bryan P. Faith and Film: Theological Themes at the Cinema. Chalice Press, 2000.

Tatum, W. Barnes. Jesus at the Movies: A Guide to the First Hundred Years. Santa Rosa, CA: Polebridge Press, 1997.

Trotter, F. Thomas. "On Being Alive to the Arts and Religion: Film. Internet. http://www.religion-online.org/cgi-bin/relsearchd.dll/showarticle?item_id=511.

Ward, Graham, ed. "Film and Religion." Special Issue of Literature and Theology 12, no. 1 (1998).

Williams, Peter W. "Religion Goes to the Movies: A Review Essay," Religion and American Culture 10:2 (Summer, 2000): 225-239

Wilson, Andrew. World Scripture: A Comparative Anthology of Sacred Texts. St. Paul: Paragon, 1999.

Vaux, Sara A. Finding Meaning at the Movies. Nashville: Abingdon, 1999.

Web Sites

• The Internet Movie Database http://us.imdb.com


• All Movie Guide http://205.186.189.2/amg/movie_root.html


• Complete Film Listing http://www.corona.bc.ca/films


• Roger Ebert Film Reviews http://www.suntimes.com/ebertrev.html


• Journal of Religion and Film http://www.unomaha.edu/~wwwjrf/ (Perhaps the best and most useful site on the web for understanding religion and film.)


• Christianity Today's film forum: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ctmag/features/columns/filmforum.html


• www.wabashcenter.wabash.edu


• The Celluloid Jesus: http://www.ntgateway.com/film


• Hollywood Jesus: http://www.hollywoodjesus.com


• Drew's Script-O-Rama



• Bible Versions and Translations www.bham.ac.uk/theology/goodacre/multibib2.htm


• The Holy Quran info.uah.edu/msa/quran.html


• Internet Islamic History Sourcebook: www.fordham.edu/halsall/islam/islamsbook.html


• http://religion.rutgers.edu/vri/