Why Are 'Good' Films Bad?

Do you think Jurassic Park is a meaningful film and would you recommend it based on its meaningfulness? That was a questions I recently posed after a screening of Jurassic Park. Theologian, writer and professor, Robert K. Johnston argues:

“…Film criticism has a different goal than simply the negative or positive evaluation of a film. It seeks to initiate a process of inquiry and reflection in order to better understand a movie. It does this by commenting on a movie’s style and story, its structure and theme. Moreover, film criticism explores the connection a movie has both to its creators and to its audiences. The best film criticism seeks comprehensively to ask, “How is it that the movie is (or is not) a meaningful experience?

If theologians, both amateur and professional, are to avoid reading into movies what is not there, they must learn something of the craft of viewing and reflecting, they must develop their critical skills. The church has been involved in film criticism throughout the past century and has even addressed some of its distinct aspects. Richard Blake argues that the church itself initiated film criticism: ‘In fact, it would not be much of an exaggeration to claim that the churches actually invented film criticism, as opposed to the reviewing carried by the daily papers, in the first year of the century.’ Churches were concerned about the social impact (public morality) of film. They also saw the catechetical (Christian education) function that movies could provide through their interpretation of life. Here is film criticism in its infancy” (Johnston, Reel Spirituality125-126).

Well I kind of agree with Johnston, but I think that the Church is very, very imbalanced when it comes to film criticism. I think that the Church severely lacks an understanding of the technical aspects of film, so much so that the Church’s criticism is not taken seriously by those outside of the Church. People in the Church have the knowledge and desire to critic films on an ideological level, but I find that it is rarely able to critic a film’s technical/artistic merit. Perhaps I don’t know enough about what the Church says about film, but the little that I hear is quite cliché and while it is theologically intelligent, it is artistically and technically negligent. I think this lack of knowledge becomes even more apparent when Christians try to make blatantly Christian films. Why are most Christian films just bad!? They may have good morals, happy endings, and noble narratives…but most times the acting, editing, script, and cinematography is just down right shoddy.

One cannot be a critic who solely focuses on meaningfulness; such a critical lens would be fatally flawed. I think the Church as a film critic and filmmaker severely displays this fault. The solution? Learn about the technical and artistic aspects of film. A really practical application? Watch a film and then ONLY critique its technical/artistic merit – don’t even address meaningfulness, its difficult.

And I know that not all ‘good’ films bad, pardon my hyperbole. And by ‘good’ I mean blatantly Christian…by bad I mean lacking technical savvy. The End.

My Life In Ruins

Since I'm 1/2 Greek its basically a requirement that I like Nia Vardolos and her films. I'm pretty sure everyone in my big, fat, Greek family will be seeing this one in theaters and raving about it thereafter. Its produced by Tom Hanks, just like the last one. I think it'll be cute.

Straight Lines

'Straight Lines' is a song by Silverchair that I recently put on my Grooveshark widget. I put a few other songs on there...so listen up. I also redid my colors as I was inspired by spring but more so by some of my fellow bloggers. I also did some artwork today and for reasons that I cannot disclose...I cannot disclose the works on my blog yet. It is taking every ounce of my patience to keep myself from posting said artworks.

I haven't had any really meaty posts on here in a while so I hope to encourage carnivorous reading soon. Stay with me, meat-eaters.

Harmony and Inner Peace, Please

You know what gives me harmony and inner peace? Waking up early in the morning. Will someone please explain to my why I make the choice to hit the snooze button on my phone every morning in order to lay around longer? When I sleep too late I don’t have time for breakfast or hair or makeup or my gym bag, which means I’m hungry at work, which means I spend money of food when I shouldn’t (an usually its unhealthy, it also means that I have bad hair the whole day and feel a little awkward, and it means that I’ve probably forgotten something I needed for my afternoon workout, which means I’ll have to go home before I work out, which means that I’m probably just not going to work out because I’ll be so hungry after work that I’ll just want to eat when I’m at home and I can’t run on a full stomach. Why would I do all of that to myself?

A few weeks ago I had a spurt of genius and inexplicable will power and I woke up really early for a few mornings (and I was aided by a friend who resolved to get up early as well, she would call me to be sure I was up). That week was also tied to overall joy, satisfaction with my hair and makeup, great workouts, appreciation for my friends, and an overall sense of thankfulness and gratitude for like and everything that God made and called good. Unfortunately, I got sick and very busy immediately after I started this routine…so its no longer a routine. But I’m hoping that this post will inspire me to start it up again.

Here are some things that I enjoyed when I was waking up early.

1) Breakfast. Breakfast is so awesome! Especially when it is eaten very early in the morning when the rest of your family (or roommates) are asleep. How often do you cook and eat in complete silence, calm, and sobriety? Not often for me! I’m usually rushed and things are loud, or I’m eating out, or talking with people. Eating became a joyful meditation where I could focus on the nourishment with which I was being blessed. I even chewed each bite 25 times and sipped on hot tea. Bliss. If I can get myself to make this a routine, I plan on making pancakes.

2) Fashion. I spent time picking out my clothes, makeup, and fixed my hair. Expression through personal fashion is a big part of who I am. The trouble is that I’m often too lazy to express myself. I wore pieces of jewelry that I had made and recently purchased. And the rest of the day I got a sense of satisfaction with my outfits and appearance. Little joys like putting on perfume and a ring were available to me since I had the time to do them. I recently bought some things from Sephora and I received three free perfume samples with my purchase. One morning I sat on me bed and read the description of each sample before choosing which one I would wear. Two of them read:

“Fragrance is as old as the earth. The evening scent of flowers, the woodland odours of plants and roots, the headiness of ripe fruits, the bouquet of wild herbs, the trace of pollen on the wind. Such things are my inspiration for, though they stir the senses, they are redolent of something deeper, harmony and inner peace.” Miller Harris perfume

“Inspired by the Mediterranean seductress, Cleopatra captivates the senses. Fresh and sparkling grapefruit and lush greens fade into accords of sensual white jasmine and tuberose; leaving an exotic, rich dry down of warm patchouli, golden amber and rich vanilla musk.” Cleopatra by Tocca

What does all that even mean, and who is in charge of writing those!? The second one doesn’t even make sense. I went with Cleopatra and it gave me a headache…

3) Fellowship. I drive to work alone every morning, but since I was getting up so early my sister would have me take her to work and we held some great conversations in the morning. Usually I’m completely silent even if I’m with people. It was refreshing to start the day with spoken words and laughter. It was also delightful to hear my friend on the phone every morning…supporting me in my attempts to get myself out of bed. We were comrades in arms against laziness!

4) Preparedness. It is such a good feeling to know that you have food for the work day as well as water, and clothes for your afternoon workout. Its never a matter of not actually having those blessings…it’s a matter of putting the effort into compiling them for the day ahead. In some ways I feel that the 40-hour workday is this evil monster that threatens to steal your soul and zap you of all your energy and joy. It’s easier to battle a monster when you’re ready for the fight. Leaving my home wielding a granola bar, apple, almonds, popcorn and my gym bag….I was invincible. Take that you 40-hour-scum-bag!

Those few days are legendary. Maybe the days of harmonious birds, fragrances that stir the senses, nourishing food and restful eating, warm tea that soothes the palette, clothes as an artistic expression, light laughter and human presence, and victory over the corporate Beast will return…Lord willing.

Lightly Fanciful

A series of three art pieces. I drew the black part and then added color and manipulated the image in photoshop.