THEOREL 306

Religion in Film and Television


Please note: this is archived course information from 2017 for THEOREL 306.

Description

This course will explore the ways that religious themes (eg, sacrifice, sin, apocalypse, faith, reincarnation, theodicy, prophecy), myths (eg, creation, theophany, messiah myths) and imagery (eg, of divine beings and spheres, religious artefacts, locations, rituals and individuals) are given expression within the narratives of a number of classic and contemporary films and television dramas. Students will learn skills to identify the articulation of religious beliefs, narratives and the sacred or transcendent within the medium of film and television, and to comment critically and informatively on this cultural engagement with religion.

This course will be an important component for students taking Theology and Religious Studies as a major or minor who wish to develop their knowledge about the use of cultural themes and texts in the study of religion. Films and television programmes studied may include Of Gods and Men (2010), A Serious Man (2009), Persepolis (2007), Noah (2014), The Matrix (1999),  Homeland (2011-), Sherlock (2010-), The Motorcycle Diaries (2004), Crimes and Misdemeanours (1989), Samson and Delilah (2009) and Whale Rider (2002).

Learning outcomes:

By the end of the course, students will:

  • Have developed the skills necessary to identify and discuss in an informed way religious themes, myths and images within a number of classic and contemporary films and television dramas.
  • Have developed an understanding of the ways that religious beliefs, myths and images are utilised in film and television drama narratives to engage with, critique, or affirm religious understandings of a number of themes, beliefs and issues.
  • Show a knowledge of and ability to engage critically with different methodological approaches to researching film and television as a cultural medium within religious studies.
  • Become familiar with some of the scholarly literature concerning religion and film/television that has been written by local, national and international scholars.
  • Have been shown some of the skills required in academic writing and guided through the process of composing an engaging, well-written and well-argued essay.

View the course syllabus

Availability 2017

Semester 2

Lecturer(s)

TBA

Reading/Texts

John Lyden (ed.), Routledge Companion to Religion and Film (Abingdon: Routledge, 2010).

Points

THEOREL 306: 15 points

Prerequisites

30 points at Stage II in the BA schedule

Restrictions

THEOREL 206