SODOM AND GOMORRAH

Added Attraction

LOT IN SODOM

SOME TERMS

Epic, long narrative poem, majestic both in theme and style. Epics deal with legendary or historical events of national or universal significance, involving action of broad sweep and grandeur. Most epics deal with the exploits of a single individual, thereby giving unity to the composition. Typically, an epic includes several features: the introduction of supernatural forces that shape the action; conflict in the form of battles or other physical combat; and stylistic conventions such as an invocation to the Muse, a formal statement of the theme, long lists of the protagonists involved, and set speeches couched in elevated language. Commonplace details of everyday life may appear, but they serve as background for the story and are described in the same lofty style as the rest of the poem.

The Greeks distinguished epic from lyric poetry, both by its nature and its manner of delivery; lyric poetry expressed more personal emotion than epic poetry and was sung, whereas epic poetry was recited.

Epic poems are not merely entertaining stories of legendary or historical heroes; they summarize and express the nature or ideals of an entire nation at a significant or crucial period of its history. Examples include the ancient Greek epics by the poet Homer, the Iliad and the Odyssey. The characteristics of the hero of an epic are national rather than individual, and the exercise of those traits in heroic deeds serves to gratify a sense of national pride. At other times epics may synthesize the ideals of a great religious or cultural movement. The Divine Comedy (1307-1321) by the Italian poet Dante Alighieri expresses the faith of medieval Christianity. The Faerie Queene (Books I-III, 1590; Books IV-VI, 1596) by the English poet Edmund Spenser represents the spirit of the Renaissance in England and like Paradise Lost (1667) by the English poet John Milton, represents the ideals of Christian humanism.

Many, but not all biblical films are epics. Vertain The Bible and The Ten Commandments fall into this categoriy. The term epic deries from poetry and contrasts with "lyrical" poetry. Traditionally Epic poetry has certain characteristics in both style and content thst define it. In film, the material is generally based on an epic literary work which The Bible is to a large degree. The films generally contain "cast of thousands" and in a sense they go in for massive sequences with ots of people, large sets and in a way make use of these things the way contemporary motion pictures get worked up with computers with often much the same result. The picture ebcomes for more invovled with the "specularized" aspects and things like character development tend to get lost.

(The Last Days of) Sodom and Gomorrah (perhaps inspired by or suggested by The Bible)

1963 148 minutes

I. What is the relationship between the film and the Biblical text? How does Lot come to be at Sodom?

II. What is the sin of Sodom

III. What does the Bible say about the ruler of Sodom?

IV. In terms of context what was happening between 1948 (the start of the cycle of "Bible films" of which is this is a part)?

While many people talk about the cold war, civil rights and the beginnings of the current women's movent, an important event in the world was the establishment of Israel by the U.N.

V. What do the variations between the film and the original text tell us about the subtext of the film?

VI. Film Problems

I How close is the film to the story in The Bible?

2 hours and 10 minutes into the film - eighteen minutes before the end the actual bible story appears in a corrupted form (Lot replaces Abraham) and is approached in jail by the angels and they are apparently empowered to make deal for God about saving city

Lot and Abraham separate to keep flocks – What is Lot doing at the gate and with a house in Sodom in the biblical story?

Sodom has king not queen

II. What kinds of symbolism is there in the film? What kinds of scenes are reminescent of other things in The Bible?

War with Sodom with Abraham involved winds up with statement about tar pits which are related to film

Flood from dam equal to Pharaoh’s army drowning.

Slingshots and David and Goliath

Magic and ptrediction. Lot says "only God can know the future" when his wife says he will have a long life and hers will be short. But she is right. Magical things are generally seen as trickery except when they are seen as miraculous (i.e. done by Jehovah). When gate opens it is thought to be a "miracle" but Lot's wife says it is the wind.

In this film a "natural explanation" seems to make it "nothing to fear" ("Its just an earthquake - we've had those before". Right!)Watch in other films for magical events. III. What kinds of references are there to the time the film was made? This film is part of the set that starts in 1948 with Samson and Delilah. What things were happening politically in that period?

Building of dam and the ability to make the dessert blossom is clearly reference to Modern Israel.

IV. Are there references to earlier US history in the film Civil Rights Movement

Scopophilia:

Often at climactic moments (climax- from the Greek for stairway - a high point) The battle, the destruction of Sodom. Are these fulfilling to the audience? Nice part – viewers get to look back at Sodom and not turn to salt! A scopophiliacs delight!

Film Techniques

How is camera used in battle sequences? Much movement in tracking shots, shots from helicopter above the battle, rapid cutting.

How is divinity shown? Light falls on Lot's face in prison before the angel appears. Angels use light to blind soldiers. Light is a common metaphor for divinity.

Myths as explanatory

There is some evidence that there are two towns Bab edh Dhra (Sodom) and Numeira (Gomorrah) which were suddenly destroyed (probably an earthquake) long before this story, but the story may have been built around seeing them. Likewise in the area of the Dead Sea there are many figures that appear to look like various things made from salt from the sea. Some look like people. May have inspired story of Lot’s wife turning into a pillar of salt.