Jesus and Brian : Exploring the Historical Jesus and his Times via Monty Python’s Life of Brian

"Monty Python's Life of Brian film is known for its brilliant satirical humour. Less well known is that the film contains references to what was, at the time of its release, cutting edge biblical scholarship and Life of Jesus research. This research, founded on the acceptance of the Historical Jesus as a Jew who needs to be understood within the context of his time, is implicitly referenced through the setting of the Brian character within a tumultuous social and political background. This collection is a compilation of essays from foremost scholars of the historical Jesus and the first century Judaea, and includes contributions from George Brooke, Richard Burridge, Paula Fredriksen, Steve Mason, Adele Reinhartz, Bart Ehrman, Amy-Jill Levine, James Crossley, Philip Davies, Joan Taylor, Bill Telford, Helen Bond, Guy Steibel, David Tollerton, David Shepherd and Katie Turner. The collection opens up the Life of Brian to renewed investigation and, in so doing, uses the film to reflect on the historical Jesus and his times, revitalising the discussion of history and Life of Jesus research. The volume also features a Preface from Terry Jones, who not only directed the film, but also played Brian's mum"-- Provided by publisher Cover page Halftitle page Title page Copyright page CONTENTS ILLUSTRATIONS CONTRIBUTORS ABBREVIATIONS PREFACE FOREWORD INTRODUCTION JESUS AND BRIAN: THE CONFERENCE AND THE BOOK Part I THE FILM IN ITS CINEMATIC CONTEXT, ITS RECEPTION AND ITS CHALLENGES Chapter 1 MONTY PYTHON’S LIFE OF BRIAN AND THE JESUS FILM Monty Python’s Life of Brian and the Jesus Film Compared Is Monty Python’s Life of Brian a Jesus Film? Conclusion Chapter 2 THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND’S LIFE OF PYTHON - OR ‘WHAT THE BISHOP SAW ’ The Film, the Church and the Media Blasphemy: the Reactions and the Backlash The Main Criticisms ‘Take a critical view’; ‘you’re all individuals’ – the Pythons’ Real Target A Missed Opportunity? Chapter 3 WHEN BRIAN MET MOSES: LIFE OF BRIAN (1979), WHOLLY MOSES (1980) AND THE ‘FAILURE’ OF BIBLICAL PARODY Chapter 4 ‘BLASPHEMY!’ ON FREE SPEECH THEN AND NOW First-century Judaea Late-1970s Britain Contemporary Britain Conclusion Chapter 5 THE MEANING OF MONTY PYTHON’S JESUS The Historical Brian/Jesus The Meaning of the Good Man Jesus The Jewishness of Jesus; or, On Not Taking Scholarship Too Seriously Concluding Remarks Chapter 6 THE GOSPEL OF BRIAN Part II HISTORY AND INTERPRETATION VIA MONTY PYTHON’S LIFE OF BRIAN Chapter 7 THE HISTORICAL BRIAN: RECEPTION EXEGESIS IN PRACTICE Jesus of the Movies The Historical Brian Conclusions Chapter 8 ‘ROMANI ITE DOMUM’ - EXPRESSIONS OF IDENTITY AND RESISTANCE IN JUDAEA Conclusion Chapter 9 ‘YOU’LL PROBABLY GET AWAY WITH CRUCIFIXION’: LAUGHING AT THE CROSS IN BRIAN AND THE ANCIENT WORLD Parody/Mockery of the Victim Gallows Humour Implications for Historical Jesus Research Chapter 10 BRIAN AS A TEACHER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS The Life of Brian as a Cultural Marker The Teacher of Righteousness Remembering the Teacher Creating Identity through a Prototype Conclusion Chapter 11 BRIAN AND THE APOCALYPTIC JESUS: PARODY AS A HISTORICAL METHOD Brian and First-Century Apocalypticism Brian as an Eyewitness to the Life of Jesus Brian and the Realities of Crucifi xion Chapter 12 ‘ARE YOU A VIRGIN?’ BIBLICAL EXEGESIS AND THE INVENTION OF TRADITION Chapter 13 BEARDS FOR SALE: THE UNCUT VERSION OF BRIAN, GENDER AND SEXUALITY Mrs Cohen, or The Virgin Mandy Women in Beards Loretta Judith ‘I’m Brian, and So’s My Wife!’ or Ecce Homo What Has Python Done for Us? Chapter 14 ‘WHAT HAVE THE ROMANS EVER DONE FOR US? ’BRIAN AND JOSEPHUS ON ANTI-ROMAN SENTIMENT The Regional Situation Rome’s Favour Towards Jerusalem Inter-Ethnic Hostility John, Simon and Gamala Conclusions Chapter 15 HOOK-NOSED HEEBIES: BRIAN, JESUS AND JEWISH IDENTITY Brian: A Proud Red Sea Pedestrian Jesus: A Jew but not Proud of it? Sociology: Differentiation, or Lack Thereof Narrative: The Villains of the Piece Theology: ‘I am’ Implications Always Look on the Bright Side . . . Chapter 16 ‘THE SHOE IS THE SIGN!’ COSTUMING BRIAN AND DRESSING THE FIRST CENTURY COMPOSITE BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX OF ANCIENT SOURCES GENERAL INDEX "Monty Python's Life of Brian film is known for its brilliant satirical humour. Less well known is that the film contains references to what was, at the time of its release, cutting edge biblical scholarship and Life of Jesus research. This research, founded on the acceptance of the Historical Jesus as a Jew who needs to be understood within the context of his time, is implicitly referenced through the setting of the Brian character within a tumultuous social and political background.This collection is a compilation of essays from foremost scholars of the historical Jesus and the first century Judaea, and includes contributions from George Brooke, Richard Burridge, Paula Fredriksen, Steve Mason, Adele Reinhartz, Bart Ehrman, Amy-Jill Levine, James Crossley, Philip Davies, Joan Taylor, Bill Telford, Helen Bond, Guy Steibel, David Tollerton, David Shepherd and Katie Turner. The collection opens up the Life of Brian to renewed investigation and, in so doing, uses the film to reflect on the historical Jesus and his times, revitalising the discussion of history and Life of Jesus research. The volume also features a Preface from Terry Jones, who not only directed the film, but also played Brian's mum."-- Monty Python's Life of Brian film is known for its brilliant satirical humour. Less well known is that the film contains references to what was, at the time of its release, cutting edge biblical scholarship and Life of Jesus research. This research, founded on the acceptance of the Historical Jesus as a Jew who needs to be understood within the context of his time, is implicitly referenced through the setting of the Brian character within a tumultuous social and political background. This collection is a compilation of essays from foremost scholars of the historical Jesus and the first century Judaea, and includes contributions from George Brooke, Richard Burridge, Paula Fredriksen, Steve Mason, Adele Reinhartz, Bart Ehrman, Amy-Jill Levine, James Crossley, Philip Davies, Joan Taylor, Bill Telford, Helen Bond, Guy Stiebel, David Tollerton, David Shepherd and Katie Turner. The collection opens up the Life of Brian to renewed investigation and, in so doing, uses the film to reflect on the historical Jesus and his times, revitalising the discussion of history and Life of Jesus research. The volume also features a Preface from Terry Jones, who not only directed the film, but also played Brian's mum