Face to Face with Angels : Images in Medieval Art and in Film

This Book Is The First Comparative Study Of Sacred Medieval Images Of Angels And Their Cinematic Treatment, Including Both The Medieval And Modern Imaginations. The Text Traces The Functions Of Angels And Their Reworking In Film, Then Takes Particular Note Of New Icons Like The Female Angel And Others Who Become Models For Our Connection With Transcendence--provided By Publisher. Introduction : From Sacred Images Of Angels To New Icons? -- Angels Serving The Creator : Views Of Heaven In A Post-ideological World? -- From The Medieval Cosmic Hierarchy To Frightful Mechanization -- Fighting Angels : From Archangel Michael And Celestial Militia To Modern Fear Of The Apocalypse -- Music-making Angels : From The Music Of The Spheres To Show Business -- Angelic Functions : Mediation Between The Divine And The Mundane. Jacob's Ladder -- Staging The Bible : Archangel Gabriel Of The Annunciation -- Consolation, Compassion And Comfort : The Guardian Angel In Comedies -- The Female Angel. Female Stereotypes Of Domestic Bliss -- Mother Figures -- The Angel Of Death As Femme Fatale -- The Dishonored Virgin Or Virtue Rewarded -- Otherness : From Absolute Otherness To Human. The Self As Other/mapping The Other's Territory -- Crossing Over To The Human World -- Angelic Allusions In Some Science Fiction Films -- Metaphors Of Incommunicability -- Conclusion. Sandra Gorgievski. Includes Bibliographical References, Filmography And Index. Introduction : from sacred images of angels to new icons? Angels serving the creator : views of heaven in a "post-ideological" world? From the medieval cosmic hierarchy to frightful mechanization Fighting angels and hyperbolic cohorts : from archangel Michael and celestial militia to modern fear of the apocalypse Music-making angels : from the music of the spheres to show business Angelic functions : mediation between the divine and the mundane. Jacob's ladder Staging the Bible : archangel Gabriel of the Annunciation Consolation, compassion and comfort : the guardian angel in comedies The female angel. Female stereotypes of domestic bliss Mother figures The angel of death as femme fatale The dishonored virgin or virtue rewarded Otherness : from absolute otherness to human forms of otherness. The self as other/mapping the other's territory Crossing over to the human world Angelic allusions in some science fiction films Metaphors of incommunicability Conclusion. Cover 1 Acknowledgments 6 Table of Contents 8 Preface 10 Introduction 14 Part 1: Angels Serving the Creator 28 1. From the Medieval Cosmic Hierarchy to Frightful Mechanization 30 2. Fighting Angels 49 3. Music-Making Angels 62 Part 2: Angelic Functions 76 4. Jacob’s Ladder 78 5. Staging the Bible 85 6. Consolation, Compassion and Comfort 108 Part 3: The Female Angel 122 7. Female Stereotypes of Domestic Bliss 126 8. Mother Figures 136 9. The Angel of Death as Femme Fatale 143 10. The Dishonored Virgin or Virtue Rewarded 148 Part 4: Otherness 154 11. The Self as Other /Mapping the Other’s Territory 156 12. Crossing Over to the Human World 167 13. Angelic Allusions in Some Science Fiction Films 189 14. Metaphors of Incommunicability 198 Conclusion 206 Filmography 210 Chapter Notes 220 Bibliography 224 Index 228 Arch-mediator between the divine and the mundane, the angel is an enduring figure in the Western world. It has been interpreted as an externalization of repressed fantasies, a projection of the self as other, and a metaphor for modern estrangement. This book is the first comparative study of sacred medieval images of angels and their cinematic treatment, including reference to both the medieval and modern imaginations. The text traces the traditional functions of angels and their reworking in film, then takes particular note of new icons like the female angel and others who become models for our connection with transcendence.