Pop Goes Religion

November 15, 2005
Hollywood's influence on morality and religious values has always aroused controversy, though surprisingly little of lasting value has been published on the subject. Pop collects the syndicated "On Religion" columns of journalist Mattingly, who is interested in how movies, music, television, and publishing intersect and collide with religion. Subjects range from the significant (reaction to and influence of Mel Gibson's box-office smash The Passion of the Christ) to the trivial (born-again actress Rene Russo's decision to do nudity in The Thomas Crown Affair). The essays themselves are brief and likely to date quickly.Hollywood-based writers and editors Lewerenz and Nicolosi also believe that popular arts play an important role in the American religious scene today. Their collection is published under the editorial supervision of Act One - an organization that aims to train Christian writers to work in the film industry - and features Hollywood writers and producers who acknowledge the lack of understanding and depth in modern movie coverage of religious issues and the failed tactic of blaming Hollywood. Instead, they bid committed Christians to act as "apostles and artists" by supporting one another and learning filmmaking skills, thereby extending their ministry beyond the narrow flock to the wider world. Topics include what makes a good Christian film, what kind of stories should be told, and how to start and survive in Hollywood. Some essays seem a bit simplistic, but the book puts a refreshingly positive spin on a rarely covered topic. While Pop is marginal for most libraries, Screen can be recommended for public or academic libraries where Michael Medved's broadside Hollywood vs. America has found a responsive audience. - Stephen Rees, Levittown Lib., PA

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