INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE TERM PAPER

For the term paper: Choose any film that is a story from the Bible (if you aren't sure - ask me) which has NOT been shown in class, and analyze the story relative to the points we have been making about the films so far.

You should, try to keep in mind the following ideas relative to specularization:

SPECTACLES OF THE BIBLICAL EPIC
(Not all films have all of them)

1. architecture (usually negative) temple of Dagon etc.
2. geographic and or cosmic spectacle: the creation, vast deserts etc.
3. the body: maleness and femaleness (see gladiator dance and the performance in Temple of Dagon
4. the orgy: justify the showing of decadence and corruption
5. presentations, ceremonies gift giving
6. costumes, fabrics jewels, ornaments (fabrics etc,)
7. ancient warfare
8. slavery - possibly related to:
9. sadism, masochism, torture punishment (grist mill, Temple of Dagon)

In some ways, the biblical films are like westerns; in other respects like those melodramas aften called "women's films".

The Western deals with opening up a country (nation) which is parallel to the founding and development of "The Promised Land". The land is often seen as a place of rejuventation. This is something which "the wild" or "the countryside" is used for in many films where people now go outside of the U.S. to "rejuvenate".
The films also echo women's ilms in that in several of the biblical stories which are male dominated, women are suddenly introduced in a romantic mode. See for example Sodom and Gomorrah, Samson and Delilah, and Solomon and Sheba
Some of the films even have overtones of "noir" in them (see for example David and Bathsheba

There are certain patterns or themes which appear in these fims which you need to watch for:

Reflections of America:
America/Hebrews/democracy
Russia/Pagans - Egyptians, Philistines/ slavery

Gender relations (In this film Samson is manipulated by several women (his wife. Semadar and her sister, Delilah). Delilah is later referred to twice as a "peacock" with her dress which looks like peacock eyes found on male peacocks).

Parallels between American revolution and the establishment of Israel (in post 40's films).

The co-opting of the Old Testament into the New by de-ethnicizing Hebrews. (Delilah gets silver (like Judas) for betraying Samson