Religion without belief : contemporary allegory and the search for postmodern faith / Jean Ellen Petrolle.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Petrolle, Jean.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Religion and literature.

Motion pictures--Religious aspects.

Motion pictures.

Physical Description:

vii, 201 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Albany : State University of New York Press, [2008]

Summary:

In our present cultural moment, when God is supposed to be dead and metaphysical speculation unfashionable, why does postmodern fiction-in a variety of genres-make such frequent use of the ancient rhetorical form of allegory? In Religion without Belief, Jean Ellen Petrolle argues that contrary to popular understandings of postmodernism as an irreligious and amoral climate, postmodern allegory remains deeply engaged in the quest for religious insight. Examining a range of films and novels, this book shows that postmodern fiction, despite its posturing about the unverifiable nature of truth and reality, routinely offers theological and cosmological speculation. Works considered include virtual-reality films such as The Matrix and The Truman Show, avant-garde films, and Amerindian and feminist novels.

Contents:

Chapter 1 Rethinking Postmodernism 1

Chapter 2 Rescuing the Real, Part I: Allegory, Body, and Humannees in the Virtual Reality Film 21

Chapter 3 Rescuing the Real, Part II: Allegory, Deconstruction, and Negative Theology in Feminist Experimental Novels 49

Chapter 4 Confronting Suffering, Part I: Allegory, Interpretation, and Quests for Deliverance in Avant-Garde Film 89

Chapter 5 Confronting Suffering, Part II: Allegory, Magic, and History in the Amerindian Novel 129

Chapter 6 Cause or Cure? Postmodernism and Religious Fundamentalism 155.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 173-192) and index.

ISBN:

9780791472415

0791472418

OCLC:

77004158