Film as Religion: Myths, Morals, and Rituals

John C. Lyden

ISBN 10: 0814751814 / ISBN 13: 9780814751817

Published by NYU Press (edition ), 2008

About this Item

It's a well-cared-for item that has seen limited use. The item may show minor signs of wear. All the text is legible, with all pages included. It may have slight markings and/or highlighting.

Seller Inventory # 0814751814-11-1

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Film as Religion: Myths, Morals, and Rituals
• Publisher: NYU Press (edition )
• Publication Date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0814751814
• ISBN 13: 9780814751817
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: Very Good

About this title

Synopsis

Choice Outstanding Academic Title 2003 Film as Religion argues that popular films perform a religious function in our culture. Like more formal religious institutions, films can provide us with ways to view the world and values to confront it. Lyden contends that approaches which interpret films only ideologically or theologically miss the mark in understanding their appeal to viewers. He develops an alternative method which shows how films can be understood as representing a 'religious' worldview in their own right. Lyden surveys the state of the study of religion and film, offering an overview of previous methods before presenting his own. Rather than seeking to uncover hidden meanings in film detectable only to scholars, Lyden emphasizes how film functions for its audiences the beliefs and values it conveys, and its ritual power to provide emotional catharsis. He includes a number of brief cases studies in which he applies this method to the study of film genres including westerns and action movies, children's films, and romantic comedies and individual films from The Godfather to E.T, showing how films can function religiously.

About the Author

John C. Lyden is the Liberal
Arts Core Director and Professor of Liberal Arts at Grand View University. Previously
he was Professor and Chair of the Religion Department
at Dana College. He is the also the editor of the Journal of Religion & Film as well
as the Routledge Companion to Religion
and Film, among other books.

John C. Lyden is the Liberal Arts Core Director and Professor of Liberal Arts at Grand View University. Previously he was Professor and Chair of the Religion Department at Dana College. He is the also the editor of the Journal of Religion & Film as well as the Routledge Companion to Religion and Film, among other books.