I’m taking a course on postmodern theology, film and culture for the summer quarter. Usually, when people talk Christianity and film, they like to talk about movies with built-in Christian motifs and ideas presented that reflect their own. This is why youth ministers can’t stop talking about movies like The Matrix and The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Ugh.
Thankfully, we are not watching any of those kinds of movies. Instead, over ten weeks we’re going to be watching Fight Club, Donnie Darko, Josie and the Pussycats, Memento, Spirited Away and others. The idea presented throughout the lectures is that it’s easy for Christians to relate to movies, like The Matrix or The Lord of the Rings, with familiar ideas in them. However…however…
What about the movies that still have something to say, but in the process might have someone like Tyler Durden say “Fuck damnation, man! Fuck redemption! We are God's unwanted children? So be it!”
What do we do with that? How do we respond? It isn’t quite as easy as examining how Gandolf holding off the Balrog on the bridge through the Mines of Moria represents a stand against evil.
But these movies are saying something incredibly powerful, and saying it in a decidedly postmodern fashion. They’re just saying it in a different fashion, and it’s always interesting to read people’s thoughts who haven’t grown up with these movies. Controversial movies like Fight Club and Donnie Darko say as much about the viewer’s own perspective as anything else, and already we’re having debates on whether or not Christians should support these kinds of movies.
My take? Absolutely. Of course. Hell yes, we should.
In Tyler we trust.
Of course, the most immediate challenge is to start examining what these movies are saying theologically without trying to Jesuify them. That is a huge challenge. Most people in ministry have been trained to do exactly that, but if you start trying to draw people to Jesus by saying “Hey, you know that Tyler Durden guy? Well, see…there was this guy that lived two thousand years ago who started his own kind of Fight Club….”
Yeah…start speaking like that and be prepared to fall flat on your face. The postmodern generation is too smart, too informed, too JADED to really go for that sort of theological snake oil.
Honestly, I don’t blame them. Talk about movies for what they are saying, not what you want them to say.
Comments (17)
Will you all be watching Magnolia?
in Tyler we trust. Amen.
In Tyler we trust. Amen.
this is why I appreciate some films, regardless of their illusions to a so-called Christ-figure or what have you, because of the HONESTY in message. you don't need to put your own "Jesus"-spin but just take what the film is saying and how it relates to life. One of my favorite films is the Clint Eastwood movie "Unforgiven." The ending is superb.
the only place where i'd tread carefully is when something is labeled "post-modern theology" as if to suggest the foundational doctrines and the gospel message is up for negotiation just because we're living in an ever evolving post-modern age. I understand this generation shuns certitude and values a diversity of values and opinions (except the one that claims exclusivity.. there's no tolerance for that). I think that's the challenge: to be uncompromising in truth and the aspect of KNOWING truth, KNOWING God, KNOWING eternal life but to bring that message in a relevant way without a clumsy repackaging of sorts.
so should movies like "fight club" be supported? only to the extent where it's had usefulness, reach and influence in our world. we live in a post-modern age but not everyone has fully embraced every aspect of post-modernism whether they would consider themselves a christian or not.
but once you're done talking about movies for what they are saying, not what you want them to say, where do you go from there? be sure to let us know after you've completed your summer course.
Just finished watching Donnie Darko - some sad, weird stuff. But I have to agree on the Jesuification thing. I remember a Paul Neuman film "Cool Hand Luke" that my catechism instructor was all over because of one scene eating hard boiled eggs. To this day I look at a hard boiled egg and have confused images of resurrection, Alpha and Omega, and prison - Thanks Dr. Elam.
"start examining what these movies are saying theologically without trying to Jesuify them" - I love this one. It is so true. A lot of times, religious people (or fundamentalist) will not condemn a movie if they actually can Jesuify it. And indeed that is their approach, a movie is in the bast case useless but rather likely dangerous unless there is at least a slight hidden message that Jesus.... - I would love to attend that class.
BTW, Donnie Darko, regarding that bunny costume, interesting, 2000 years ago there was that guy who just loved dressing up.... oh wait,...
@soy_esteban - no. that's not required, but there is an option to watch movies of our choosing with approval. that would be a good choice.
@slamjoe - sorry, i forgot to mention it's mostly aimed at exploring youth culture. as far as postmodern theology goes, fuller has a wide variety of classes dealing with the subject. all of them deal with the issue in a similar way, which you pretty much said: how do we relate the uncompromising truths of a faith to an age that seemingly does nothing but compromise. it's not new theology. it's just a rethinking of the way things are done, taking a particiular interest in deconstructing the modern ways of thinking about God since those are the most recent.
it's entirely possible that people these days are more spiritually minded these days than in the past. just not in a christian sense. and i know i've had more conversations about spirituality, not necessarily faith in Jesus or God, over a movie like Fight Club than over something like The Passion of the Christ. in the end, i think these kinds of movies can be good starting points to frame a conversation, but things do need to go further.
@murisopsis - that was a cool movie. i suppose there are some merits to seeing Christian themes in movies. after all, if you are a christian, you bring that viewpoint to everything you see. i guess it's just a pet peeve of mine when people try to make things fit where they shouldn't fit. paul newman doesn't seem like the jesus type.
@Iassi - to further your point, we talked a bit about how violence doesn't seem to bother american audiences so much. the most brutal, gory scenes are displayed and audiences don't blink an eye. perhaps our culture has grown accustomed to it, and maybe as a christian nation, violence is something we accept because violence is the starting point for the christian tradition. show some boobs, on the other hand, and watch out...
Can I get an AMEN!
This was marvelous! I love it!
(And Memento---freaky! I loved that movie!!)
@soy_esteban - I could never get into Magnolia.
Just stopping by on a rec and wanted to add my two cents... no point in being a blog creeper, is there?
I never understood Donnie Darko. Everyone I know loves that movie. I tried. I hated it.
Memento, on the other hand, is fabulous.
@the_mamarazzi - donnie darko is difficult to understand. honestly, i think some people might just say they like it because it's one of those underground cult classic movies that makes you cool if you like it.
i've seen it multiple times, and thinks it's an interesting blend of high school dramedy and science fiction.
memento, on the other hand, i didn't really like. don't know. just didn't find the plot interesting.
feel free to creep all you like.
I agree with you about Donnie Darko and the "cool" aspect. Still, just not for me. It's kind of like Across the Universe. Have you seen that one? Everyone loves that film. Except for me. I love musicals. I really, really like the Beatles. One would think the two together would be a charming combination, no? No. Two hours of my life that I will never get back. I guess I'm just uncool. Oh, well.
The Hubs couldn't get into Memento, either. To each their own, right? That's what makes life interesting.
Donnie Darko was one of those psuedo-witty fuckpiles of a movie that tried waaay too hard.
IF I NEVER HEAR ANOTHER FIGHT CLUB QUOTE AGAIN IT'LL BE TOO SOON, DAMMIT
@Drakonskyr - sometimes i wonder if that movie was privately funded by the UFC.
@woodrowwilson - I'd take Chuck Liddel beating the shit out of Brad Pitt as payment for all the stupid "I am Jack's..." jokes I've endured over the past few years.
@SirNickDon - I actually consider it one of the most Christian-themed movies I've ever seen. Sins of the fathers passed down to the children screwing them up. Various efforts of forgiveness, redemption, and reconciliation. The frogs! Good stuff. Good music. I'm gonna post a blog about the frogs.
His name was Robert Paulson