Goliath as Gentle Giant
Sympathetic Portrayals in Popular Culture
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Lexington Books
Published:15th Jan '22
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
In the Hebrew Bible and stories loyal to it, Goliath is the stereotypical giant of folklore: big, brash, violent, and dimwitted. Goliath as Gentle Giant sets out to rehabilite the giant’s image by exploring the origins of the biblical behemoth, the limitations of the “underdog” metaphor, and the few sympathetic treatments of Goliath in popular media. What insights emerge when we imagine things from Goliath’s point of view? How might this affect our reading of the biblical account or its many retellings and interpretations? What sort of man was Goliath really? The nuanced portraits analyzed in this book function as a catalyst to challenge readers to question stereotypes, reexamine old assumptions, and humanize the “other.”
Goliath as a Gentle Giant is a colossal contribution to where biblical scholarship, pop culture, and literary and media criticism intersect. Friedmann explores the fantasy and reality of Goliath—leading readers to expanded interpretation and compassion. An immense undertaking to grasp the heart of a giant.
-- Rochelle Robbins, Academy for Jewish Religion CaliforniaMoving effortlessly from biblical commentary, classical literature, and archaeology to graphic novels, Xena the Warrior Princess, and Andre the Giant, Friedmann’s writing hits on a truly astounding number of cultural touchstones for those of us who aspire to the smart yet proudly geeky set. This book forever changes the readers’ relationship to the overused David-versus-Goliath metaphor, requiring us to question not just whether we’re really the David in our own struggles—as individuals or as a people—but perhaps more importantly, to ask what we don’t know about the motivation and experiences of our Goliaths.
-- Paul Golin, Society for Humanistic JudISBN: 9781666904697
Dimensions: 227mm x 160mm x 19mm
Weight: 426g
168 pages