Old Testament
In the Old Testament as Literature scholars often comment on the similarity between biblical texts and classic or popular literature and film. Biblical characters and plot lines resemble those from series and films we stream. “Intertextuality” is the literary term for this resonance. It reminds me of Qoheleth/Ecclesiastes 1:9, “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun” Ecclesiastes 1:9 (emphasis added).
Essay Instructions. Select an Old Testament text (abbreviate: OTT) and a literary text from popular culture (abbreviate: PCT) and discuss their common themes. The latter can include literature, film, and series of all kinds.
Some pre-writing questions to consider as you make your choices:
What ultimate existence questions reside at the heart of the most popular genres today: crime dramas, hospital dramas, post-apocalyptic, dystopian, science fiction, etc.
Which well-developed biblical characters spark a connection with equally well-developed characters in books you have read or entertainment you watch?
*How is your PCT a commentary on our present times and culture(s)? What are the issues of concern related to your OTT? Harris’s textbook addresses the cultural setting of biblical texts.
