Archetypes of characters and situations in religions 2

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Subject guarantor

Libuše MARTÍNKOVÁ

Name of lecturer(s)

Libuše MARTÍNKOVÁ

Learning outcomes of the course unit

The course aim is to rejuvenate the existing study of religious symbols (as a part of culture) at FAMU by replacing the broader original study with the title „Dramaturgical Analyses of Biblical Stories and Figures“ with a new study entitled "Considerations of Multi-culturalness and Religious Pluralism in modern film.

The aim is to present in an introductory study in modern Western culture no only as a merely Christian society but primarily as a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and multi-religious culture and as it is reflected in modern film. Effort will be made to demarcate the perspectives of the course including potential inter-disciplinary collaboration with other artistic and humanities studies.

Mode of study

The extent of the course is 4 instruction classes one every 14 days. Four instruction classes are set out as one hour lecture and three class instruction hours. Students have, during the course of the academic year, enough time for individual preparations for the course (independent study of film materials). Enough space is assured for screenings of selected film examples for topics and discussions about them.

Prerequisites and co-requisites

A necessary requirement for successful completion of the course is a basic good orientation of the students in modern film and independent work in the classes, including ability to consider one's own motivations and behaviour. An elementary knowledge of religions is welcomed, but one's own confession (religious affiliation and membership in a church) is not required.

Course contents

The aim is to present in an introductory study in modern Western culture no only as a merely Christian society but primarily as a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and multi-religious culture and as it is reflected in modern film. Effort will be made to demarcate the perspectives of the course including potential inter-disciplinary collaboration with other artistic and humanities studies.

Topics:

Jesus topics.

1. The principle of the „called“ in film.
2. Depiction of the devil in film. The symbol of the devil in the Western context.
3. Depiction of evil in Christian film
4. The symbol of the devil in the Western cultural context.
5. Religious - societal context of film with this topic
6. The symbol of evil in the context of other cultures and religions.

•Evil as a dramatic element of the film narrative

•Voodoo, magic, Satanism

1. Depicting rituals in film

•Depicting rituals in film 1:

-Christian rituals as dramatic elements of the film narrative

• Confession, weddings, burials, christening, exorcism, etc.

•Depicting rituals in film 2:

-Rituals as cultural symbols in film

• Natural religions, Buddhism, Crypto-religious societies, etc.

1. Large religious systems - Judaism, Christianity, Islam

•Large religious systems in film 1:

• Christianity - Protestantism, Roman Catholicism, Charismatic societies, Ecumenical movments.

•Large religious systems in film 2:

-Excursions to so-called world religions as part of modern Euro-American cultures - Judaism.

•Large religious systems in film 3:

Excursions to so-called world religions as part of modern Euro-American cultures - Islam

Recommended or required reading

Books:

The Tools of Screenwriting: A Writer's Guide to the Craft and Elements of a Screenplay

David Howard, Edward Mabley, St. Martin's Griffin; Reprint edition (January 15, 1995) ISBN-10: 0312119089, ISBN-13: 978-0312119089

Carl Gustav Jung." The Norton Anthology: Theory and Criticism. Ed. Vincent B. Leitch. New York: Norton, 2001. 987 - 990

Segal, Robert A. „Introduction.“ Jung on Mythology. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1998. 3 - 48

Frye, Northrop. „The Archetypes of Literature.“ The Norton Anthology: Theory and Criticism. Ed. Vincent B. Leitch. New York: Norton, 2001. 1445 - 1457

films:

I Confess, director: Alfred Hitchcock, 1953.

Rosemary´s Baby, director: Roman Polanski, 1968.

Angel Heart, director: Alan Parker, 1987.

Dead Man, director: Jim Jarmusch, 1995.

The Last Temptation of Christ, director: Martin Scorsese, 1988.

and others.

Assessment methods and criteria

70% attendance

Completion of the final exam.

Note

none

Schedule for winter semester 2020/2021:

The schedule has not yet been prepared

Schedule for summer semester 2020/2021:

• Week view
• List

The subject is a part of the following study plans

• Montage-1920 (required optional subject)