The Spirit and the Screen: Pneumatological Reflections on Contemporary Cinema (Theology, Religion, and Pop Culture)

The Spirit and the Screen engages contemporary films from the perspective of pneumatology to give theologies of culture fruitful new perspectives that begin with the Spirit rather than other common theological contact points (Christology, anthropology, theological ethics, creation, eschatology, etc.). This book explores pertinent pneumatological issues that arise in film, as well as literary devices that draw allusions to the Spirit. It offers three main contributions: first, it explores how Christian understandings of the person and work of the Spirit illuminate the nature of film and film-making; second, it shows that there are in fact “Spirit figures” in film (as distinct from but inseparable from Christ-figures), even if sometimes they’re not intended as such, “Spirit-led” characters, are moved to act “prophetically,” against their inclinations and in excess of their skill or knowledge and with eccentric, life-giving creativity; third, it identifies subtle and explicit symbolizations of the Spirit in pop culture, symbolizations that requires deep, careful thinking about the Christian doctrine of the Spirit and generate new horizons for cultural analysis. The contributors of this book explore these issues, asking how Christian convictions and experiences of the Spirit might shape the way one thinks about films and film-making. Cover Contents Introduction  The Spirit and the Nature of Film(making) The Move of the Spirit Feed the Birds Traditioning and the Spirit in Martin Scorsese’s Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story Power of the Spirit Spirit Figures POWER. GRACE. WISDOM. WONDER. Exegeting Samwise the (Brave) Advocate Paciencia y Fe The Spirit and the Bride Say, “Come” The Spirit-Led Life The Hospitality of the Spirit in Encanto “Leave Six Inches for the Holy Spirit” Spiritus Absconditus A Hidden Life Conclusion Index About the Editors and Contributors "The Spirit and the Screen explores pertinent pneumatological issues that arise in film and asks how Christian convictions and experiences of the Spirit might shape the way one thinks about films and film-making"-- Provided by publisher