Greg Wright Lectures on the Intersection of Faith and Hollywood

by Jaime Bates, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805
Baylor University Honors College and Student Activities will begin a new lecture series this week that explores the connections between faith and culture. The first speaker in the Intersections Lecture Series is author Greg Wright, who will speak on "Inklings: Too Good for Hollywood, or Perfect Fit?," at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27 in the Alexander Reading Room on the Baylor campus.

Wright, internationally known lecturer on film, J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, is the author of Tolkien in Perspective: Sifting the Gold From the Glitter and Peter Jackson in Perspective: The Power Behind Cinema's The Lord of the Rings. Wright began academic work on Tolkien in 1999 with contributions to HollywoodJesus.com, a web site he and his wife that looks at pop culture from a spiritual point of view. He also is a member of the Faith and Film Critics Circle.

Wright is an ordained minister of the dramatic arts and has degrees in theology, English literature and computer science. He was a writer in residence at Puget Sound Christian College from 2005-2007.

Wright will discuss the literary work of Lewis and Tolkein, who were members of a literary discussion group at Oxford University in the 1930s called "The Inklings." His lecture will address the question of whether or not their literary works are "too good for Hollywood, or a perfect match," said Michael Riemer, the associate director of Student Activities.

This lecture is one of six lectures that make up the Intersections Lecture Series this spring.

Riemer says he hopes this lecture series will "prompt students to ask questions, gain insight and see more clearly how our faith helps interpret and shape culture."

For more information, contact Riemer at (254) 710-4919 or visit www.baylor.edu/honors_college .