The Wages of Cinema

""If, as Dorothy Sayers quipped, the 'only Christian work is good work, well done,' then Crystal Downing has scripted a magnificent Christian work on a fascinating and wonderfully unruly Christian saint whose thoughts on art, beauty, goodness, and cinema reshape the ways in which we might watch films. Downing is no 'hoity-toity film buff' but a creative mind that remakes the experience of filmgoing a religious renaissance of a mystery play."" -- Terry Lindvall, C. S. Lewis Endowed Chair of Communication and Christian Thought at Virginia Wesleyan University and author of God on the Big Screen and Animated Parables ""Crystal Downing's latest book, The Wages of Cinema, is an in-depth study of the ways in which Dorothy Sayers thought, felt, and wrote in cinematic terms in her writings, her novels, and her plays. It is erudite, scholarly, and accurate, and a joy to read. Downing draws on many sources for her ideas and bases her study on materials from important scholars of both Sayers and cinema. I recommend it highly for all who would like to know more about DLS, an exceptional writer, and her gift for dramatization."" -- Jasmine Simeone, secretary of the Dorothy L. Sayers Society ""In The Wages of Cinema, Crystal L. Downing takes us to the movies with Dorothy L. Sayers, treating us to a blockbuster of a book that explores the history, theory, and forms of cinema in light of Sayers's biography, theology, and Christian aesthetic. With its thoughtful organization, illuminating examples, and delightful wordplay, Downing's book serves as further proof that Sayers was correct when she wrote that 'a work of creation is an act of love.'"" -- Jim Beitler, professor of English and director of the Marion E. Wade Center at Wheaton College and author of Seasoned Speech and Charitable Writing ""A rich and necessary exploration of the intersection of Christian thought and cinematic aesthetic through the lens of Dorothy L. Sayers. Thought-provoking and insightful, this work offers a fresh perspective on cinema's artistic and spiritual dimensions. A must-read for those who seek a deeper understanding of film history, theory, and the theological insights that enrich both."" -- Krista Imbesi, associate professor of film and media arts at Messiah University