Jessica Kaplan What is holiness and how is it represented? In Edward Berger’s film Conclave, released in 2024, Berger draws visual distinctions during the election of a new pope, emphasizing a deep-rooted divide not just between political ideologies, but also between those exceptionally holy from the rest of the Church. Furthermore, Berger’s inclusion of an…
Modern Vampires of the City: Morality, Race, and Queerness in Interview with the Vampire
The modern vampire in popular culture is inherently tied to Catholicism. Some of the most memorable vampire traits in common knowledge are fundamentally related to Catholic practices, such as their aversion to holy water and crucifixes. In fact the original Bram Stoker novel Dracula positions the fight against vampires directly as a fight on behalf…
Between Worlds: Family, Ritual, and Lived Religion in Coco (2017)
Disney Pixar’s Coco opens in a small Mexican town, where music, family, and religious traditions shape everyday life. The film follows Miguel Rivera, who is a young boy that dreams of becoming a musician despite his family’s ban on music. During Día de los Muertos, Miguel accidentally enters into the colorful Land of the Dead,…
Fiery Lust, Hatred, and Damnation: Frollo’s Catholic Guilt in Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)
Frollo, the most religious villain in Disney history, suffocates in blasphemy as he tries to smother his own Catholic guilt. The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a 1996 animated film released by Disney. In this film, Frollo is a Minister of Justice for Paris, and he comes into contact with two people he ostracizes. The…
MIDNIGHT MASS Unveiling the Veil: Monster’s in Submission.
“Midnight Mass” is a Netflix original series set in the small Catholic community of Crockett Island. The story begins with the arrival of a new priest, Father Paul, following the mysterious disappearance of the island’s previous priest during his trip to Jerusalem. As Father Paul integrates himself into the town and addresses its various struggles,…
Eve’s Bayou: Women as Current for Spirituality
“Like others before me, I have the gift of sight” Synopsis Set in Louisiana during the 1960s, Eve’s Bayou follows a 10-year-old girl named Eve Batiste as she navigates her father’s infidelity, a sibling rivalry with her sister, Cisely, and a pervasive fascination with Haitian vodou. At the heart of Eve’s interactions and revelations are…
Nuns of Netflix: Feminine Divinity in Warrior Nuns
Isaiah 30:20-21: Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. The Netflix show titled “Warrior Nuns” is a two-season action-packed religious take on an undercover ancient order of nuns known as the Order of…
Catholicism in The Irishman
In Martin Scorsese’s 2019 film The Irishman, there is a significant amount of Catholic imagery and representation. The male characters in this film are particularly devout, and illustrate the ethnic differences at the time, with both Italian Catholic and Irish Catholics being portrayed.The film is centered on the life of former truck driver turned mafia…
The Da Vinci Code
The Da Vinci Code: A Catholic conspiracy rooted in truth By: Joshua Nichols “Skepticism has become a virtue. Cynicism and demand for proof has become enlightened thought. Is it any wonder that humans now feel more depressed and defeated than they have at any point in human history?” – Dan Brown Summary The Da Vinci…
“Nuns with a Twist: How Sister Act Redefines the Convent Narrative”
The film Sister Act (1992) is a comedy about lounge singer Deloris Van Cartier’s journey as she is forced into a Catholic convent of nuns. Deloris, played by Whoopi Goldberg, is introduced as a witty, talented singer in a relationship with casino owner, Vince. One night Deloris uncovers Vince’s true identity as a shady businessman…
Catholics in the Americas 