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Collegium Institute ATL Regional Seminar: Cinema and Catholicism
Catholicism and Cinema: 125 Years of Spirituality in Film
St. John’s description of “the Word”—that “the light shines in darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it”—has profound symbolic and literal implications for the cinema, perhaps the 20 th century’s most popular and relevant art form. Though most of us are accustomed to finding God in the movies through Biblical epics, biographies of Jesus, and pious portrayals of religious figures, discovering a deeper sense of mystery in film is more difficult to see. This Collegium Institute seminar series will examine ways in which film incorporates principles of transcendence, spirituality, and the sacred. The Catholic Church has always championed the cinema as a means of affirming the Faith, and still recognizes film’s unique ability to depict the profound connections between art and theology. The course will incorporate acknowledged spiritual cinematic masterpieces throughout film history, with individual viewing of selected films, and screening and discussion of clips in class meetings. In addition to learning more about film history and the important Catholic contributions to the medium, participants will also develop a deeper awareness of spiritual presence, even when literally it often appears to be absent.
All who wish to attend are welcome; no prior knowledge is assumed.
About the Facilitator
David A. King, Ph.D. is Professor of English and Film Studies at Kennesaw State University, where he has taught for 27 years. Prof. King has written and presented widely on Catholic writers and artists; notably, he served as an expert consultant for Uncommon Grace, the first feature-length documentary about Flannery O'Connor.
When & Where
The seminar will take place over the course of five Mondays from 7:00pm to 8:30pm at Marist School (3790 Ashford Dunwoody Road Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30319). The dates and session topics are as follows:
February 24 — Reel Faith: The Church and International Cinema in the 20th Century
March 9 — Alfred Hitchcock: The Legacy of the Catholic Film Auteur
March 23 — Capra, Ford, and McCarey: Catholicism and American Film in the Studio Era
April 13 — Fellini, Leone, and Truffaut: Catholicism and the International Film Renaissance in France and Italy
April 20 — Catholicism and Film: Genres from the Hollywood Renaissance to the 21st Century
Suggested Donation to Attend*
Single: $125
Couple: $175
Educator/Clergy: $100
*Physical copies of the texts will be provided with registration. Those registering as a couple will only receive one copy to share (cost of an additional text is $25).
About Collegium Institute
Founded by faculty, alumni, students, and friends of the University of Pennsylvania, the Collegium Institute is an independent scholarly foundation that draws mainstream learning into conversation with the Catholic intellectual tradition in the university community. In so doing, it cultivates reflection on "catholic" or universal questions and on the unity of truth across the disciplines. For more information about the Institute, please visit
Questions? Please don't hesitate to reach out to Collegium's Operations Coordinator and Program Fellow, Emmie Brown, at ebrown@collegiuminstitute.org.
