When Jesus Was a Girl: Polymythic Female Christ Figures in Whale Rider and Steel Magnolias (Critical Essay‪)‬

Article [1] That Christ-figures are not uncommon in popular culture texts such as film and television is both widely accepted and hotly debated. Anton Karl Kozlovic points out that, in interpreting film, scholars--like audiences in general--must steer between the extremes of seeing Christ-figures everywhere and missing them altogether. Kozlovic calls for more research and writing devoted to developing criteria that will allow interpreters to discern Christ-figure elements more clearly. (1) Christopher Deacy, however, accuses Kozlovic and most other Christ-figure hunters of falling prey to one of the extremes Kozlovic warns readers to avoid--reading films as Christ-figure narratives when no significant Christological themes or implications are present. (2)