Abstract
Christian biblical authors used the apocalyptic genre to help contextualize the meaning of salvation for their audiences. Today, dystopian film can serve a similar function. In each case, the narrative diagnoses a sinister mis-ordering of human civilization and attempts to prescribe ways in which it can be overcome. Just as apocalyptic gave biblical authors the ability to make statements about what salvation was salvation from, dystopian narratives can similarly demonstrate what social conditions today remain in need of remediation. When these dystopian narratives do so by making use of symbols and themes associated with Christian soteriology their diagnoses can become the subject of theological reflection and the hope they offer for alleviation can be cast in soteriological tones.
Recommended Citation
Montevecchio, Caesar A.
(2012)
"Framing Salvation: Biblical Apocalyptic, Cinematic Dystopia, and Contextualizing the Narrative of Salvation,"
Journal of Religion & Film: Vol. 16:
Iss.
2, Article 7.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.32873/uno.dc.jrf.16.02.07
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/jrf/vol16/iss2/7
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
VolNum
16
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Christianity Commons, Film and Media Studies Commons, Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons