Hollywood Dreams and Biblical Stories

• Author: Bernard Scott
• Year: 1994
• Publisher: Augsburg Fortress Publishers

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Scott (Hear Then the Parables, Fortress, 1989) provides an analysis of biblical storytelling from the postliterate perspective of the motion picture as the primary dispenser of myth in the late 20th century. He draws heavily on Levi-Strauss's definition of the nature of myth. An examination of representative biblical stories follows lengthy plot summaries of motion pictures of various genres. Scott attempts to relate the two in their approach to myth. He succeeds more in comparing Blade Runner and the Mad Max series to the biblical apocalyptic than in comparing the Dirty Harry series to St. Paul's image as a lonely fighter struggling for the rights of the individual "by faith alone" or in comparing John Wayne to Jesus. A limited success in an attack on a difficult premise; for informed readers and specialists.