Film Studies 220 - Topic: Religion and Film

This course is an investigation of the intersections between film and religion. In it, we will examine how the cultural phenomenon of religion is represented in film and how religion, understood critically and theoretically, can be a useful means to interpret film. We will learn the basic issues inherent in the interpretation of this art form (e.g., How do the visual, aural, and narrative components of film work together to create meaning?), and we will critically investigate the concept of religion as a means to better understanding the significance of cultural practice (e.g., What is religion? What are the myriad ways it is made manifest in culture?).