Reanimating Saint Paul: From the Literary to the Cinematographic Stage

In several of his writings on the relation between film and language, Pasolini discusses the possibility of a moment in which a screenplay can be considered an autonomous object, "a work complete and finished in itself." In the first part of this essay, I will reflect on the concept of the...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Copier, Laura (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Brill [2019]
In: Biblical interpretation
Year: 2019, Volume: 27, Issue: 4/5, Pages: 533-548
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Paul Apostle / Reception / Pasolini, Pier Paolo 1922-1975 / Film / Semiotics / Adaptation
IxTheo Classification:CD Christianity and Culture
HC New Testament
Further subjects:B Pasolini
B Film
B Semiotics
B screenplay
B Adaptation
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Description
Summary:In several of his writings on the relation between film and language, Pasolini discusses the possibility of a moment in which a screenplay can be considered an autonomous object, "a work complete and finished in itself." In the first part of this essay, I will reflect on the concept of the screenplay in a larger context and more specifically, Pasolini's writings on the ontological status of the screenplay as a "structure that wants to be another structure." The case of Saint Paul is thought-provoking, precisely because this original screenplay was never turned into an actual film. Despite this, Pasolini argues that the screenplay invites - or perhaps even forces - its reader to imagine, to visualize, the film it describes. Pasolini's ideas on the function of language as a means to conjure up images are central to this act of visualization. In the second part of this essay, I will attempt an act of visualization. This endeavor to visualize Saint Paul as a possible film is hinged upon a careful reading of the screenplay. I analyze the opening and closing sequences outlined in the screenplay to visualize the possible filmic expression of its protagonist Paul.
ISSN:1568-5152
Contains:Enthalten in: Biblical interpretation
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1163/15685152-02745P05