Popular Art & CulturePopular Art & Culture

© John Stevenson, 2008

John Calvin, Commentary on Genesis

The invention of the arts, and other things which serve the common use

and conveniences of life, is a gift of God by no

means to be despised and a faculty worthy of

commendation.

What should be a Christian What should be a Christian response to popular movies and response to popular movies and

entertainment?entertainment?• Stay away!

• Selectively enjoy them

• Use them as a bridge to teach truths from God

• Use them for their insights into today’s culture and thinking

Tumnis: One day he’ll be here, and the next he won’t. But you mustn’t press him. After all, he’s not a tame lion.

Lucy: No, but he’s good.

(Prince Caspian)

Lucy: “Aslan, you're bigger.

Aslan: “That is because you are older, little one.”

Lucy: “Not because you are?”

Aslan: “I am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger.”

“Over three and a half centuries ago, linked by faith and bound by a common desire for

liberty, a small band of pilgrims sought out a

place in the New World where they

could worship according to their own

beliefs”

Four Roles for Popular ArtFour Roles for Popular Art

• Communicating cultural values and ideals

• Offering social and cultural criticism

• Providing social unity

• Contributing to the collective memory

Which Role is being Utilized?Which Role is being Utilized?

• Communicating cultural values and ideals

• Offering social and cultural criticism

• Providing social unity

• Contributing to the collective memory

Which Role is being Utilized?Which Role is being Utilized?

• Communicating cultural values and ideals

• Offering social and cultural criticism

• Providing social unity

• Contributing to the collective memory

Which Role is being Utilized?Which Role is being Utilized?

• Communicating cultural values and ideals

• Offering social and cultural criticism

• Providing social unity

• Contributing to the collective memory

Which Role is being Utilized?Which Role is being Utilized?

• Communicating cultural values and ideals

• Offering social and cultural criticism

• Providing social unity

• Contributing to the collective memory

Which Role is being Utilized?Which Role is being Utilized?

• Communicating cultural values and ideals

• Offering social and cultural criticism

• Providing social unity

• Contributing to the collective memory

ReviewReview

• A Christian world view impacts how we see the God, the world, and ourselves.

• Christians have used different approaches in the past and present to deal with culture

• While our culture will always impact us, an awareness of that impact will help us to evaluate that impact and, when necessary, to counter it

What are the basic What are the basic characteristics of the characteristics of the classical Hollywood classical Hollywood

film?film?

Major Plot MotifsMajor Plot Motifs

• The Romance / Love Story

• The Quest / Journey

• The Flight / Escape

• The Comedy

• The Sacrifice

• The Tragedy

• Redemption

• The Metamorphosis / Coming of Age

• The Battle between Good & Evil

Major Plot MotifsMajor Plot Motifs

• The Romance / Love Story

• The Quest / Journey

• The Flight / Escape

• The Comedy

• The Sacrifice

• The Tragedy

• Redemption

• The Metamorphosis / Coming of Age

• The Battle between Good & Evil

The Biblical Narrative as a The Biblical Narrative as a Love StoryLove Story

• The Old Testament Romance (Ezekiel 16)

• The New Testament Romance Revelation 19)

The Romance of RedemptionThe Romance of Redemption

The Biblical Narrative as a The Biblical Narrative as a QuestQuest

• Creation– Quest for a people– Quest for a land

• Israel– Quest for a people– Quest for a land

• The Church– Quest for a people– Quest for a heavenly kingdom

Hebrews 11:8-10Hebrews 11:8-10 By faith Abraham, when he was

called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; 10 for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Hebrews 11:13Hebrews 11:13All these died in faith, without

receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

Hebrews 11:14-16Hebrews 11:14-16For those who say such things

make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 15 And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.

The Biblical Narrative and the The Biblical Narrative and the EscapeEscape

• Escaping the Presence of God (Genesis 3)

• Escaping the Flood (Genesis 6-9)

• Escaping Egypt (Exodus 1-15)

• The King Escapes (2 Samuel 15)

• The Escape of the Greater King (Matthew 2)

• The way of our escape

The Biblical Narrative and the The Biblical Narrative and the SacrificeSacrifice

• The Coats of Skin (Genesis 3)

• Abraham (Genesis 6-9)

• The Passover Lamb (Exodus 12)

• The Sacrificial System (Leviticus)

• The Lamb of God (John 1:29)

The Biblical Narrative and the The Biblical Narrative and the TragedyTragedy

• The Older Brother Motif– Cain– Ishmael– Esau– The Prodigal Son

• Too Little, Too Late– Lot’s wife– The Rich Man & Lazarus

The Biblical Narrative and the The Biblical Narrative and the ComedyComedy

• Tragedy and the Nature of Comedy

• Examples of Biblical Comedy– Adam hiding from God– Ehud and Eglon (Judges 3)– Abimelech and the millstone (Judges 9:52-55)– The Philistines and the Ark of God (1 Sam 5)– The fool (Psalm 19:1)– The Foolishness of the Cross (1 Cor 1:18)

The Biblical Narrative and The Biblical Narrative and RedemptionRedemption

• The Exodus Event

• The Redemption Laws

• Ruth, a Romance of Redemption

• Jesus as Redeemer

The Biblical Narrative and The Biblical Narrative and MetamorphosisMetamorphosis

• The First Adam

• The Last Adam

• The Transfiguration

• Our Transfiguration

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of

your mind… (Romans 12:2)

The Biblical Narrative and The Biblical Narrative and MetamorphosisMetamorphosis

• The First Adam

• The Last Adam

• The Transfiguration

• Our Transfiguration

Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we

will see Him just as He is. (1 John 3:2)

Are all “family” films worth Are all “family” films worth watching? If not, what watching? If not, what separates worthwhile separates worthwhile

family films from those family films from those that are not?that are not?

“Showing the perspectival nature of popular art can

turn the tables on the mainstream culture by

demonstrating that all art and music reveals life perspectives that are

ultimately driven by moral and religious convictions

and can be critically

evaluated along these lines.”

Should evil be Should evil be graphically graphically depicted in depicted in

modern forms modern forms of art?of art?

How are the themes of

forgiveness and redemption portrayed in popular art?

Why do people – Christians Why do people – Christians included – want, even included – want, even

demand happy endings?demand happy endings?

The Quest The Quest for Happy for Happy EndingsEndings

What should What should Christians make Christians make

of our cultural of our cultural obsession with obsession with living happily living happily ever after?ever after?