the secret: Exemplary studies on cultural significance of esoteric literature, using film *The Secret* as a case study

This thesis examines Rhonda Byrne's film *The Secret* (2007) in terms of its technical and aesthetic craftsmanship and its impact within social, religious, philosophical and economic contexts. Whilst the film is technically well-made, the excessive emphasis on emotionality is striking, suggesting a shortcoming on another level. This is confirmed in the content-based part of the analysis and manifests itself, amongst other things, in incorrect quotations, logical errors and contradictions in the arguments. The religious analysis examines whether the film proclaims a religion of its own, which is ultimately what it claims to do. The worldview conveyed is subjected to philosophical scrutiny and presented as inadequate. Through intertextual references, the question of charlatanism is raised. The conclusion: the film exhibits significant shortcomings in terms of content, but this does not refute the underlying principle behind The Secret, the Law of Attraction.