February 16, 2011

University to host writer and documentary filmmaker

The Harding University English department will host acclaimed writer Craig Detweiler Thursday, March 3, as a part of its regular series of visiting writers.

Detweiler plans to discuss the topic “Hidden Power: The Spiritual Secrets of Filmmakers” in his main session at 7 p.m. in Cone Chapel on campus. His presentation will center around his book Into the Dark: Seeing the Sacred in the Top Films in the 21st Century. The event is free of charge and open to the public. His visit will also include a session with interested students, faculty and visitors earlier that same day.

Detweiler is an associate professor of communication and the director of the Center for Entertainment, Media and Culture at Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif. He has received numerous awards for his contributions in the media world.

He has written other award-winning books and is well known for his book A Matrix of Meanings: Finding God in Pop Culture. He directed a film documentary entitled Williams Syndrome: A Highly Musical Species that won a CINE Gold Eagle. His comedic documentary, Purple State of Mind, won “Best Spiritual Film” at the Breckenridge Festival of Film and the Audience Award at the Tallahassee Film Festival. Detweiler has also written study guides for popular movies such as Walk the Line, The Book of Eli and The Blind Side.

He produces the annual City of the Angels Film Festival at the Directors Guild in Hollywood where more than 100 classic explorations of theology and film have been screened. Detweiler also leads a partnership of schools and educators to the Sundance Film Festival for the Windrider Forum.

His cultural commentary has been featured on ABC’s Nightline, CNN, Fox News, Al Jazeera, NPR, and in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.

For more information, contact the English department at 501-279-4421.