Theology and Movies

One of the many things I enjoy is to watch movies and think of creative ways they can be used in ministry. This could be using clips from them or using the entire movie for a Bible study. I think I enjoy this because it offers that connection point for people in their daily lives. This joy is exactly where the idea for my Religion and Media project came from. I had heard so much buzz about the movie Frozen and the soundtrack that I figured there had to be a way to look at it theologically. After watching the movie twice in theaters I realized there were many different elements that could be used to look at this movie through a theological lens. I created this Movie Mash as what would serve as an opening clip to show before engaging in a deeper Bible study on the movie Frozen. I think it could be viewed prior to watching the movie or after the movie is seen. There are points where I am intentional about creating a tension between the song and images/words, while other times I am trying to create a connected theme.

https://vimeo.com/84706759

Taking a Step Back!

As class ended yesterday I have spent the last day or so reflecting even more on the class. I just couldn't quite put words to where I was at last evening as I started to really tie some of the pieces together. Many of the elements started to link up as I started to think deeper about my project.

I went to Frozen last night to watch it through the lens of different theological loci. I was watching with the intent of starting to lay out my project. However, this discipline of watching or viewing a form of media through theological loci has tremendous power. We have this ability as Christians to always use a variety of theological lenses. I think to often we forget to do this and when that happens the media we are using lacks the full capacity it holds. Now, we may not always want to walk into a movie and watch it through a specific theological loci, but what might happen if you did every once in a while?

We may not always use a theological lens and that is ok. In the same way we may not have to always use social media or digital media. Tonight I witnessed how there is something special that can happen when we take that step back and let community develop naturally. At Youth group this evening I did not ask the youth to put their phones away I just helped initiate the beginning conversation. As the night went on the social/digital community they are often so attached to through their phone was placed on hold as they embraced the community around them and in their presence. There is something about us as humans that crave that relationship and true presence. The community that was present through their phone they would go back to but they also took the step back to embrace the real presence of community surrounding them. The further they engaged and embraced those around them the reminder to using caring language disappeared because they started to see Christ in each other. The transition was amazing to sit as an observer while still being a part of this community as it was forming. The media of a board game and the Bible was all that was needed for this group of youth to build on our human desire for relationship in profound ways. Which community is more important, the digital or real presence?

More on the project and Youth night to come. The one last thing as I reflect back on the class. I was nervous about starting this blog and have come to appreciate blogging. It goes back to a connection piece and to engage in conversation in a new way. I am thankful for this class as it has opened my eyes in new ways and I look forward to continuing to blog periodically.

Power of Authenticity

We covered a wide breath of information today, but what struck me was when we started to make the connections from the entire week that really creates a complex web. We talked about authenticity numerous times throughout the week. We also emphasized how important this is especially in social media. This hit me even more today when we started to talk about Pope Francis and the narrative that is told. The narrative that is told is the one that continues to be witnessed, but I think you could argue it also continues to be told because it is authentic. As humans, relationship is part of our very being, but authenticity is central in relationships. No one wants to be in a relationship with a fake. 

The narrative the is created about Pope Francis comes from more than one source. We looked at A Big Heart Open to God that was an interview published in America, we also looked at Evangelii Gaudium, and discussed the numerous images like this one. 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/30/pope-selfie-twitter-vatican_n_3844061.html

All of these sources start to create a narrative that has a common thread that if you look to other places would more than likely be present as well. Authenticity is present!

Elizabeth Drescher and Keith Anderson talk about how important authenticity is in social media in their book Click 2 Save: The Digital Ministry Bible. This idea is present in many places throughout the book, but one place I really enjoy is this quote, "One of the reasons Bolz-Weber is so effective is that she has a clear and consistent voice - the same voice you hear whether you talk to her in person, text her, or tweet back and forth." (page 163) There is an authenticity that it present when there is a consistent voice being heard and perceived whether it be via media or not. 

Just as Drescher and Anderson, talk about social media has great advantages and I would be one of the first to agree, but as I have experienced firsthand this week one of the shortcomings in the digital world. I think, we have to always keep a filter on and ask are we being authentic? Is it one voice being heard or many? What narrative are we creating? 

This week I have been working on retrieving my lost/delayed luggage. United has utilized digital media just as many other companies, but as I have experienced this week the media has not always been a unified voice. I have received mixed messages and that has resulted in my perception of their authenticity to be greatly compromised. As I write this still sitting without my luggage at what will be one week when 1am strikes, I witnessed how digital media can go wrong. I am not saying we toss digital media out. Please hear that! I have said before and I will say again, I think digital media is important and has great value. Also, hear me say I think we need to keep in mind that we want to remain authentic and create a narrative, which shares a common thread. I think we also create within that narrative a way to handle situations when things go wrong in the digital social media world. What are some of the ways you have handled situations in the social media world when they went array so they did not compromise your authenticity or your narrative?

There is power in social media and there is power in authenticity!