Course Texts

1. The Bible. You may use any translation of the Bible you wish to use. If you do not have one, please purchase the Oxford Annotated version.
2. Reinhartz, Adele. Scripture on the Silver Screen, 2003
3. Harris, Thomas. Hannibal, 2000
4. Articles to be posted on Blackboard
5. You will be required to purchase one novel and one film of your choice from a list to be provided by the Instructor.

Course Rationale

Although Biblical references have been used in literature since the Middle Ages, and in film since the beginning of the motion picture industry, in today's world of Biblical illiteracy and post-modernity, the use of the Bible is oftentimes unnoticed and/or not understood. Those who read popular fiction and go to movies may have little knowledge of the Bible. Because what we read and what we see not only reflects our world, but also has the power to form our perception of the world and our understanding of God and the Bible, it behooves us to develop a critical eye and ear to what we read, see, and hear.

Course Objectives

Please note

We may use what is considered by some to be a controversial technique for viewing some of the movies; we may stop them in the middle of the action to make comments or to read selected passages from the novel or from the Bible. I hope you will not find this frustrating. Although I sometimes think the best reason for going to the movies is the popcorn and entertainment value, in this class, we will be watching the films (and reading novels) in order for you to become educated viewers/readers of contemporary fiction and film and their relation to the Bible.

Requirements

1. 1. You are expected to attend class and to be prepared for each session by having completed the assignment (bring Bible and text we are reading with you). Because we meet only once a week, it is imperative that you do not miss class. Even though this is partly a film course and you may have seen some of the films before, the way we will be viewing and discussing them means skipping class or leaving early with intentions of viewing films on your own will not be sufficient. Leaving class early, without the Instructor's permission, is considered as an absence. If you miss 3 classes, your grade will be no higher than a C, 4 classes, a D, if you miss 5 classes, you cannot pass the course. Should you have to miss a class, it is your responsibility to get notes from a classmate and view any film or film clips you missed.
2. 2. There will be a quiz at the beginning of each class for a total of 14 quizzes. The lowest two grades will be dropped. No make-up quizzes will be given.
3. Class Project
1. About mid-point in the semester, you will be asked to select a novel, and the movie based upon the novel, from a list to be provided. You will first view the film, looking specifically for any Biblical references present. You will then begin reading the novel and as you read, view that section of the film. As you read and view, keep a record of the Biblical references you find in both the novel and the movie. Note if there are any differences in the presentation of the Biblical motif between the novel and the film.
2. Choose two Biblical references used in both the novel and the film to research. This will included doing a study of the Biblical text using at least 3 Biblical commentaries. The commentaries you use must be selected from a list to be provided; they must be scholarly, not those commonly found on the Internet. You will also conduct a search (as best you can) to ascertain if other popular, contemporary novelists or filmmakers have used the same text.
3. Following specific instructions, you will write a 5 to 8 page paper discussing the author's/filmmaker's use of the Bible. You will answer such questions as: Do you think the writer's use of the Bible is understandable to most people? Does understanding the Biblical reference enhance your understanding of the novel/film?
4. You should begin working on your project about mid-point in the semester (Oct. 6th). You may hand them in at any time, however, no paper will be accepted after the last class.
4. You are required to make use of Blackboard at least once weekly. Your grade for Blackboard requires you to post comments at least 10 out of the 15 weeks of the semester for a possible 10 points of your grade.
5. You must obtain an email account if you do not have one already. You are responsible for ensuring your correct email address is on Blackboard. Rather than paper handouts, all materials will be posted on Blackboard under "Course Documents."

Grading

Please note

Possible extra credit: You can receive 1 pt. toward your final grade for every novel (published in 2005) read, or movie viewed (produced in 2005) IF there are at least 3 Biblical references in the work (the exception would be a modern retelling of 1 Biblical story). The interesting part to this possibility for extra credit is that you can get others to help you - parents, grand-parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, room-mates, friends, co-workers - anyone who is willing to help you - can do this for you! All that is required is that you submit the title of the work, author or director, and a list of the Biblical references used (with page numbers for the novels and chapters on the DVD).

Film

Robert Johnston's Reel Spirituality
Film Criticism

Assignment for next class
1. Read Reinhartz, Truman Show and the "Great Escape from Paradise"
2. Quiz

PLEASE NOTE: While not required, in order to make the most of this class, it would be very helpful to view the movies Reinhartz discusses as you read her text.

Assignment for next class
1. Read Reinhartz, "Magnolia and the Plague of Frogs"
2. Quiz

Assignment for next class
1. Read Reinhartz "Dead Man Walking and the Riddle of Divine Justice"
2. Quiz

Assignment for next class
1. Read Reinhartz "Fried Green Tomatoes and the Power of Female Friendships"
2. Quiz

Assignment for next class
1. Read Reinhartz "The Sixth Sense and the Quest for Eternal Rest"
2. Quiz

Assignment for next class
1. Read Reinhartz, "Pulp Fiction and the Power of Belief"
2. Quiz

Assignment for next class
1. Read Reinhartz "The Apostle and the Power of the Book"
2. Quiz

Assignment for next class
1. Read Reinhartz "The Shawshank Redemption and the Salvation that Lies Within"
2. Quiz

Assignment for next class
1. Read Reinhartz "Pleasantville and the Nostalgia for Eden"
2. Quiz

Assignment for Exam class
1. Read Reinhartz "Pale Rider, Nell, and the Misuse of Scripture"
2. Quiz

Assignment for next class
1. Read Thomas Harris' Hannibal, Part I
2. Genesis chapters 6-9
3. Quiz

• *Noah and the flood
• Angel of death
• Tower of Siloam
• The Ancient of Days
• Moses' pillar of fire
• Theodicy
• The Eucharist

Assignment for next class
1. Read Thomas Harris' Hannibal, Part II
2. Visit the Uffizi Museum at http://www.uffizi.firenze.it/
3. Read Judges 14:1-20
4. Read Matthew 27:3-10 and Acts 1:15-26
5. Quiz

Assignment for next class
1. Read Hannibal, Part III
2. Read Psalm 139
3. I Kings chapter 21
4. Quiz

• *Jezebel
• Money = blessings from God
• Prayer
• Loss of faith
• Starling as a Christ figure

Assignment for next class
1. Read Hannibal, Part IV and V
2. Read Exodus 20:8-11
3. Read the review of Hannibal posted on Blackboard
4. Quiz

• *The Sabbath
• Prayer
• St. Paul