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You may download a copy of the paper syllabus distributed on the first day of class here. The readings and assignments on this page are the most updated and current at all times.
All readings should be done for that day before coming to class. Please bring all reading assignments with you (especially the biblical fictions) to facilitate class discussion.
If a reading is underlined in blue, you may click that link directly to be taken to the reading.
If a reading is underlined in red, that means it is a PDF file housed in the Blackboard site. If you are not already logged into Blackboard ([link removed]), you will have to log in before being able to access that reading. [note: These links have been removed for the archived version of this website.]
Note: The first reading for October 6 can only be accessed from a UCR computer.
If you have any trouble accessing any reading, contact the professor immediately!
Introductory issues Mon. 9/29: What is the Bible? What is Fiction? No reading
Wed. 10/1: Canon, Apocrypha, Interpretation Biblical reading: Genesis 22 Riches, The Bible, chs. 3-4 (pp. 31-69) Recommended for Bible "novices": Riches, The Bible, ch. 2 (pp. 9-30)
Mon. 10/6: "Popular" culture and religion Riches, The Bible, ch. 7 (pp. 99-116) "Introduction," from Religion and Popular Culture in America, ed. Bruce David Forbes and Jeffrey H. Mahan (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2000), pp. 1-18 ([link removed]) * Allene Stuart Phy, "The Bible in American Popular Culture: An Overview and Introduction," from The Bible and Popular Culture in America, ed. Allene Stuart Phy (Chico: Scholars Press, 1985), pp. 1-23
Staging Scriptures--DRAMA Wed. 10/8: Passion Plays and the Otherness of Jews Biblical reading: Matthew 26, 27, 28; Mark 14, 15, 16; Luke 22, 23, 24; John 18, 19, 20, 21 * Glenn Loney, "Oberammergau, 1634-1990: The Play and the Passions," New Theatre Quarterly 27 (1991): 203-216 and images (1, 2, 3, 4) * Marvin Perry and Frederick M. Schweitzer, "The Medieval Passion Play Revisited," in Re-viewing the Passion: Mel Gibson's Film and its Critics (Palgrave, 2004), 3-20
Mon. 10/13: Victorian drama and the Otherness of the Self Biblical reading: Matthew 14:1-12; Mark 6:14-29 Wilde and Beardsley, Salomé Response paper 1 due at beginning of class
Wed. 10/15: Bible! (or, the Bible in musical theater) Biblical reading: Mark 14:3-9; Matthew 26:6-13; Luke 7:36-50; John 12:1-8
Michael Convey, "Meet the Artists," Great Performances: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (PBS) (also peruse the rest of this companion site)
The Whole Story--PROSE Mon. 10/20: Filling in the Story: Ancient "Fiction"? Biblical reading: Genesis 41:38-54 Selection from The Tale of Joseph and Aseneth (only read chapter I-IX and XXI-XXIX) * Ross Shepard Kraemer, When Aseneth Met Joseph, pp. 191-221
Wed. 10/22: Satire and Humor Biblical reading: Genesis 2, 3, 4; Genesis 25:1-11 Mark Twain, Diaries of Adam and Eve * Erich S. Gruen, Diaspora, pp. 182-193, 327-329
Mon. 10/27: Pictures and Words: From Stained Glass to Graphic Novels Biblical reading: Gospel of Luke Magna Messiah * Adam Schwartz and Elaine Rubenstein-Ávila, "Understanding the Manga Hype: Uncovering the Multimodality of Comic-Book Literacies," Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy 50:1 (September 2006): 40-49
Biblical reading: John 1:19-51; John 11; Matthew 26:36-56; Acts 9:1-19 * Leo Scott Theisen, "'My God, Did I Set All of This in Motion?' General Lew Wallace and Ben-Hur," Journal of Popular Culture 18 (1984): 33-41 * Selections from the following novels (be sure to click each link!):
Mon. 11/3: Forgotten Figures: Slaves, Women, and other Extras Biblical reading: Genesis 34 (you can also skim the entire "Jacob cycle," Genesis 29-50) Anita Diamant, The Red Tent Skim through on-line review's of the book on amazon.com Response paper 2 due at beginning of class
The Pearly Screen: CINEMA Wed. 11/5: Christ on Screen Biblical reading: Choose any one Gospel and read it all the way through One of the following two articles:
Mon. 11/10: Swashbuckling: The Roman-Christian Struggle * Bruce Babington & Peter William Evans, Biblical Epics, pp. 169-205
Wed. 11/12: Three Moseses: The Old Testament Epic Biblical reading: Exodus 1-20 G. Andrew Tooze, "Moses and the Reel Exodus," Journal of Religion and Film 7.1 (2003) Charles Taylor: "The Zion King (Review of Prince of Egypt)," Salon Dec. 18, 1998 Response paper 3 due at beginning of class
Mon. 11/17: The "Little" Screen: TV Bibles Also scroll through images and capsule reviews: 1, 2, 3 * Brian McFarlane, "'It Wasn't Like That In the Book!'" Literature/Film Quarterly 28.3 (2000): 163-169 * Mark I. Pinsky, The Gospel According to the Simpsons (Louisville: WJK Press, 2002), 112-19
Wed. 11/19: NO CLASS (Professor out of town)
Mon. 11/24: NO CLASS (Professor out of town)
Wed. 11/26: Project Presentation Previews Students may volunteer to do their short presentations early on this date
Student Presentations Dec. 1 and Dec. 3
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