Ben Hur, Christianity and the dreaded essay - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

guthmund · 11-17-2008, 08:42 AM

I seem to remember posting something here of this nature earlier on another movie and getting some really good ideas, so, I thought I'd give it another shot as I'm stuck pretty good.

I have to write a full fledged paper for a film class on the 1959 classic Ben-Hur. "Ben-Hur (my instructor writes) is a character who spans the Jewish and Roman worlds and, in doing so, prefigures the unity of these two traditions in the new religion of Christianity."

I'm to write an essay that explores Wyler's use of said theme in Ben-Hur used to foreshadow or prefigure the impact Christianity would have on either, or both, Jews and Romans. I can refer to general themes, characters, specific relationships or even individual scenes, so, the there's plenty there with which to work.

The problem is I have absolutely no idea where to start. I need an angle and am angleless.

I certainly don't want anyone to write the paper, I just need someone to point me in a direction and let me run, so to speak.

Anyone game?

guthmund · 11-18-2008, 10:35 AM

Nothing, huh?

I can't say that I can blame you as I can't think of anything either.

roachboy · 11-18-2008, 11:24 AM

can you give a little more information about the context of this paper? like is it a film class or a history class or what? (the question sounds dull enough to be a history class, frankly...)
what textual materials are you working with to frame this?

kinsaj · 11-18-2008, 10:32 PM

Hah-I watched Ben Hur about a week ago... but I am no essay genius. As roachboy said, it would help to know what kind of class this would be for.
From what you have given, I would just go along the lines of individuals embracing Christianity while those in larger organizations (read the Roman Empire) had their own agenda in maintaining the status quo and thus resisted it. This all being depicted in the movie of course, not my actual opinion. Cite sources of individual characters, including at least one roman (... I think) saw something in Christianity while empire did not. Doubt that helps... but it is something

Mamon003 · 11-26-2008, 02:34 AM

I'm to write an essay that explores Wyler's use of said theme in Ben-Hur used to foreshadow or prefigure the impact Christianity would have on either, or both, Jews and Romans. I can refer to general themes, characters, specific relationships or even individual scenes, so, the there's plenty there with which to work.

11-17-2008, 08:42 AM	#1 (permalink)
guthmund big damn hero	Ben Hur, Christianity and the dreaded essay I seem to remember posting something here of this nature earlier on another movie and getting some really good ideas, so, I thought I'd give it another shot as I'm stuck pretty good. I have to write a full fledged paper for a film class on the 1959 classic Ben-Hur. "Ben-Hur (my instructor writes) is a character who spans the Jewish and Roman worlds and, in doing so, prefigures the unity of these two traditions in the new religion of Christianity." I'm to write an essay that explores Wyler's use of said theme in Ben-Hur used to foreshadow or prefigure the impact Christianity would have on either, or both, Jews and Romans. I can refer to general themes, characters, specific relationships or even individual scenes, so, the there's plenty there with which to work. The problem is I have absolutely no idea where to start. I need an angle and am angleless. I certainly don't want anyone to write the paper, I just need someone to point me in a direction and let me run, so to speak. Anyone game? __________________ No signature. None. Seriously.

11-18-2008, 10:35 AM	#2 (permalink)
guthmund big damn hero	Nothing, huh? I can't say that I can blame you as I can't think of anything either. __________________ No signature. None. Seriously.

11-18-2008, 11:24 AM	#3 (permalink)
roachboy Super Moderator Location: essex ma	can you give a little more information about the context of this paper? like is it a film class or a history class or what? (the question sounds dull enough to be a history class, frankly...) what textual materials are you working with to frame this? __________________ a gramophone its corrugated trumpet silver handle spinning dog. such faithfulness it hear it make you sick. -kamau brathwaite

11-18-2008, 10:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
kinsaj Psycho Location: somewhere out there	Hah-I watched Ben Hur about a week ago... but I am no essay genius. As roachboy said, it would help to know what kind of class this would be for. From what you have given, I would just go along the lines of individuals embracing Christianity while those in larger organizations (read the Roman Empire) had their own agenda in maintaining the status quo and thus resisted it. This all being depicted in the movie of course, not my actual opinion. Cite sources of individual characters, including at least one roman (... I think) saw something in Christianity while empire did not. Doubt that helps... but it is something __________________ boom

11-26-2008, 02:34 AM	#5 (permalink)
Mamon003 Upright	I'm to write an essay that explores Wyler's use of said theme in Ben-Hur used to foreshadow or prefigure the impact Christianity would have on either, or both, Jews and Romans. I can refer to general themes, characters, specific relationships or even individual scenes, so, the there's plenty there with which to work. __________________ I didn't read the rules about sigs so now I have this lame excuse for a sig as a placeholder.