The Bible and Music

The most striking thing to me personally about the movie interpretation of the story of David and Bathsheba is how what is essentially coercion is depicted as sexually erotic. Historically Bathsheba would not have much of a choice in having an affair yet the movie producers framed her as if she wanted David sexually. I think that portrayal dates the movie quite well and points to the heavy rape culture that dominated the film industry for so many years and still does. The argument can be made that the movie is giving Bathsheba agency since she takes charge of the affair but I think that argument is invalid because historically the relationship was very one-sided in the power dynamic. Eroticizing a relationship where one member does not truly have a choice is quite disturbing to me personally.