Reforming Hollywood
William D. Romanowski, Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences, has been selected as the 2010-2011 Calvin Worldview Lecturer and will be speaking on the topic “Reforming Hollywood.” Author of several books including the award-winning Eyes Wide Open: Looking for God in Popular Culture, Romanowski’s lectures will be based on his current book project, which is supported by a Fellowship and Faculty Research Award (2009-2010) of the National Endowment for the Humanities and will be published by Oxford University Press.
Introduction to the Lectures
In 1922, Jewish studio owners in Hollywood employed a prominent Protestant to head their trade organization; in 1930 they commissioned Roman Catholics to write and administer a Production Code of ethics. These facts underscore the importance of religious groups for understanding the American cinema. The rise of the film industry occurred during an epochal transition from a Protestant to a pluralist America between 1920 and 1965. Although Protestantism was close to America’s cultural center well into the twentieth century, it has received scant consideration in the scholarly literature. As the 2010-2011 Calvin Worldview Lecturer, William D. Romanowski will address this oversight by exploring the historical interaction of two dynamic American institutions—Protestantism and the film industry—engaged in a struggle over cultural power and the function of entertainment. He offers an original historical exploration and innovative analysis of a significant, yet untold story that goes to the heart of the role of film and religion in a democratic society.
