Save

Sing Us the Songs of Zion: Land, Culture, and Resistance in Psalm 137, 12 Years a Slave, and Cedar Man

In: Horizons in Biblical Theology
Author:
Mari Joerstad The Kenan Institute for Ethics at Duke University Durham, nc USA

Search for other papers by Mari Joerstad in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
Download Citation Get Permissions

Access options

Get access to the full article by using one of the access options below.

Institutional Login

Log in with Open Athens, Shibboleth, or your institutional credentials

Login via Institution

Purchase

Buy instant access (PDF download and unlimited online access):

$40.00

Abstract

This article reads Psalm 137 in light of colonial appropriation of land and culture, contextualizing the violence of verses 8 and 9 as a response to exile and as a method of protecting Judean cultural practices. Two modern art pieces serve as points of comparison: Steve McQueen’s film 12 Years a Slave, and Joe David’s totem pole Cedar Man. The article concludes by considering how the violent language of Psalm 137 may guide contemporary ethical reflection.

Content Metrics

All Time Past 365 days Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 1396 165 28
Full Text Views 418 8 0
PDF Views & Downloads 320 19 0