"A common theme in the new genre is the existence of a manufactured world, a virtual reality in which the participants don't realize they are trapped. "
"But what does all of this arcane and outdated theology have to do with the movies? Over the last decade, movies have frequently dealt with apocalyptic themes- but now that the millennium has turned without the fiery destruction of the universe, moviemakers are exploring more subtle theological ideas. Recent technological and scientific advances have led people everywhere to question our perception of reality, and our movies have followed suit. Recent films exploring virtual worlds and false perceptions of reality include Vanilla Sky, the Matrix, The Truman Show, Pleasantville, and the Thirteenth floor."
Very interesting discussionof Gnosticism and Hollywood, here:
http://altreligion.about.com/library/weekly/aa072302a.htm
[Religious Grotesque]
1 comment:
You can read more about Elaine Pagels, author of the best-selling 'The Gnostic Gospels, here:
http://www.roycecarlton.com/speakers/pagels.html
Pagels makes my case that Gnosticism represented a period of cultural pluralism and religious diversity/tolerance in Christianity, which was undermined by the fated marriage of the Roman Church/Eastern Church to the hegemonic imperial goals of Divided Empires, which brings to mind the conflict of patriotism and conscience, that C.S. Lewis discusses in 'God in the Dock.'
But the trend of Hollywood capitalizing on the Gnostic mystique is no where near spent, I predict more religious fantasy to come . . .
Post a Comment