Goliath as Gentle Giant: Sympathetic Portrayals in Popular Culture

(Hardback)

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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 giants 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 Goliaths 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.

Reviews

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 Goliathleading readers to expanded interpretation and compassion. An immense undertaking to grasp the heart of a giant.

Moving effortlessly from biblical commentary, classical literature, and archaeology to graphic novels, Xena the Warrior Princess, and Andre the Giant, Friedmanns 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 were really the David in our own strugglesas individuals or as a peoplebut perhaps more importantly, to ask what we dont know about the motivation and experiences of our Goliaths.

Author Bio

Jonathan L. Friedmann is professor of Jewish music history and associate dean of the Master of Jewish Studies Program at the Academy for Jewish Region California.