Uppsatsens ansats är att undersöka hur den kvinnliga karaktären Eleven kan tolkas som en kristusgestalt. Med hjälp av en narrativ analys av utvalda scener i säsong ett av tv-serien Stranger Things där karaktären Eleven figurerar, analyseras både Elevens handlingar och hennes karaktäristiska drag med hjälp av bland annat Tomas Axelsons förståelse av en kristusgestalt och dess rötter, samt Lloyds Baughs åtta kriterier för kristusgestalter. Resultatet visar att Elevens karaktäristiska drag och handlingar är till stor del förenliga med en kristusgestalts, men är inte oproblematiskt. Många av Elevens handlingar, även de som genomförs med ett beskyddande syfte, genomsyras av våld, vilket inte är kristuslikt alls. Tidigare forskning menar att våld är vanligt förekommande bland dagens kristusgestalter, men frågan kan ställas huruvida detta så vitt skiljande drag bör påverka tolkning av karaktärer som kristusgestalter.

This is a study of religion and popular culture with a focus on the film industry. The purpose of this bachelor thesis is to create an increased understandning of how religion can be expressed in film and contribute to an understanding of the way religious themes can be expressed in popular culture. Furthermore, the purpose of this bachelor thesis is to examine which messianic features are found in Dune's main character Paul Atreides. Additionally, how Bene Gesserit as well as fremen both contribute to the messianic concept in the film Dune (2021). Two theoretical concepts have been used in this study: Axelson's theory of the messiah-figure and religious syncretism. The method is a qualitative content analysis and to achieve the purpose of the inquiry this method will be used by examining the film Dune (2021). The messianic features of Paul Atreides will be examined with the use of Axelson's theory of the messiah-figure. The analysis shows several messianic features that emerge, Dune's main character Paul Atreides had doubts, unsure of this identity and visions as messianic features. Furthermore, Bene Gesserit has contributed to the messianic concept as the intermediator by creating the messiah. Additionally, the fremen have the function of a chosen as well as an opressed people and has contributed to the messianic concept in this way. The chosen and opressed people as an idea have been borrowed from judaism. Additionally, the idea of mahdi have been borrowed from shia islam which is a concept about a messiah who will return to earth and create justice. These two concepts from judaism and shia islam shows different features from religion that has been expressed in the film Dune (2021).