Yale Divinity School Exhibition Examines Hollywood’s Influence on Biblical Imagery

Yale Divinity School is currently hosting an exhibition titled “Silence and Spectacle,” which explores how 20th-century cinema shaped public perceptions of religious narratives. The display features approximately two dozen original movie posters from the 1920s through the 1960s, showcasing how Hollywood epics utilized theatrical advertising to influence the theological imagination of mass audiences.

The collection includes international posters from the United States, Europe, South America, and Japan, highlighting iconic portrayals of biblical and historical figures such as Charlton Heston as Moses. These items are drawn from a larger 200-piece archive assembled by the late Dominican friar and art historian, Rev. Michael Morris. The collection is now managed by the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology.

Co-curators Richard Lindsay and Father Christopher J. Renz suggest that these films functioned as primary visual conduits for the Christian story, similar to traditional stained glass or icons. The exhibition aims to demonstrate how secular marketing strategies adapted sacred symbols to meet commercial needs, ultimately leaving a significant imprint on how the public visualizes and interprets scripture.