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RELIGIOUS STUDIES 105: 910
FILM STUDIES 206: 910
FALL 2002

RELIGION AND FILM

University of Pennsylvania	Tirdad Derakhshani
Mondays 6:30-9:20 p.m.	Office: Logan Hall 230
Bennett Hall 201	Office Hours: Mon. 4-5:30 & by appointment
Course Web Page:http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/rs/105/	Email: derakhsh@ccat.sas.upenn.edu
Course ListServ:rels105-601-02C@lists.upenn.edu	Web Page: www.sas.upenn.edu/~derakhsh/

Main Page Course Description Requirements Grades & Books Course Outline ResNet Broadcast Schedule Suggested Resources Area Video Stores Bulkpack Reading List	This course will use major theories about religion in order to investigate religious themes and symbols in a number of contemporary films. Primary readings will be drawn from "classic" texts in religious studies, including those by Peter Berger, Sigmund Freud, George Bataille, Friedrich Nietzsche. Theories of religion will then be used to illuminate in-class viewing of films. Most films will be on the borderlines of Hollywood – popular enough to have been seen by a good portion of the public, but made by "independent" directors. Almost all the films are American. The purpose of the course is two-fold. First, students will learn how to think critically about religion and its place as a social and cultural force in the contemporary world. Second, they will learn how to apply a critical attitude and critical tools to view films and other aspects of popular culture.

This course will use major theories about religion in order to investigate religious themes and symbols in a number of contemporary films.

Primary readings will be drawn from "classic" texts in religious studies, including those by Peter Berger, Sigmund Freud, George Bataille, Friedrich Nietzsche. Theories of religion will then be used to illuminate in-class viewing of films. Most films will be on the borderlines of Hollywood – popular enough to have been seen by a good portion of the public, but made by "independent" directors. Almost all the films are American.

The purpose of the course is two-fold. First, students will learn how to think critically about religion and its place as a social and cultural force in the contemporary world. Second, they will learn how to apply a critical attitude and critical tools to view films and other aspects of popular culture.