Film and Media Studies | Open Access Articles

Life Above The Clouds: Philosophy In The Films Of Terrence Malick, Pablo Alzola

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a book review of Steven DeLay, ed., Life Above the Clouds: Philosophy in the Films of Terrence Malick. (Albany, NY: SUNY Press, 2023).

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Devotional Fanscapes: Bollywood Star Deities, Devotee-Fans, And Cultural Politics In India And Beyond, Ajiththa Suganthan

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a book review of Shalini Kakar, Devotional Fanscapes: Bollywood Star Deities, Devotee-Fans, and Cultural Politics in India and Beyond (Lanham, MD: Lexington, 2023).

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Heretic, J. Barton Scott

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Heretic (2024), directed by Scott Beck and Brian Woods.

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The Last Of The Sea Women, Sherry Coman

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of The Last of the Sea Women (2024), directed by Sue Kim.

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My Father's Daughter, Sherry Coman

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of My Father's Daughter (2024), directed by Egil Pedersen.

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Jane Austen Wrecked My Life, Sherry Coman

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Jane Austen Wrecked My Life (2024), directed by Laura Piani.

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Hard Truths, Sherry Coman

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Hard Truths (2024), directed by Mike Leigh.

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Conclave, Sherry Coman

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Conclave (2024), directed by Edward Berger.

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The Room Next Door, Sherry Coman

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of The Room Next Door (2024), directed by Pedro Almodóvar.

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Souleymane’S Story, Sherry Coman

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Souleymane’s Story (2024), directed by Boris Lojkine.

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Fallen Leaves, Frederick Ruf

Journal of Religion & Film

This is a film review of Fallen Leaves (2023), directed by Aki Kaurismäki.

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Civil War, Dennis Etzel Jr

Journal of Religion & Film

Alex Garland’s 2024 film Civil War exemplifies how film can be considered a modern mythology, using a war movie to tell the story of the hero’s journey with a mother archetype as the hero. Through an audience’s shared morals and values, an impartial point-of-view, symbolism, the Jungian mother archetype, transformational imagery, ethical dilemmas and collective fears, the film functions in the way mythology does while leaving viewers questions for their own lives.

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Framing Immanence In Carl Theodor Dreyer’S Ordet And Carlos Reygadas’S Stellet Licht, Andre Fischer

Journal of Religion & Film

My article proposes the notion of the immanent frame to productively address film-theoretical and theological concepts at stake in Carl Theodor Dreyer’s Ordet (1955) and Carlos Reygadas’s Stellet Licht (2007). I believe my intervention to be significant for it shows how both films are not only related in their religious subject matter but negotiate it in formal terms through the notion of the immanent frame. Although both films have been analyzed alongside one another in the past, my article is the first to address the Mennonite migration history and notion of secularization (Taylor) to explain the function of the time-images …

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Bodies Of Horror In Judges 19-21 And Evil Dead Ii (1987), Jennifer M. Matheny, Aaron Bohn

Journal of Religion & Film

Sam Raimi's Evil Dead II (1987), a horror film, demonstrates key thematic parallels with Judges 19-21. Evil Dead IIidentifies with the film genres of “splatter horror” and “dark comedy” with a B-movie cult classic vibe. Placing the Bible’s body horror (Judges 19) and horror film in dialogue on their own terms creates an intertextual dialogue that can be fruitful when dealing with violent biblical texts that communicate an excess state of terror (Phyllis Trible). Through the lens of postbiblical intertextuality (Marianne Grohmann and Hyun Chul Paul Kim), this paper will explore thematic parallels and connections in conversation between Evil …

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Enraptured By Rapture: Production Context, Biblical Interpretation, And Evangelical Eschatology In The Rapture, Left Behind, And This Is The End, Robert G. Joseph, Laura M. Tringali, Meghan R. Henning

Journal of Religion & Film

The Book of Revelation's place in the popular imaginary has been fueled by both its popularity within evangelical eschatology and its endless evocations within mainstream film and TV. Both evangelicalism and popular culture frequently equate the events of John’s Apocalypse with the rapture, a selective reading of New Testament verses which envisions God’s faithful being called to heaven in advance of the Tribulation. This paper analyzes three distinct films which mediate on both the rapture and Revelation: The Rapture (1991), Left Behind: The Movie (2000), and This is the End (2013). Analyzing these films within their respective modes of production …

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Televangelism And Religion In Star Trek V And Licence To Kill, Robert Revington

Journal of Religion & Film

In June 1989, both Star Trek V: The Final Frontier and the James Bond film Licence to Kill were released in theatres within days of each other. This study analyzes how story elements in both films were directly inspired by recent televangelist scandals in the United States. The Star Trek film was also intended to have a deeper examination of the nature of God and the Devil. Nonetheless, both films were also intended to appeal to a mass audience. To that end, these films' explorations of religious issues were watered down to avoid offending Christian denominations or churches (though not …

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The Sudden Deluge: Parasite, Matthew 24:36-51, And Immanent Apocalyptic Imagery, Diana Abernethy

Journal of Religion & Film

Bong Joon Ho’s 2019 film Parasite shares significant imagery with the apocalyptic teachings in Matthew 24:36-51. Both feature oblivious carousers before a flood, sleeping homeowners, and domestic workers caught unaware by a returning homeowner. This article argues that this shared imagery gives Parasite an apocalyptic edge that intensifies the film’s warnings about potential consequences of extreme economic disparities in capitalism. This article develops this argument by (1) highlighting the apocalyptic features of Matthew 24:36-51; (2) describing the convergence of imagery between Parasite and Matthew 24:36-51; and (3) exploring how the film’s apocalyptic edge illuminates urgent and latent dangers of extreme …

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From Theory To Screen: Strain In The Gallagher Experience, Caroline H. Peabody

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

This paper applies Agnew’s General Strain Theory to the hit television series Shameless (US), primarily focusing on three of the show’s central characters. The paper argues that the characters’ criminal and deviant actions can be attributed to strain, as defined by Robert Agnew’s General Strain Theory (GST). The paper provides a basic overview of GST as well as a synopsis of the show before implementing the theory into an analysis of the show. In addition, this paper explores how criminality highlights the themes of Shameless and acts as an implicit call to action to address strain variables in underprivileged communities. …

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Inside Indochina: Vietnam's National Identity Through French Historical Blockbusters, Chi Q. Pham '25

Annual Student Research Poster Session

Cinema has been credited for contributing to the understanding of one's nation. In the case of the former French Indochina, despite being a well studied historical subject, few movies have been made about it, even fewer have taken place within those geographical borders. This paper will uncover the Vietnamese government’s intervention in portraying the Indochina state on Western screens, and what their cinematic vision of the colonial French-Indochina chapter in their history might look like. In 1992, three French blockbusters, Indochine, L’Amant, and Dien Bien Phu, were released and concurrently provided artistic lenses into the former colonial state. This trio …

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Science Fiction, Eng 2420, Syllabus And Course Outline, Jason W. Ellis

Open Educational Resources

This Science Fiction, ENG2420 syllabus and course outline was written for an online, asynchronous class taught in the Department of English at the New York City College of Technology, CUNY. It was designed to compliment the OER Yet Another Science Fiction Textbook (YASFT) and have a Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) approach with readings and viewings found primarily through the Internet Archive. The course follows a historical approach to the science fiction genre covering the Origins of Science Fiction, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Proto-SF, Pulp SF, SF Film Serials, Golden Age SF, SF Film Through the 1950s, New Wave …

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German 250w (German Film And Media), Christa Spreizer

Open Educational Resources

German 250W (German Film and Media) considers various iconic Weimar German silent and sound films of the early 20th century such as The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, Nosferatu, The Nibelungen, Metropolis, M, Dr. Mabuse, Blue Angel and others. We will analyze the extraordinary development of German cinema during a period of great political and economic instability, and an all-encompassing cultural revival.

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Selves As Worlds, Worlds As Selves: A Review Of Worlds We Are (2023), Emerald F. Manlapaz

Akda: The Asian Journal of Literature, Culture, Performance

No abstract provided.

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Entwined Derelict, Alex Teeple

Harrisburg University Other Works

"Entwined Derelict" was my first delve into the Twine interactive fiction engine, and the second game that I consider "feature complete". While a significant focus was put on learning the engine as a whole, particular effort for me was put into a sidebar "journal" of sorts, that took narrative flags from the game and recorded the events in a way that allows players to read back what they have experienced in-game at their leisure. While I greatly enjoyed making the game, and I do consider it a complete experience with some unique pieces within, it is a short adventure without …

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Shooting/Filming Digong: History And Politics Of The Duterte Regime Through Philippine Cinema, John Adrianfer Atienza

Akda: The Asian Journal of Literature, Culture, Performance

The study intends to map and examine the Rodrigo Duterte regime through Philippine cinema. Viewing films as historical artifacts, it uses contemporary films made during, connected to, but not necessarily about Duterte, as discursive nodes to engage and navigate, more so examine and interrogate, his regime’s history and politics. The study firstly contextualizes the local film scene and industry during the regime alongside noting relevant film characters to Duterte to elucidate matters on his politics. It then spotlights a sample of films of the period—Marcos-Duterte films, War on Drugs films, and women-centered films—to further expound and examine his regime’s history …

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Ang Dalumat At Parikala Ng “Liwanag” At “Dilim” Sa Loob At Labas Ng Lente Ng Kamera (The Concepts And Paradoxes Of “Liwanag” And “Dilim” Within And Beyond The Camera Lens), Jay Jomar F. Quintos

Akda: The Asian Journal of Literature, Culture, Performance

Sinisiyasat ng sanaysay na ito ang dalumat at parikala na nakapaloob sa “liwanag” at “dilim” sa imahinasyong pangkultura sa Pilipinas. Sa ganang ito, tinutukoy ko ang iba’t ibang balon ng sanggunian tulad ng epiko, pasyon, materyal na pangrebolusyon, at pelikulang katatakutan upang matunton kung papaano nabago ang kayarian ng mga elemento ng “liwanag” at “dilim.” Susuriin ko ang anim na episodyo mula sa serye ng pelikulang katatakutang Shake, Rattle, and Roll na tahasang naghahayag ng “liwanag” at “dilim” sa paraan nito ng pag-iilaw at pagsasalaysay. Sa ganitong konteksto ng pagsusuri maaaring makita ang mariing artikulasyon at pag-unawa sa kung minsa’y …

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Pathos, Fall 2024, Portland State University. Student Publications Board

Pathos

Editor: Adriana Stanzione

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Aging, Empathy, And Cinematic Metamorphosis: Through The Lens Of Agnès Varda, Nam Lee

Film and Media Arts Faculty Articles and Research

This video essay examines Agnès Varda’s intricate portrayal of aging, resonating with Simone de Beauvoir’s call to break the silence on this subject. Composed exclusively of Varda’s film clips, it highlights her enduring engagement with aging and invites viewers to see it as a space of freedom and creative expression.

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Myth And Monument In Old Town Albuquerque: Southwest Pietà And The War Of Presiding Histories, Eric Castillo

Regeneración: A Xicanacimiento Studies Journal

Luis Jiménez’s Southwest Pietà (1984) intended to combat cultural amnesia that obscured Native Americans’ and Mexicans’ contributions to the state. Jiménez’s Pietà sought to counter the iconography that shaped New Mexico’s colonialist heritage. But Old Town Albuquerque shrouds Native American and Mexican contributions to the region. Albuquerque’s public art has often been deployed as a wedge to write and rewrite narratives about land inhabitants, but the city’s public art tells a powerful story about race and place in New Mexico. This essay explores the socio-historical battle of land memorialization in Old Town Albuquerque and provides a geo-racial perspective about the …

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Secondary Ecology, Tertiary World: Middle-Earth’S Ecology As Played By Aotearoa, Rory Queripel

Journal of Tolkien Research

Tolkien's self-declared love of nature (Letters: 165) is well-known and forms a thread that runs through all his work, to the point that Brian Rosebury (2003) posits that 'Middle-earth, rather than any of the characters, is the hero of The Lord of the Rings'. John Garth (2020) points out various links between the nature of The Shire and other Middle-earth locations and England, taken, as Tolkien wrote, from 'such life as I know' (Letters: 181). However, visual adaptations of Tolkien's work by Peter Jackson and Amazon have used locations in Aotearoa (New Zealand), to play the 'character' of Middle-earth on …

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Social Media Influencers' Impact On Consumer Purchasing Decisions, Kennedi O. Kutz, Kiara Espinal, Erin Flynn, Julia Cheney

Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association

The study entails how social media usage and parasocial relationships with social media influencers impact the audience’s purchases as a consumer. The survey covers a wide range of questions discussing the different social media platforms, how often they engage on them, and how often they click and engage with advertisements and influencers. It also covered questions that collected the participants' demographics to better understand which groups are more likely to be influenced by advertisements and influencers. We have found that younger audiences are more likely to have their consumer purchases influenced by social media advertisements and influencers than older audiences. …

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Full-Text Articles in Film and Media Studies

Life Above The Clouds: Philosophy In The Films Of Terrence Malick, Pablo Alzola

Journal of Religion & Film

Devotional Fanscapes: Bollywood Star Deities, Devotee-Fans, And Cultural Politics In India And Beyond, Ajiththa Suganthan

Journal of Religion & Film

Heretic, J. Barton Scott

Journal of Religion & Film

The Last Of The Sea Women, Sherry Coman

Journal of Religion & Film

My Father's Daughter, Sherry Coman

Journal of Religion & Film

Jane Austen Wrecked My Life, Sherry Coman

Journal of Religion & Film

Hard Truths, Sherry Coman

Journal of Religion & Film

Conclave, Sherry Coman

Journal of Religion & Film

The Room Next Door, Sherry Coman

Journal of Religion & Film

Souleymane’S Story, Sherry Coman

Journal of Religion & Film

Fallen Leaves, Frederick Ruf

Journal of Religion & Film

Civil War, Dennis Etzel Jr

Journal of Religion & Film

Framing Immanence In Carl Theodor Dreyer’S Ordet And Carlos Reygadas’S Stellet Licht, Andre Fischer

Journal of Religion & Film

Bodies Of Horror In Judges 19-21 And Evil Dead Ii (1987), Jennifer M. Matheny, Aaron Bohn

Journal of Religion & Film

Enraptured By Rapture: Production Context, Biblical Interpretation, And Evangelical Eschatology In The Rapture, Left Behind, And This Is The End, Robert G. Joseph, Laura M. Tringali, Meghan R. Henning

Journal of Religion & Film

Televangelism And Religion In Star Trek V And Licence To Kill, Robert Revington

Journal of Religion & Film

The Sudden Deluge: Parasite, Matthew 24:36-51, And Immanent Apocalyptic Imagery, Diana Abernethy

Journal of Religion & Film

From Theory To Screen: Strain In The Gallagher Experience, Caroline H. Peabody

OUR Journal: ODU Undergraduate Research Journal

Inside Indochina: Vietnam's National Identity Through French Historical Blockbusters, Chi Q. Pham '25

Annual Student Research Poster Session

Science Fiction, Eng 2420, Syllabus And Course Outline, Jason W. Ellis

Open Educational Resources

German 250w (German Film And Media), Christa Spreizer

Open Educational Resources

Selves As Worlds, Worlds As Selves: A Review Of Worlds We Are (2023), Emerald F. Manlapaz

Akda: The Asian Journal of Literature, Culture, Performance

Entwined Derelict, Alex Teeple

Harrisburg University Other Works

Shooting/Filming Digong: History And Politics Of The Duterte Regime Through Philippine Cinema, John Adrianfer Atienza

Akda: The Asian Journal of Literature, Culture, Performance

Ang Dalumat At Parikala Ng “Liwanag” At “Dilim” Sa Loob At Labas Ng Lente Ng Kamera (The Concepts And Paradoxes Of “Liwanag” And “Dilim” Within And Beyond The Camera Lens), Jay Jomar F. Quintos

Akda: The Asian Journal of Literature, Culture, Performance

Pathos, Fall 2024, Portland State University. Student Publications Board

Pathos

Aging, Empathy, And Cinematic Metamorphosis: Through The Lens Of Agnès Varda, Nam Lee

Film and Media Arts Faculty Articles and Research

Myth And Monument In Old Town Albuquerque: Southwest Pietà And The War Of Presiding Histories, Eric Castillo

Regeneración: A Xicanacimiento Studies Journal

Secondary Ecology, Tertiary World: Middle-Earth’S Ecology As Played By Aotearoa, Rory Queripel

Journal of Tolkien Research

Social Media Influencers' Impact On Consumer Purchasing Decisions, Kennedi O. Kutz, Kiara Espinal, Erin Flynn, Julia Cheney

Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association