Ep. 11 – Prometheus – Is It A Gnostic Film?

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In the eleventh episode of the Prometheus series, The Film Symbologist continues the analysis of Ridley Scott’s 2012 science fiction film. In this installment, I offer another possible interpretation of the film’s plot and delve deeper into who the engineers might be. With the help of the Gnostic tradition, John Milton’s Paradise Lost, and Romantics like William Blake, we can explore the themes of Prometheus to better understand Scott’s film.

How can we view Prometheus through the lens of Gnosticism? How does this inform how the film can be interpreted? Who do the characters think the engineers are? Mankind’s creators? Our saviors? What is the purpose of the mutagens these engineers wield? How do they effect humanity? All these questions, and more, are explored in this video.

Link to Episode 10 – Who Are The Engineers?: https://youtu.be/8WJ6YDz8H4o

Link to Episode 12 – The Engineer’s Experiment: https://youtu.be/JiY5wQZtbjg

Series Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5u8sw3djAfqkNJ0XYrea_jg5Yiz_vX1R

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2 thoughts on “Ep. 11 – Prometheus – Is It A Gnostic Film?”

  2. Surely David did not achieve gnosis. He, a creation of Man, ourselves a creation of the engineers, may have felt he created life. But his experimentation does not appear to be on par with a transcendental understanding. To my eyes, it is an abomination – a grotesque parody – which seemed to be the Engineer's reaction to humans and their creation – David, much like Frankenstein's "monster".

    The Engineers would probably think Weyland's attempt to transcend the physical realm the same as they thought of his android.

    If we agree with Weyland's right to seek transcendental understanding, how should we feel about David's right to go on the same journey?

    We should feel that he's not ready based on what we saw – it was an affront by an almost living thing. And we must question, are we now equal to our creator to seek gnosis, or what does the creator see lacking in Man to exclude us from seeking gnosis?

    Weyland and David were so lost down the wrong path – still deeply locked onto the physical realm, seemingly asking the right questions, but with too many wrong assumptions about how to even find the answer. Thus the horror element.

    They didn't accidentally name it Prometheus. It is really a great film.

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