DESCRIPTION: This course will consider a theology of culture by focusing on one particular aspect: theology and film. The course will (1) view, discuss, and analyze a multicultural and global selection of films, (2) provide the student methodological and critical perspectives for engaging culture, both from the humanities and the social sciences, and (3) explore theological and biblical perspectives foundational to theology and film criticism.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: This course will help students develop skills in cultural analysis and interaction by providing a critical and theological framework for viewing cinema. While such engagement is not sufficient for effective ministry, it is a necessary part of that task.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will be given the opportunity to develop the tools to (1) describe and assess contemporary cultural trends as embodied in the media, (2) engage appreciatively and critically in film interpretation, (3) explore possible theological and biblical approaches to our contemporary culture, (4) articulate something of the presence and purposes of God in human culture, and (5) consider their own use of film in their Christian discipleship and ministry.

COURSE FORMAT: Discussion, small groups, and lecture. The class will meet weekly for three-and-a-half-hour sessions. NOTE: Class will not meet November 30, but will instead meet December 7.
Two films will typically be assigned for viewing prior to each class along with a range of critical reading. During each class, students will typically (1) discuss the movies, (2) consider aspects of the nature of film and/or theology, (3) use selected critical and theological approaches to culture, and (4) enter into theological criticism with the film. Occasional outside resource persons will be utilized.

REQUIRED VIEWING AND READING:

1. Sixteen films: Crimes and Misdemeanors; Stranger than Fiction; Crash; Moulin Rouge (Australian); American Beauty; Little Miss Sunshine; Smoke Signals (Native American); The Year of Living Dangerously (Australian); Run Lola Run (German); The Princess and the Warrior (German); About Schmidt (Middle America!); Sideways; Slumdog Millionaire (Indian); Water (Indian); Atonement; Magnolia.

2. The following texts:

Ecclesiastes.

Barsotti, Catherine, and Robert Johnston. Finding God in the Movies. Baker, 2004.

Boorstin, Jon. Making Movies Work. Silman-James Press, 1995.

Johnston, Robert. Reel Spirituality, 2nd ed. Baker, 2006.

________, ed. Reframing Theology and Film. Baker, 2007.

________. Useless Beauty. Baker, 2004.

Class reader (critical essays by bell hooks, Gordon Lynch, and Donald C. Frisk, and others).

1. Viewing and journaling on selected movies and class participation (10%).

2. Quiz on Boorstin, Making Movies Work (10%).

3. One 2-page critical review with questions on Johnston, Reel Spirituality (10%).

4. One 2-page critical review of Reframing Theology and Film (10%).

5. One 3-page report on ministry project using a film from Finding God in the Movies (20%).

6. One 10-page paper on a film(s) (approved by the instructor) bringing the movie(s) into dialogue with Ecclesiastes, whether letting the film shed light on the biblical text, using the biblical text to critique the movie, or otherwise engaging in dialogue (40%).