ProtestantsonScreenexplorestheProtestantcontributionstoAmericanandEuropeanfilmfromthesilenteratothepresentday.TheauthorsanalyzehowProtestantfilmmakers,beliefs,theology,symbols,sensibilities,andculturalpatternshaveshapedthehistoryoffilm.ChallengingthestereotypeofProtestantsasworld-denouncing-and-defyingpuritansandiconoclastswhostoodinthewayoffilm’smaturationasanart,theauthorscontendthatProtestantswereamongthekeycatalystsintheoriginsanddevelopmentoffilm,bringinganidentifiablyProtestantaesthetictothemedium.TheessaysinthisvolumetrackkeyProtestantthemeslikefaithanddoubt,sinanddepravity,biblicalliteralism,personalconversionandpersonalredemption,holinessandsanctification,moralismandpietism,Providenceandsecularism,apocalypticism,righteousnessandjustice,religionandrace,thepriesthoodofallbelieversanditsoffshoots-democratizationandindividualism.Protestants,theessaysinthisvolumedemonstrate,helpedbirthandshapethefilmindustryandharnessthepowerofmotionpicturesforspiritualinstruction,edification,andculturalinfluence.
