1)Open session. We invite proposals that fit within our general consultation description: "Focuses on the critical analysis and interpretation of Bible/Jesus films and other films incorporating biblical themes or motifs in terms of the films’ biblical and extra-biblical content, cultural and historical significance, and ideology. Secondary focus on pedagogical use of such films, and the preservation, archiving, and digitalization of rare Bible/Jesus films."
2)We invite proposals that deal with wisdom/sapiential themes/motifs/texts in film (the 2009 Oscar-nominated film "A Serious Man" comes to mind here, but proposals need not be limited to this film).
3)We invite papers that relate specific film theories or theorists to biblical studies of film.
4) In a joint session with "John's Apocalypse and Cultural Contexts Ancient and Modern," and "Bible and Popular Culture," we invite proposals that will examine current films in popular culture concerning the year 2012. Although this anticipation is usually grounded in interpretations of the ancient Mayan calendar, proponents are often quick to link their expectations to biblical passages as well. There is an attraction to apocalyptic time and rhetoric that make them perennial favorites in United States' culture. The media and publication hype surrounding the year 2000 is a good example of how apocalyptic fear and anticipation can dominate popular discourse. By 2011, however, one might have expected that Americans were now in "normal" time where apocalyptic expectations were less dominant. This, however, is not the case. Such interpretations represent the flexibility of the apocalyptic imagination in spite of the disappointment that post-apocalyptic (post-2000)time inevitably brought.
Excluding the jointly sponsored session, proposals for Bible and Film will be forty-minute presentations, where up to 15 min. can be used to accommodate the showing of longer, illustrative film clips.