Religious Studies 2YY3E Bible and Film Department of Religious ...

Religious Studies 2YY3EBible and FilmDepartment of Religious StudiesMcMaster UniversityWinter Term, 2013-2014Class Location and Time: Monday, 7-10 pm, Location TBDTeaching Staff: Dr. Jonathan Bernier (Instructor), TAsContact Info: berniejt@mcmaster.caOffice Hours: 4:30-5:30 pm, Tuesday, or by appointmentOffice: University Hall B122Course DescriptionThis course will survey several films that each addresses the biblical theme of the saviour figure. Wewill consider how filmmakers can employ this theme towards a variety of cinematic, social, and politicalends.Course ObjectivesBy the end of the course, students should be able to, discuss how film-makers adapt Biblical stories and appropriate Biblical themes; discuss how, in so doing, film-makers often comment upon our world; discuss how the same story or theme can be adapted or appropriated towards a variety of ends.Required Course MaterialsA Bible, preferably the New Revised Standard Version.Richard Walsh. Reading the Gospels in the Dark: Portrayals of Jesus in Film. Harrisburg, Pa.: TrinityPress International, 2003. [Available in The Campus Store].The Ten Commandments (1956). Note: there have been several films bearing this title. If it does not starCharlton Heston as Moses and Yul Brynner as Ramesses, then you are watching the wrong one.The Prince of Egypt (1999). Note: yes, the animated film by Dreamworks.Class StructureWith the notable exception of the evenings upon which students write in-class writing assignments, classsessions will ordinarily begin by viewing a film, followed by a brief break, after which we will as agroup discuss the film. Students are advised not to consider it sufficient to either view the films at homein lieu of attending class, or to leave at break.Methods of EvaluationFirst Short Essay—20%. Due 11:59 pm, February 22 nd .Second Short Essay—25%. Due 11:59 pm, March 22 nd .First In-class Writing Assignment—15%. February 4 th .Second In-class Writing Assignment—15%. March 11 th .Final Examination—25%. Time and location TBD.

Short Essay AssignmentsStudents are asked to submit two short essay assignments, due on February 22 nd and March 22 ndrespectively. The guidelines are given below, and students are always welcome and indeed encouragedto bring any concerns regarding the assignments to members of the teaching staff.First Short Essay Assignment: Having viewed The Ten Commandments (1956) and read the book ofExodus, select an issue such as (but not limited to) gender, race, or ideology. Discuss how thefilm handles the selected issue. DUE: 11:59 pm, February 22 nd .Second Short Essay Assignment: Having viewed The Prince of Egypt (1999), discuss how the filmhandles same issue discussed in the first assignment. DUE: 11:59 pm, March 22 nd .Format Guidelines: Short Essay Assignments should be four to five pages in length, double-spaced with1” margins, written in 12 pt., Times New Roman or Times Roman font. Academically acceptableuse of the English language is expected as a matter of course. Failure to abide by these formatguidelines could result in a reduction of up to two grade ranges from the assessed mark (i.e. a B+paper that fails to follow the format guidelines could be reduced to a B-, a C- to D, a D to an F,etc.).Submission and Late Policy: Assignments are due at or by 11:59 pm on the respective due date, andshould be submitted electronically, in either .docx or .pdf format, via the Dropbox on Avenue.Late submission will not be treated frivolously. Assignments submitted subsequent to thedeadline will incur a penalty of a grade range for every full twenty-four hours that the paper islate (i.e. a B+ paper, after twenty-four hours, will be reduced to a B; after forty-eight hours, to aB-, etc.). If an assignment is sufficiently late as to be reduced to a grade of F, then theassignment will ordinarily receive a mark of 0%.Grace Period and Extensions: As written, the above late policy allows for twenty-four hour periodbefore penalties are assessed against any late papers. This is intentional, and constitutes a graceperiod. Given this grace period, however, extensions will ordinarily be granted only inemergency situations. Teaching Staff reserve the right to request from any student theappropriate supporting documentation when considering whether to grant extensions.Re-grade Policy: At a student’s request, the Instructor is pleased to re-grade any previously assessedassignment. The request should be accompanied by a one-paragraph written explanation of whythe student considers the initial grade unfair. The Instructor’s will supersede the previous grade.Academy Honesty (Senate-approved language)You are expected to exhibit honesty and use ethical behaviour in all aspects of the learning process.Academic credentials you earn are rooted in principles of honesty and academic integrity. Academicdishonesty is to knowingly act or fail to act in a way that results or could result in unearned academiccredit or advantage. This behaviour can result in serious consequences, e.g. the grade of zero on anassignment, loss of credit with a notation on the transcript (notation reads: “Grade of F assigned foracademic dishonesty”), and/or suspension or expulsion from the university. It is your responsibility tounderstand what constitutes academic dishonesty. For information on the various types of academicdishonesty please refer to the Academic Integrity Policy, located athttp://www.mcmaster.ca/academicintegrity. The following illustrates only three forms of academicdishonesty:1. Plagiarism, e.g. the submission of work that is not one’s own or for which other credit has beenobtained.2. Improper collaboration in group work.3. Copying or using unauthorized aids in tests and examinations.

Avenue to LearnIn this course we will be using Avenue. This will be the only acceptable means for submitting ShortEssay Assignments. Students should be aware that, when they access the electronic components of thiscourse, private information such as first and last names, user names for the McMaster e-mail accounts,and program affiliation may become apparent to all other students in the same course. The availableinformation is dependen t on the technology used. Continuation in this course will be deemed consent tothis disclosure. If you have any questions or concerns about such disclosure please discuss this with thecourse instructor.Special NoticesThe instructor and university reserve the right to modify elements of the course during the term. Theuniversity may change the dates and deadlines for any or all courses in extreme circumstances. If eithertype of modification becomes necessary, reasonable notice and communication with the students will begiven with explanation and the opportunity to comment on changes. It is the responsibility of the studentto check his/her McMaster email and course websites weekly during the term and to note any changes.Effective September 1, 2010, it is the policy of the Faculty of Social Sciences that all e-mailcommunication sent from students to instructors (including TAs), and from students to staff, mustoriginate from the student’s own McMaster University e-mail account. This policy protectsconfidentiality and confirms the identity of the student. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure thatcommunication is sent to the university from a McMaster account. If an instructor becomes aware that acommunication has come from an alternate address, the instructor may not reply at his or her discretion.

Schedule of SessionsREMINDER: the First Short Essay Assignment is due 11:59 pm, February 22 nd , and the Second ShortEssay Assignment is due 11:59 pm, March 22 nd .January 6—Introduction and Orientation to the course.January 13—King of Kings (1961).Read: Walsh, 121-146.Luke 24:36-49, Acts 2:1-11.January 20—The Gospel According to Saint Matthew (1965).Read: Walsh, 95-120.Matthew 5-7.January 27—Godspell (1973).Read: Walsh, 69-94.Luke 5:3-12.February 3—First In-Class Writing Assignment.February 10—Life of Brian (1973).Read: Hans Wiersma, “Redeeming Life of Brian: How Monty Python (Ironically) ProclaimsChrist Sub Contrario.” Word and World 32:2 (2012): 166-177. [Available onlinevia library website].John 1:1-18.February 17—Reading Week.**February 22—First Short Essay Assignment Due at 11:59 pm.**February 24—The Last Temptation of Christ (1988).Read: Graham Holderness, “‘Half God, half man’: Kazantzakis, Scorsese, and The LastTemptation.” Harvard Theological Review 100:1 (2007): 65-96. [Available onlinevia library website].March 3—Jesus of Montreal (1989).Read: Walsh, 45-68.Daniel 7-9.Mark 13:1-26.March 10—Second In-Class Writing Assignment.

March 17—Man of Steel (2013).Read: Walsh, 173-185.**March 22—Second Short Essay Assignment Due at 11:59 pm.**March 24— Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011).Read: Isaiah 49-66.March 31—Warm Bodies (2013).Read: Daniel 12.Revelation 20:11-15.April 7—Course Wrap-up.