Jesus of Hollywood

Abstract

Abstract This book is a study of the movies made about Jesus, from the earliest silent films through to Mel Gibson's 2004 The Passion of the Christ. Its main argument is that these movies fit into the “biopic” (biographical film) genre and they tell the story of Jesus according to the standard biopic template. The Jesus biopics exhibit three principal characteristics. First, they make a claim to historicity or historical authenticity. Second, and at the same time, they undermine that claim in ways that are both subtle and overt. Third, they use the Jesus story as a lens through which to view and to work out contemporary concerns, such as sexuality, ethnic identity, theology, and the relationship between religion and politics. The approach is thematic, and the chapters are organized by character, including the Holy Family (Mary, Joseph, and God), Jesus' friends and associates (Mary Magdalene and Judas) and his enemies (Pharisees, Caiaphas, and Pilate). Despite the title, the book addresses films made both in the United States and elsewhere. The point is not to overlook the profound differences among the various national cinemas which have produced Jesus movies, but to argue that all bear the imprint of the Hollywood biopic, whether in imitation of its conventions or in conscious resistance to them.

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