Religion and Film Part I: History and Criticism
Table of Contents
1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2. Film History and Religion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
A. Pre-cinematic Studies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
B. Religious Film Histories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
C. Roman Catholics and the Legion of Decency . 5
D. Secular Film Histories and Religion . . . . . . . 7
E. History of Christian Filmmaking . . . . . . . . . . 9
3. Film Criticism and Religion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
A. Critical Texts of Avoidance
and Discrimination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
B. Assimilation and Syncretism
of Religion and Film . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
C. Engagement and Dialogue
of Religion and Film . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
D. Catholic and Protestant Imaginations . . . . . . .18
E. Biblical Spectaculars and the Jesus Films . . .19
F. The Christ Figure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
G. Representational Studies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
H. Feminist and Cultural Criticism . . . . . . . . . . .24
I. Auteur Criticism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
J. Individual Film Criticism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
K. Audiences and Reception Studies . . . . . . . . .34
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
Recommended Citation
Lindvall, Terry
(2025)
"Religion and Film Part I: History and Criticism,"
Communication Research Trends: Vol. 23:
No.
4, Article 1.
Available at:
https://scholarcommons.scu.edu/crt/vol23/iss4/1