I took a theology and film class taught by Lee Barrett this summer and loved it. here's the intro to what we learned based loosely on my notes:
Everybody loves a good story. The old medium was to sit around a flickering fire and listen to the story be told. Now people pile into theatres to what the flickering screen and the story is told in 5.1 surround sound and high definition.
this is an avenue to the sacred, but you won't see it if you aren't looking for it.. movies morph biblical as well as other culture's sacred stories into scriptes. but each movie as theological implications as it states "Life is like..."
a box of chocolates? war? dragons at your doorstep? rule following adults not seeing an evil that doesn't play by the rules? these are movies what movies do! forest gump, saving private ryan (or pick a war movie...) reign of fire and harry potter all have a problem and a resolution to that problem. each critiques in it's own way what is wrong with the world and how best to navigate it.
Lee gave us 5 questions to ask while watching films: These questions are: 1. What is the image of the Human Condition? 2. What is the mood of the movie? 3. What is the problem that propels the plot? 4. What are the resolutions to the problem if they are any? 5. What does all of this say about God or ultimate reality?
to critique movies, i'll primarily be using #3, 4, and 5.
2 comments:
"this is an avenue to the sacred, but you won't see it if you aren't looking for it.." (Luke)
I love this! It's so true. I have found depth in everything from "The Matrix" (not to hard) to "Hancock." As I have said before, everyone holds a bit of the truth that we can discover if we are only willing to look for it.
I was listening to a podcast on Speaking of Faith about 'TV and parables for our time'. Great program, same kind of thing. It will be interesting to read your posts, which I am assuming will follow!
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