Useless Beauty: Ecclesiastes Through the Lens of Contemporary Film - Softcover

Johnston, Robert K.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0801027853 ISBN 13: 9780801027857

Publisher: Baker Academic, Div of Baker Publishing Group, 2004

Synopsis

Taking up movies such as American Beauty, Magnolia, and About Schmidt, this book addresses such biblical issues as life and death, chance and choice, loneliness and connection, and God's presence and absence to deepen our understanding of life's beauty amid its confusion and pain.

About this title

Synopsis:

How should Christians relate to the difficult and contradictory messages of modern movies? In "Useless Beauty", Robert K. Johnston presents the bold position that films can be our "eyeglasses and hearing aids" in understanding the "Book of Ecclesiastes." Taking up movies such as "American Beauty", "Magnolia", and "About Schmidt", he addresses such biblical issues as life and death, chance and choice, loneliness and connection, and God's presence and absence to deepen our understanding of life's beauty amid its confusion and pain. Christian filmgoers, pastors, and youth leaders will find Johnston's book a valuable source of insight into the relationship between Christianity and popular culture.

About the Author:

Robert K. Johnston (Ph.D., Duke University) is professor of theology and culture at Fuller Theological Seminary. He is the author or editor of over twelve books, including Reel Spirituality and Finding God in the Movies. He served as dean at North Park Theological Seminary for eleven years and is currently president of the American Theological Society.

About this edition

• Publisher: Baker Academic, Div of Baker Publishing Group
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0801027853
• ISBN 13: 9780801027857
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 208