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4	Catholic Principles of Exegesis All interpretations must rest upon the literal sense, which is defined as the original author’s intention. Author’s intention can only be uncovered by use of literary forms, history, archaeology, etc. From Exegesis to Hermeneutics: Content and unity of the whole of Scripture Living Tradition of the whole Church Analogy of faith (i.e., the coherence of truths)
5	Let’s Go to the Movies! Our Questions What are the different types (genre, literary forms) of movies – and what is the social function of each type? What is the pattern of a romantic comedy? What is the significance of movies that “break the pattern”?
6	What are the types of Movies?
7	What are the different types – and social function – of movies? Comedy: Screwball, Satire, etc. Everything will turn out OK in the end. Romance: Comedic, Tragic, etc. The dignity of human struggle for love makes life worth living. Adventure: Action, Westerns, etc. Life is a battle between good and evil – and good prevails when one person of courage stands up to evil. Suspense: Horror, Detective, etc. Life is dangerous and unpredictable because evil is a powerful force in the world. Documentaries: Informative, Persuasive, etc. Knowledge is the key to making the world a better place.
8	Dominant Types Signify Our Present Sense of Life – Our Social Setting Westerns were the rage during the Cold War, but now are rarely seen. Star Wars “prequels” didn’t work in a post-Berlin Wall world. What does it say that Reality TV shows – which focus on winners and losers who are pitted against each other in competition – became the rage since the turn of the millennium?
9	What is the pattern of a Love Story (comedy or drama)? External force results in boy meeting girl. Boy and girl despise each other and separate. Boy and girl, through circumstances beyond their control, meet again and start falling in love. Due to some misunderstanding or complication, boy and girl separate (usually the result of some social discrepancy or interpersonal inauthenticity). At the last possible minute, either boy or girl then chooses to reunite with the other, but first must overcome various obstacles. Boy and girl live happily ever-after (comedy or drama) or self-sacrifice – preferably death – leads to undying love for the other, even though permanently separated from each other (drama).
10	"Since the plot line of..." Since the plot line of a Love Story is so predictable, why do we pay money time and time again to see the same ending? The reason: the plot communicates an attractive message that we want to believe in as a society – love conquers all – as well as opposites attract love involves both fate and choice love is an irresistible force.
11	Romance Genre needs a taboo – a complicating factor – in order to separate couple.
12	Problem: Class is no longer a social taboo in 21^st century United States! Solution: Find a new “complicating circumstance” like . . . gender differences. Formal elements do not change, but conventional element (content) of form does – and this reflects shift in social location (Sitz-im-Leben)
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14	What does it say about our society that recent romances have been about homosexual cowboys, a gigantic ape, and an adulterous relationship?
15	"All forms of verbal communication..." All forms of verbal communication among human beings, whether expressed orally or in writing, follow well-defined patterns. Example: letters. The social circumstances and the literary purpose dictate the form selected. Example: business vs. friendly letters. Changes in the ideal form indicate some unique circumstance or purpose. Example: mixed form of business and friendly letter.
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17	Dei Verbum (1965) Since God speaks in Sacred Scripture through men in human fashion, the interpreter of Sacred Scripture, in order to see clearly what God wanted to communicate to us, should carefully investigate what meaning the sacred writers really intended, and what God wanted to manifest by means of their words. To search out the intention of the sacred writers, attention should be given, among other things, to "literary forms”. For truth is set forth and expressed differently in texts which are variously historical, prophetic, poetic, or other forms of discourse. The interpreter must investigate what meaning the sacred writer intended to express and actually expressed in particular circumstances by using contemporary literary forms in accordance with the situation of his own time and culture. For the correct understanding of what the sacred author wanted to assert, due attention must be paid to the customary and characteristic styles of feeling, speaking and narrating which prevailed at the time of the sacred writer, and to the patterns men normally employed at that period in their everyday dealings with one another. (par. #12)
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19	Process of Composition Oral Stage Written Stage Edited Stage
20	Division of the Bible
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