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Hollywood Theology: The Commodification of Religion in Twentieth-Century Films

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 June 2018

Jeffery A. Smith
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Extract

A motion picture is a product formed by the intricate inter-play of film industry forces and cultural expectations. Hollywood must attract audiences and audiences crave gratification or, perhaps, edification. Movies with religious themes can deal with momentous issues, but take the risk of affronting deeply held beliefs. Problems naturally arise when matters as sensitive and speculative as the activity of the Creator and the role of the created become entertainment marketed to mass audiences. Technicolor scenery, special effects, celebrity actors, spiced-up scripts, and other big-screen production values may seem disrespectful or may divert attention away from serious reflection. Critics of consumer society have pointed to the manipulation, superficiality, and commercialization found in mass media environments and film scholars have evaluated movies with religious topics, but questions remain about cinematic treatments of ultimate meaning. The motion picture industry's customers have a multitude of spiritual perspectives.

Type
Research Article
Information
Religion and American Culture , Volume 11 , Issue 2 , Summer 2001 , pp. 191 - 231
Copyright
Copyright © Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture 2001

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References

Notes

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