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Faith, Film, and Philosophy
Posted: 26 Jul 2008 02:00 AM CDT
There's no doubt that our culture is dominated by the powers of our modern media; whether that be news, television, the internet, or film, its clear that we are constantly bombarded by competing ideas and perspectives. As a blogger, I love the fact that its become easier than its ever been in the course of history for just about anyone to participate in the cultural conversation. No doubt, challenges come with this new found power, but its amazing to see, and participate in, the global conversation as it unfolds. Lately, I have also begun to think more about the potentcy of film on cultural norms and values, and it seems clear that this form of artful communication is arguably as powerful as the internet; I say this not as an ominous warning to avoid the 'ills of Hollywood', as is often the fundamentalist mantra, but merely to highlight the sheer power of movies, while encouraging discerning cultural engagement.
As a pastor who lives and ministers primarily among college students, I see first-hand how movies represent a major part of social and cultural life for students. Like most other things, I have also seen how the underlying message is at times, both positive and neagtive. As I have thought about how to engage students a bit more deliberately on this level, I am reminded of our need to engage in, as Kevin Vanhoozer describes it, "cultural exegesis". While Vanhoozer certainly applies this idea beyond simply engaging in film criticism, this notion is also not exclusive to it. One good example of an effort to do just this sort of thing recently came across my desk with the release of "Faith, Film, and Philosophy" (IVP, Nov. 2007), which was edited by James S. Speigel and R. Dougles Geivett.
This book, which features the writings of fourteen thoughtful and inflential scholars, challenges the reader, Christian or not, to engage in thoughtful interaction with the ideas and perspective presented in a wide array of contemporary and historically influential films. One of the ideas, broadly speaking, is to be deliberate about how we integrate the notions and values presented to us via cinema. Below are two excerpts from a chapter in this book, written by Dallas Willard, where he interacts with the moral precedents put forward in the films, "Pleasantville", "American Beauty", and "The Cider House Rules":
"It is that moral rules and rigorous moral order in life, as traditionally understood, are meaningless or pointless at best and really are repressive of the best aspects of human relationships, individuality and creativity. What would traditionally have been thought of as moral propriety and human goodness is now considered arbitrary and harmful to life-perhaps even vicious (at least in its effects)-largely because moral rectitude eliminates or represses human feelings, the true elixir of life." (141)
"There may be good reason to think that, for most human beings, life within the boundaries of individual human abilities is tragic or at least quite disappointing. But life need not be anywhere nearly as tragic as it in fact is precisely because of unchecked feelings and desires, together with their consequences. Most of the actual tragedies one sees in real life, as in these pictures, are precisely the result of feelings ungoverned by good- from drug addiction to unwanted pregnancies, ethnic cleansing, and on and on. The tragedy of living a Pleasantville life or even a Lester Burnham life (before his reawakening) is very small indeed compared to the tragic lives of multitudes ravaged by unbridled feelings and desires, whether their own or those of others. For real life requires a point of reference as to what is good for people, and a firm understanding that what we want or how we feel is not the same as what is good for us and for those whose lives we affect- even though what we want and what we feel has some importance. This crucial point of reference is altogether absent from the vision of life communicated by cinematic productions that represent sensuality as the path to moral liberation." (154-155)
Agree or disagree, Willard's words are provocative and incisive; overall, this book contains numerous examples of thoughtful interaction with cinema, and will certainly be a thought-provoking read. I have no doubt that this book will change the way you watch that next film- definitely check this one out!
