Jandy, I like to think that I got this about your view on films, but that's just patting myself on the back for being as smart as you. Seriously, I appreciate your articulating the way you approach the culture. It is helpful. I wanted to see Transamerica because Felicity Huffman is the star, but I was hesitating because of the content. Perhaps I'll give it a look while Mark's away.
P.S. I often recommend films completely forgetting the "questionable" scenes. I've started adding this disclaimor every time I comment on a movie, "It was a really good movie, but that doesn't mean I am forgetting something objectionable."
Jandy
· 3 years ago
Jennifer,
I'm glad I'm not the only one! I disclaimer myself all the time (music, too...I don't know how often I had to scramble for the volume control at work because I had forgotten that the song had an explicit lyric or two).
re: Transameria. I still recommend it heartily as a film, and because Felicity Huffman is truly incredible. Since you're a fan of hers anyway, I think you'd appreciate it. There are a couple of scenes I would've left out, but more for suggestion than actual content. Just don't let the kids near it. ;)
Holly
· 3 years ago
Jandy, Frankly, the views that you expressed here are exactly why I chose an arts major. One of the reasons it is so rare to find an objection-free work of art (be it film, sculpture, music, whatever) is that we as Christians have become so afraid of being polluted by art that we leave it to the "secular world." We can never hope to produce profound and beautiful art of any kind if we refuse to study or create it simply by virtue of the worldviews which create do. I believe that we need to redeem culture. I believe that our job as Christian artists is to study art, even sometimes the objectionable works, with a critical eye while remaining immersed in the Word of God. Then we need to go on to analize that work in light of it's Ultimate Inspiration--since all beauty is from God and about God. A film doesn't have to be either "bad" or "good." It can be a film that I would never create myself while still having elements that I should imitate in my work. I guess I'm referring to Common Grace. God gives the job of bearing His image to all humans, whether we choose to acknowlege Him or not; and that means that all of us can communicate His Truth, even though we do it in flawed ways. I needed to know what makes "Christian Art." It can't be just a matter of whether the piece mentions God's name. There has to be something deeper the defines whether a work communicates God's Truth. I'm not going to define my views on Christian Art in this short space, but they are expressed generally in C.S. Lewis' sermon "The Weight of Glory,". It's a relatively short read, and I strongly recommend it. There are points where you feel fireworks going off in your head because his explainations are so poignant.
All Comments
I like to think that I got this about your view on films, but that's just patting myself on the back for being as smart as you. Seriously, I appreciate your articulating the way you approach the culture. It is helpful. I wanted to see Transamerica because Felicity Huffman is the star, but I was hesitating because of the content. Perhaps I'll give it a look while Mark's away.
P.S. I often recommend films completely forgetting the "questionable" scenes. I've started adding this disclaimor every time I comment on a movie, "It was a really good movie, but that doesn't mean I am forgetting something objectionable."
I'm glad I'm not the only one! I disclaimer myself all the time (music, too...I don't know how often I had to scramble for the volume control at work because I had forgotten that the song had an explicit lyric or two).
re: Transameria. I still recommend it heartily as a film, and because Felicity Huffman is truly incredible. Since you're a fan of hers anyway, I think you'd appreciate it. There are a couple of scenes I would've left out, but more for suggestion than actual content. Just don't let the kids near it. ;)
Frankly, the views that you expressed here are exactly why I chose an arts major. One of the reasons it is so rare to find an objection-free work of art (be it film, sculpture, music, whatever) is that we as Christians have become so afraid of being polluted by art that we leave it to the "secular world." We can never hope to produce profound and beautiful art of any kind if we refuse to study or create it simply by virtue of the worldviews which create do.
I believe that we need to redeem culture. I believe that our job as Christian artists is to study art, even sometimes the objectionable works, with a critical eye while remaining immersed in the Word of God. Then we need to go on to analize that work in light of it's Ultimate Inspiration--since all beauty is from God and about God. A film doesn't have to be either "bad" or "good." It can be a film that I would never create myself while still having elements that I should imitate in my work.
I guess I'm referring to Common Grace. God gives the job of bearing His image to all humans, whether we choose to acknowlege Him or not; and that means that all of us can communicate His Truth, even though we do it in flawed ways.
I needed to know what makes "Christian Art." It can't be just a matter of whether the piece mentions God's name. There has to be something deeper the defines whether a work communicates God's Truth. I'm not going to define my views on Christian Art in this short space, but they are expressed generally in C.S. Lewis' sermon "The Weight of Glory,". It's a relatively short read, and I strongly recommend it. There are points where you feel fireworks going off in your head because his explainations are so poignant.