Cinematic Savior: Hollywood's Making of the American Christ
and Jesus of Hollywood
According to this article the main idea tends to center around two different individuals who have their ideas about what was the real Jesus Christ like and how his life really was and what his relationship to Christians around the world. The general audience for this article could be directed towards Christians and Non-Christian believers alike. The main purpose for this audience would seem to reinforce what Christians already believe and to educate and reinforce what Non-Christians believes about Jesus Christ.
The article also focuses on the argument that Hollywood’s portrayal of Jesus Christ’s life as in contrast to what these two individuals portray. This article then continually to focus on the lifestyle of Christ which is the center piece of the Christian faith and these two individuals have written books and articles that attack the events of his life and lifestyle in such a way that it clearly undermines the Christian faith altogether.
The proof of this article is directed to a specific audience is pretty obvious because not all people have an interest in what is being said about Christ , and a lot of Anti-Christians more than likely welcome the article to support there theories and perceptions about Christ and Christian believers in general. The article pulls in a lot of fact to support its main points to keep the reader actively reading to what is being said.
This article is logically organized with a lot of comparing and contrasting between each writer and what Hollywood has portrayed him. The idea that the writer tries to put a lot of mind is one of doubt and second guessing in the mind of the audience to undermine what he/she already knows and believes about Christ, but at the same time it is written in such a way not to make the writers look bad in their portrayal of a lot of the Hollywood movies over exaggerate things about Christ as well, and at different points in the article Hollywood itself it criticized about its portrayal of Christ and the criticism is justifiable and true to some extent.
The key idea that I get from this article is that Hollywood and others will always have their version of who Christ is and what he is not, and that this is a topic that has been going on for decades in movies, articles and in books. I got the impression that there are people and organizations that want to criticize and slander the life and life style of Christ and really have no understanding about who Christ really is and what he represents for all of mankind, but yet most of them continue to celebrate Christmas and Easter with those of truly believe in him.
Referenced Article
(2007). Cinematic Savior: Hollywood's Making of the American Christ and Jesus of Hollywood. The Journal of Popular Culture, 40, (6) (December 2007), p. 1078-1079. Retrieved February 10, 2008 from http://journals.ohiolink.edu/ejc/article.cgi?issn=00223840&issue=v40i0006&article=1078_cshmotacajoh
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3 comments:
I thought that this was a very interesting analysis. I always find it interesting how Christ is portrayed in Hollywood. It can be very difficult to truly be connected with what he did during his life because it was so long ago and things change through time. I can really see both sides with Christians and non-Christian beliefs. I myself am of no denomination, however I believe firmly in God and also that Jesus was a very import figure in religion, but Jesus was human just like you and me when he was on Earth. I think that whether or not he was the son of God, he was still human.
I agree with supermanguy87, Hollywood has a very interesting way of portraying Christ and religon. Hollywood knows how to push our buttons and grab our attention by questioning us on such a personal belief. Where there is money to be made, Hollywood will push it.
Whether or not a person believes in Jesus or God for that matter, is a personal preference. But for most people, believing in God and Jesus being the son of God has been ingrained in us all since birth. Hollywood knows what sells and how to present it to get the best reaction out of the masses and pack them in the theates. Good article.
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