Author Date

2019-12

Degree Name

Department

Theatre and Media Arts

College

Fine Arts and Communications

Defense Date

2019-12-09

Publication Date

2019-12-20

First Faculty Advisor

Jeffrey L Parkin

First Faculty Reader

Anthony R Sweat

Honors Coordinator

Dean W Duncan

Keywords

Heaven Can Wait, After Life, Orpheus, A Ghost Story, Spirit World, Latter-day Saint

Abstract

This thesis investigates five films about the afterlife from various cultural perspectives and seeks to glean cultural insights based on their methods of portrayal. The films include Heaven Can Wait as an example of corporate America, After Life as an example of Japanese domesticity, Orpheus as an example of post-war France, and A Ghost Story as an example of secular postmodernism. Additionally, I examine my own BYU senior capstone film, Father of Man, as an example of Latter-day Saint influence. Apart from the visual choices of these films, which reveal interesting insights as to their culture’s imaginings of an afterlife, they also reflect implicit ideologies found in their respective communities. I hope that after studying filmic interpretations of the afterlife, the reader may better understand what others value in this life, leading to a richer connection between other cultures and perspectives.