Some More Light on the Text: Watching HBO’s Deadwood with and without the Apostle Paul

Abstract

Abstract: Study of film and media may be a growth area for biblical scholars, but as far as the sub-field of Pauline scholarship is concerned, the direct use of Pauline materials by popular media is relatively rare. A notable exception occurs in Season One of the HBO television series Deadwood, in which recurring and explicit use of Paul’s letters is made. However, rather than finding new meaning in the selected passages, this paper argues that the specific Pauline texts serve as narrative devices deployed in the service of the television show’s plot development.