Exploring Sacred and Secular Serpent Symbolism in Cecil B. DeMille’s The Ten Commandments (1956)-Reference-Cited by-同舟云学术

Exploring Sacred and Secular Serpent Symbolism in Cecil B. DeMille’s The Ten Commandments (1956)

Published:2014-08-20 Issue:2 Volume:7 Page:149-169
ISSN:1743-8888
Container-title:Postscripts: The Journal of Sacred Texts, Cultural Histories, and Contemporary Contexts
language:
Short-container-title:POST

Author:

Kozlovic Anton Karl

Abstract

Cecil B. DeMille was an unsung auteur and master of the American biblical epic whose feature films were eagerly awaited by the paying public and filled Paramount’s purse. And yet, he was routinely ignored, dismissed or devalued by critics unappreciative of the enormous artistry deliberately engineered therein, especially his penchant for serpent symbolism. This particular omission is in need of belated attention. Consequently, using humanist film criticism as the guiding analytical lens, this essay selectively reviews the critical DeMille, film and religion literature, locates DeMille’s place and reputation in Hollywood history, explores The Ten Commandments (1956), and explicates numerous exemplars of his trademark serpent signature under five heuristic headings. The essay concludes that DeMille was a far more insightful and accomplished biblical filmmaker than has been previously appreciated.

Publisher

Equinox Publishing

Subject

General Medicine

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