Theology and Film: Challenging the Sacred/Secular Divide

"The authors do an admirable job of culling various authors ... .[They] reaffirm that films contribute to fundamental questions and keep the debate going. Recommended." CHOICE "Ortiz and Deacy offer a singularly rich analysis of the ways that theology and film interlace. Using Niebuhr's Christ and Culture as an interpretive model, they put their fingers on the theological pulse of thousands of contemporary and classic, pop and art films with stunningly insightful success. Their command of both film language and divergent currents in contemporary theology allows them to respect each film as an artistic work in its own right which illuminates issues such as violence, women's rights, the environment, and apocalyptic discourse. I highly recommend this thoughtful book for classroom use and just plain reading pleasure." Sara Anson Vaux, Northwestern University "It should hold much relevance for film students interested in theology, and vice versa, as it offers a range of challenging ideas and perspectives on the subject." M/C Reviews

This introductory textbook uses appreciation of film to explore debates between theology and contemporary culture. It examines both method and theory and features a range of film examples throughout. * Explores how film can enrich our study of theology, opening up debates surrounding contemporary culture and theological inquiry * Addresses a broad range of themes, including religion and the sacred, human dignity, eschatology, war and peace, violence, justice, feminism, and the environment * Includes sections on methodological considerations as well as theoretical perspectives * Features examples from a range of films, including Unforgiven, The Passion of Christ, An Inconvenient Truth, Jarhead, Something's Gotta Give, and Vanilla Sky * Accompanied by website resources available at www.blackwellpublishing.com/theologyandfilm.