DANA COLLEGE PROFESSOR POSITS THEORY THAT FILM ACTS AS A RELIGION

Dr. John Lyden's new book, Film as Religion,
applies theory to several genres

Dana College’s Dr. John Lyden, professor of religion, has added a new theory to theology with his new book from New York University Press, Film as Religion.

Lyden moves beyond the many pieces of scholarship comparing religion to film and actually looks at the way modern viewers experience film as a religious experience.

“Both theological and ideological approaches to film and religion have failed to take seriously the religious element in popular culture as representing a distinct religious tradition,” Lyden said. “Popular culture may not be as formal or as institutionally organized as ‘official’ religions, but it functions like a religion, and may thus be viewed as a religion.”

Lyden goes on to analyze the worldviews conveyed by movies like Die Hard, The Godfather, Titanic, When Harry Met Sally…, and many others. In his discussion he places emphasis on how the general audience experiences the movie, rather than seeking to uncover hidden meanings in film detectable only to scholars.

Written to be used in the classroom and enjoyed by general readers, Film as Religion has been called “a major challenge to all those who discuss culture, religion and theology today,” by Clive Marsh, co-editor of Explorations in Theology in Film.

Lyden holds degrees from Wesleyan University, Yale University and the University of Chicago. He has taught religion classes at Dana College since 1991 and seeks to bring a fresh approach to his students.

“My research and my teaching are integrally connected, as I examine religion as a part of culture, including popular culture,” he said.

“Students seem to find this approach more relevant, as religious beliefs and values are not seen as things separated from the rest of life, but as things they encounter every day.”

Dana College is a private, liberal arts institution that currently enrolls approximately 600 students. The campus is located on 150 acres overlooking the Missouri River Valley in Blair, Neb. Dana grants bachelor’s degrees in more than 35 liberal arts, business, education and pre-professional programs, with an emphasis on personalized teaching from experienced and dedicated faculty. Dana is a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and its athletic teams compete in the Great Plains Athletic Conference.

More information on Dana College can be found at www.dana.edu.

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For more information contact:

Sarah Cavanah
Dana College Communications Coordinator
(402) 426-7216
scavanah@dana.edu