An Evil Threat to Marriage, Children and the Future: Queer Theory, "The Passion of the Christ," and Evangelical Political Rhetoric

This article employs queer theory to analyze Mel Gibson’s film The Passion of the Christ (2004) for its portrayal of queer characters (Satan and Herod) in contrast with non-queer (Pilate and Claudia, Seraphia, Simon the Cyrene, and Mary, Christ’s mother), and how it depicts the former as evil and th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The journal of religion and film
Main Author: Wolff, Richard (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: 2015
In: The journal of religion and film
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B The passion of the Christ / Queer theory / Evangelical movement / Marriage / Family
RelBib Classification:CB Christian life; spirituality
CH Christianity and Society
KBQ North America
KDG Free church
KDH Christian sects
ZG Media studies; Digital media; Communication studies
Further subjects:B Queer Theory Mel Gibson Passion of the Christ gender studies marriage children evangelical rhetoric
Online Access: Volltext (Verlag)
Description
Summary:This article employs queer theory to analyze Mel Gibson’s film The Passion of the Christ (2004) for its portrayal of queer characters (Satan and Herod) in contrast with non-queer (Pilate and Claudia, Seraphia, Simon the Cyrene, and Mary, Christ’s mother), and how it depicts the former as evil and the latter as good. In particular, these contrasts involve self-indulgent or predatory sexual expression versus a healthy marital relationship, and evil versus loving influences over children, who represent hope for the future. Finally, the article looks at the film’s heavy marketing to American evangelicals and how the symbolic representations in the film relate to evangelical politics and rhetoric concerning contemporaneous queer issues - gay marriage debates in particular.
ISSN:1092-1311
Contains:Enthalten in: The journal of religion and film