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Contact: Bruce Conley
Associate Director of College Relations
Phone: (605) 274-5526
Fax: (605) 274-4903
www.augie.edu
February 9, 2007
SIOUX FALLS - Hollywood’s portrayal of Jesus Christ will be the topic of a discussion series offered at two area churches by Augustana professor Jeffrey Miller.
Miller, an associate professor of English and journalism, will present “The Passions of the Christ: Jesus Goes to the Movies” as part of Lenten observances at Holy Apostles Episcopal Church in Sioux Falls, and St. Paul Episcopal Church in Vermillion.
Miller will lead discussion on five different film treatments of the life of Christ: The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965), Jesus Christ Superstar (1973), Monty Python’s Life of Brian (1979), The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), and The Passion of the Christ (2004).
“I’m hoping we’ll be able to consider the ways in which each movie marks an intersection between Jesus the man, Christ the spiritual figure, and Jesus Christ the marketable entertainment commodity,” Miller said.
Discussions will also consider the differing ways in which filmmakers use the gospels, and the influence of culture upon those choices and the ways audiences see them.
“In the process we should all be challenged to discover something about our own relationships with both Hollywood and Christ,” he said.
Miller teaches courses in journalism, English, and film studies at Augustana. He is the author of the book Something Completely Different: British Television and American Culture.