LDS Theology, Culture, and History in Dialogue with Film
Mormonism and the Movies is a nonfiction book I've put together with over a dozen collaborators. It was written between 2015-2018, and then was published by BCC Press on 15 November 2021! It’s currently available on Amazon (here!).
The text is a series of essays exploring how Latter-day Saint (LDS) theology, culture, and history interacts with thematic, narrative, and aesthetic ideas in film. Some essays are more personal, others more academic. Some focus on particular filmmakers or particular genres, while others are more interested in certain topics revisited throughout the years or certain stories retold by various artists. Other essays focus on specific theological concepts, doctrinal paradoxes, or cultural tendencies in Mormonism and aim to explore ways in which film can comment on, contrast with, or compliment those ideas.
In Part I: On Adaptation and Variation, we explain how various ideas from Mormon theology and doctrine can be compared to, contrasted with, or complemented by the thematic and narrative tendencies in films which explore similar ideas.
In Part II: On Storytellers and Seers, we discuss the potential of Mormon filmmaking specifically and the potential influence of Mormonism on mainstream filmmaking generally.
In Part III: Audienceship, Agency, and Ethics, we discuss Mormon tendencies regarding spectatorship ethics specifically, and Mormon culture’s attitudes towards the arts generally. We explore the implications of these tendencies and attitudes.
In Part IV: Close Examination, we look at specific films and expound on how the themes and messages of the films can be applied to Mormon discipleship.
In Part V: The Power of Stories, we present a variety of essays about other topics regarding the spiritual, sociological, and psychological ramifications of the rich and complicated intersection between Mormonism and film.
Featuring art from Joseph Farrell, Anne Hart, Wes Long, and Greg Soper. Cover design by Christian Harrison, and typesetting by Andrew Heiss.
And featuring essays by instructor Preston Wittwer; film scholar Chris Wei (that’s me!); filmmaker Barrett Burgin; actress Karli Hall; literature scholar Conor Hilton; writer/director/entrepreneur Jordan Kartchner; educator Brooke Parker; entertainment lawyer Nigel Goodwin; freelance journalist Derrick Clements; psychotherapist Scott Parker; independent film and theatre director Davey Morrison; humanities scholar Richelle Wilson, and theologian Adam S. Miller.
