On the Pedagogical Benefits of Using John Woo's The Killer as a Model of René Girard's Theory on Religion and Violence

Authors

Tony S.L. Michael, York UniversityFollow
Ken Derry, University of TorontoFollow

Abstract

When asked for their views on the relation between religion and violence in John Woo's The Killer, students in our religion and film class typically deny that such relations exist. Using René Girard's work on mimesis and sacrifice, we have argued that it is possible to see that religion and violence in Woo's film are virtually inextricable from one another. Because Girard's theories can clearly be criticized on their own account, and because their application to The Killer is not without problems, we have also used discussions of the film to raise general questions about the use of theory and the meaning of interpretation.

Recommended Citation

Michael, Tony S.L. and Derry, Ken (2001) "On the Pedagogical Benefits of Using John Woo's The Killer as a Model of René Girard's Theory on Religion and Violence," Journal of Religion & Film: Vol. 5: Iss. 1, Article 3.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/jrf/vol5/iss1/3