Catching Light: Looking for God in the Movies Paperback - 2004
by Roy M. Anker
Anker examines 19 popular films, showing how they convey a range of striking perspectives on the human encounter with God. Organized by genre, these selected films present different, surprising ways in which God shows up amid the messy circumstances of life.
First line
This first section examines tales of darkness, films that depict a thirsting world that craves the breaking of Light.
From the rear cover
Films have come to not only entertain modern minds but also inform and shape them. Many of the best cinematic works have profound religious elements -- some obvious, some more subtle. In "Catching Light Roy Anker examines nineteen popular films, showing how they convey a range of striking perspectives on the human encounter with God.
These selected films portray God showing up in different, surprising ways amid the messy circumstances of life. Anker looks closely at the plot of each film, especially at how characters, through their experiences, ultimately move "toward Light," toward recognition of a loving, redemptive deity.
The first section of "Catching Light looks at classic 1970s films that inspect personal, social, and cultural evil: "The Godfather trilogy, "Chinatown, and "The Deer Hunter. The second group of films depicts the ways and depths of specifically Christian notions of redemption: "Tender Mercies, The Mission, Places in the Heart, and "Babette's Feast. Some of the most successful films of our time have come as fairy-tale fantasies: the "Star Wars saga, "Superman, and three of Steven Spielberg's "lost boy" stories ("Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, and "A.I.: Artificial Intelligence), each of which Anker interprets as a fable of search and redemption. The films in the last section of the book feature characters who, to their great surprise, are ambushed by a wholly unexpected God: "Grand Canyon, American Beauty, and "Three Colors: Blue.In addition to focusing on the theological dimension of each film, Anker comments on its merits both as story and as cinema. Also included are sidebars that discuss each film's history andsignificance as well as the quality and special features of DVD editions. For anyone interested in the intersection of religion, art, and culture, "Catching Light offers a unique view of contemporary faith.
Details
- Title Catching Light: Looking for God in the Movies
- Author Roy M. Anker
- Binding Paperback
- Pages 402
- Volumes 1
- Language ENG
- Publisher William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.A.
- Date 2004-10-01
- Illustrated Yes
- Features Illustrated, Table of Contents
- ISBN 9780802827951 / 0802827950
- Weight 1.33 lbs (0.60 kg)
- Dimensions 9.2 x 6.3 x 0.95 in (23.37 x 16.00 x 2.41 cm)
-
Themes
- Religious Orientation: Christian
- Theometrics: Evangelical
- Library of Congress Catalog Number 2004058375
- Dewey Decimal Code 791.436
Media reviews
Citations
- Choice, 04/01/2005, Page 1406
- Christian Century, 06/14/2005, Page 36
- Commonweal, 02/25/2005, Page 24
- Publishers Weekly, 09/13/2004, Page 74
More Copies for Sale
Catching Light: Looking for God in the Movies
by Anker, Roy M.
- Used
- Acceptable
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used - Acceptable
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780802827951 / 0802827950
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
WINDBER, Pennsylvania, United States
- Item Price
-
$2.99$4.49 shipping to USA
Show Details
Catching Light: Looking for God in the Movies
by Anker, Roy M.
- Used
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780802827951 / 0802827950
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Frederick, Maryland, United States
- Item Price
-
$6.39$3.99 shipping to USA
Show Details
Catching Light : Looking for God in the Movies
by Roy M. Anker
- Used
- good
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780802827951 / 0802827950
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, United States
- Item Price
-
$6.68FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
Catching Light : Looking for God in the Movies
by Roy M. Anker
- Used
- very good
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780802827951 / 0802827950
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, United States
- Item Price
-
$6.68FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
Catching Light : Looking for God in the Movies
by Anker, Roy M
- Used
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780802827951 / 0802827950
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Mishawaka, Indiana, United States
- Item Price
-
$7.36FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
Catching Light: Looking for God in the Movies
by Anker, Roy M.
- Used
- very good
- Hardcover
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780802827951 / 0802827950
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, United Kingdom
- Item Price
-
$10.73$10.86 shipping to USA
Show Details
Catching Light: Looking for God in the Movies
by Roy M. Anker
- Used
- very good
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780802827951 / 0802827950
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Wichita, Kansas, United States
- Item Price
-
$11.50$3.99 shipping to USA
Show Details
Catching the Light: Looking for God in the Movies
by Anker, Roy M.
- Used
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780802827951 / 0802827950
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Eugene, Oregon, United States
- Item Price
-
$12.00$6.00 shipping to USA
Show Details
Catching Light: Looking for God in the Movies
by Roy M. Anker
- Used
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used:Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780802827951 / 0802827950
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
HOUSTON, Texas, United States
- Item Price
-
$13.78FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
Catching Light: Looking for God in the Movies
by Anker, Roy M.
- Used
- Condition
- UsedVeryGood
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780802827951 / 0802827950
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
- Item Price
-
$22.63FREE shipping to USA