The Theta Alpha Kappa Religion honor society and Mercer University religion department hosted a "Casting of Christ" movie series that depicts different representations of Jesus Christ in media leading up to Good Friday.
Religion professor Bryan Whitfield, one of the organizers of the event, said he hoped to showcase a wide array of depictions of Jesus Christ and highlighted the complexities and dimensions of the religious figure in film media. He said he wanted his students to reflect on the depictions they already knew and what was being shown on screen.
The three-part series included “Jesus of Montreal,” “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “The Robe.” The movies ranged across 40 years and spanned had different themes and genres. Among them, Whitfield said "Jesus Christ Superstar," a Lloyd Webber rock opera musical, was "very 70s."
Whitfield said the diversity of depictions across the series reflected how broadly Jesus is claimed across traditions, cultures and individuals, which has made his portrayal one of the most varied and valued subjects in film.
The series included a story from the perspective of the soldier who crucified Jesus on what is now Good Friday, as depicted in the final screening, “The Robe.”
The screenings had worksheets to aid students in their analysis of comparing "Textual Biblical Information" to "Film Additions." The worksheets included facts about the movies' productions and criticisms like the "intentional blasphemy, evil gross immorality" of the the witty "Jesus of Montreal."
Whitfield hopes the religion department will continue to host similar events that span different religions and foster conversations. He said the department hopes to widen its footprint with more open events "to create more interest in the department" and the school as a whole.
