Fall 2009
Dr. Janellen Hill
with a little help from my friend…Paul
Burson
Loyola #30; x4969; jhill@regis.edu web address:
academic.regis.edu/jhill/
Office Hours: Mondays/Wednesdays: 1:00-2:15 p.m. Thursdays:
3:00-5:00p.m.
Course Description:
Students analyze the visual interpretation of
Jesus’ life, explore film as a cultural product, and compare with Catholic
faith tradition. The Catholic Church’s response to treatment of religion and
stories about Jesus is highlighted. The course focuses on the film genre as a means to explore film production
and to practice film criticism.
Course Objectives:
1. Understanding how
the
2. Identifying film portrayals
of rewarded heroes and punished villains.
3. Understanding
religion
and film as cultural products and movies as a source of collective myths.
4. Understand
how these film portrayals match or differ from “insiders”
religious
views of themselves.
5. Practicing
active and informed evaluation of film content.
Course Text:
Tatum,
W. Barnes (2004). Jesus at the Movies.
You will also read the 4 gospels.
Course Requirements:
1. Film Evaluations. Student will complete evaluations of each
film viewed in class. These mini-papers
will address specific production elements for critical interpretation and
evaluation. Your text and additional
reading on each film will enhance your critique. These papers are limited to five (5) typed,
double-spaced pages and are due at the start of each class session. (9 films, 7 points each) 63%
2. Film
Critique. Each student will complete
one in-depth film critique. You will
research a film that we do not screen in class.
This assignment includes both a written paper (15%) and an oral
presentation (10%). 25%
3.
Class Participation. This term means asking relevant
questions, making meaningful comments, reflecting on class assignments, and
taking an active role in class discussions.
This requirement also
includes
energized participation in discussions of each film and reading. 12%
Policies:
Because this class
meets once weekly, I expect regular attendance.
Students who miss three (3) class sessions will earn a non passing
grade. Late work will be accepted with
the trade-off of a deduction of 10% per calendar day. Absolutely no cell phone or competing audio-visual
technology in class!
Grades will be assigned as follows:
100 - 90 points
..........A
89 - 80 points .….......B
79 - 70 points ..…......C
69 - 60 points ...….....D
Below 60 points
........Not Passing
Course Schedule:
Week One
August 25
Introduction to course and the study of
Jesus in cinema
Begin Screening: King of Kings (Nicholas Ray, 1961) 168m
Read: pgs.
1-21 & The Synoptic Gospels:
Matthew, Mark and Luke
Week Two
September 1
Jesus-story films
Complete Screening: King of Kings
Read: Chapter 5 and the Gospel of John
Week Three
September 8
Part “real/Part “script”
Begin Screening: The Greatest Story Ever Told (George
Stevens, 1965) 141m
Read: Chapter 6
Week Four
September 15
Reframing History
Complete Screening: The Greatest Story Ever Told
Read: Chapter 7
Week Five
September 22
A Singing Jesus
Screening: Jesus Christ Superstar (Norman Jewison,
1978) 108m
Read: Chapter 8
Week Six
September 29
A Funny Jesus
Screening: Life of Brian (Terry Jones, 1979) 94m
Read: Chapter 10
Week Seven
October 6
Jesus as “Christ” in everyday life
Screening: Jesus of
Read: Chapter 13
Week Eight
October 13
No class—Mid-semester break
Week Nine
October 20
Social/Political Impact of Film
Interpretation of Jesus
Begin Screening: The Last Temptation of Christ (Martin
Scorsese, 1988) 164m
Read: Chapter 12
Week Ten
October 27
Complete Screening: The Last Temptation of Christ
Week Eleven
November 3
The modern Passion Play
Begin Screening: The Passion of Christ (Mel Gibson, 2004) 125m
Read: Chapter 14
Week Twelve
November 10
Complete Screening: The Passion of Christ
Read: pgs. 227-240
Due:
Identify the film you will critique for the final paper and provide a
list of research resources (full bibliography).
Week Thirteen
November 17
The Christ-figure film
Screening:
Cool Hand Luke (Stuart
Rosenberg, 1967) 126m
Week Fourteen
November 24
Thanksgiving Break
Week Fifteen
December 1
Screening:
Tender Mercies (Bruce
Beresford, 1983) 100m