Description
Book SynopsisIn this book Martien Brinkman explores the Jesus incognito as found in Western film, literature, and the visual arts since 1960. His interest here is focused primarily on indirect references to the Jesus figure. To his surprise, he found an abundance of allusions to Jesus in key figures in modern art. This confirmed his view that film, literature, and the visual arts make a substantial contribution, even in secular Western culture, to continuing reflection on Jesus’ significance. Brinkman finds important characteristics of a hidden Christ in films by Gabriel Axel, Ingmar Bergman, Krzysztof Kieslowski, and Lars von Trier, novels by Peter De Vries, J.M. Coetzee, and Arnon Grunberg, poems by Les Murray and Czeslaw Milosz, and paintings by Andy Warhol, Harald Duwe, and Frans Franciscus. He defines a hidden Christ as a fictional human individual who can be seen as a new embodiment of the meaning that can be attributed in the present to the biblical figure of Jesus. The hidden Christ is therefore a contemporized Jesus figure. This book will be of interest for everyone who shares Brinkman’s quest for this Jesus incognito.
Trade ReviewAn impressive study in art and theology Clement Grene, Edinburgh in The Expository Times
Table of ContentsPreface Introduction More than Illustrations Theological Impotence and Reluctance An Unfinished Tale Reciprocal Involvement Rearrangement Summary The Hidden Christ in Film Jesus Figures and Christ Figures Symbol and Reality Mutual Transformation Babette’s Feast: Background and Story Line Babette’s Feast: Interpretation The Communicants: Background and Story Line The Communicants: Interpretation A Short Film about Love: Background and Story Line A Short Film about Love: Interpretation Breaking the Waves: Background and Story Line Breaking the Waves: Interpretation Summary and Evaluation The Hidden Christ in Fiction and Poetry Introduction The Blood of the Lamb: Background and Story Line The Blood of the Lamb: Interpretation Disgrace: Background and Story Line Disgrace: Interpretation The Jewish Messiah: Background and Story Line The Jewish Messiah: Interpretation Les Murray: “Easter 1984” and “Church” Czeslaw Milosz: “Treatise on Theology” Summary and Evaluation The Hidden Christ in the Visual Arts Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper as Icon Andy Warhol’s Last Supper Frans Franciscus’ Last Supper Harald Duwe’s Last Supper Summary and Evaluation Epilogue Cultural Shifts Four Presuppositions Western Contours? Bibliography Index of Names Index of Subjects
