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Pete: "I've always wondered, what's the devil look like?"

Everett: "Well, there are all manner of lesser imps and demons, Pete, but the great Satan hisself is red and scaly with a bifurcated tail, and he carries a hay fork."

Tommy Johnson: "Oh, no. No, sir. He's white, as white as you folks, with empty eyes and a big hollow voice. He loves to travel around with a mean old hound. That's right."

~O Brother, Where Art Thou?

This is a call for abstracts that will lead to articles 15-25 pages in length that address issues of Judaism and Christianity in popular media, especially television and film. I am currently seeking abstracts of 300-500 words for thoughtful essays grounded in critical theory or original religious texts (or both) that focus on any aspect of Judeo-Christian religion as it is portrayed in popular movies or television shows/series. If you have ideas involving other mass media outlets like videogames or comics, please feel encouraged to submit an abstract.

The intent here is to offer a synthesized look at how different players in Judaic and Christian mythologies/religious practices are portrayed in popular media. Essays can focus on (but are not limited to) concepts such as God, the Devil, Angels, Saints, Jesus, Biblical Figures and Faith Practices. How does critical theory explicate religion in media? How well do shows and films follow or break from the traditions and original texts of Judaism and Christianity?

Ideas for topics include, but are by no means limited to:

*God and Satan in Cohen Brothers Films
*Angels in film (The Prophecy, Gabriel, Michael, Fallen, etc.)
*the Devil in film (Little Nicky, South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut, Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny, etc.)
*Judaism and hybridized religion in sitcoms (The Nanny, Golden Girls, etc.)
*Judaic laws or archetypes in film (Schindler's List, Driving Miss Daisy, Fiddler on the Roof, etc.)
*Catholicism in film (Dogma, Sister Act, The Thornbirds, etc.)
*Religion in horror films (The Exorcist, Satan's School for Girls)

All ideas are more than welcome! But... several volumes have already been written and published concerning the Passion of the Christ. Pieces that discuss the film as part of a larger topic will be considered, but please do not submit abstracts that are singularly about this film.

A final note: If you choose to write an ethnographic piece, IRB approval from your institution is a must at time of final draft submission.

Send abstracts of 300-500 words in .doc or .pdf format to teofilo@ohio.edu by 12/1/09.