This unit explores the cinematic arts and the film cultures they produce as sites of divine presence. Through critical interpretation of a series of films from a variety of genres, students will develop both aesthetic and theological skills. The ‘real within the reel’ affirms that in the narratives depicted in cinema, divine grace is preveniently present, whether or not any particular film has a self-consciously religious purpose. The unit aims to enhance the students' appreciation of the intersection between theology and the arts and empower them to appreciate the power of cinema not simply to entertain but as a resource for theological reflection.
Unit code: CT9110B
Unit status: Approved (New unit)
Points: 24.0
Unit level: Postgraduate Elective
Unit discipline: Systematic Theology
Proposing College: Eva Burrows College
Show when this unit is running| 1. | Demonstrate a sound knowledge of film theory and film aesthetics at an intermediate to advanced level |
| 2. | Apply descriptive, critical and analytic skills to the cinematic arts with precision |
| 3. | Show the capacity to analyse theological ideas as applied to cinematic narratives |
| 4. | Critically explore the role churches have played in film censorship, film production, film criticism, and film appreciation |
| 5. | Analyse the concept of 'film cultures' and the way such cultures are produced |
24 points in Theology or equivalent
Asynchronous and synchronous online learning supported by weekly online tutorials.
• Aichele, George and Richard Walsh, eds. Screening Scripture: Intertextual Connections between Scripture and Film. Harrisburg, PA: Trinity Press, 2002.
• Christianson, Eric, Peter Francis, and William R. Telford, eds. Cinéme Divinité: Religion, Theology, and the Bible in Film. London: SCM Press, 2005.
• Harbord, Janet. Film Cultures. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2002.
• Johnstone, Robert K., Craig Detweiler and Kutter Callaway, Deep Focus: Film and Theology in Dialogue. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2019.
• Lyden, John, ed. The Routledge Companion to Religion and Film. London: Routledge, 2009.
• Lyden, John. Film as Religion: Myths, Morals and Rituals. 2nd ed. New York: NYU Press, 2019.
• Mitchell, Jolyon and S. Brent Plate, eds. The Religion and Film Reader. London: Routledge, 2007.
• McDowell, John C. Identity Politics in George Lucas’ Star Wars. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2016.
• Plate, S. Brent. Religion and Film: Cinema and the Re-creation of the World. New York: Columbia University Press, 2017.
• Wright, Melanie J. Religion and Film: An Introduction. London: I.B. Taurus, 2022.
| Type | Description | Word count | Weight (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical Review | 2000 | 25.0 | |
| Film or Video | 2000 | 25.0 | |
| Essay | 3500 | 50.0 |
Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 16 Aug, 2023
Unit record last updated: 2023-08-16 10:56:37 +1000