Christian shaming in Hollywood?

Of all the films in Hollywood, there are some that just aren't as glamorous as mainstream movies such as "Jaws" or "The Avengers". Then there are B-movies, movies that just are able to make it in mainstream Hollywood. THEN there are Christian films. Now, being a Christian I can say this, Christian movies are the worst movies in Hollywood and here is why. The Church tells us that we are the "salt and light" in the world and thus everything we do has to be centered on God. That maybe true yet sometimes it isn't . When it comes to movies, the Church needs to keep their hands out of it. The Church has found a formula that will draw Christian's to the theatre to take there $9.50 without shame. When a new movie comes out, that is all that the Church focuses on. They try to cash in on the profet by making devotionals, t-shirts, posters, and other things they can grab ahold of. BUT WAIT! Isn't the Churches job to not be apart of the world? If so, why are they trying to make a quick buck by using the same formula for each movie? It's because Christians make you feel bad for not seeing these movies. I know plenty of people that act as though you just said you were an atheist when you say you haven't yet seen the film. They try to tell about the movie and harass you until you go see it. This isn't what God called us to do. We shouldn't be putting people down because they do no like the same movies as us. We should be accepting that they do not like the films. The fact that these movies are basically the same movie using a different name/cover doesn't make me what to see it. Personally, I think Christians films are the worst movies in Hollywood. They are too preachy and they make the viewer feel bad if they don't have the same beliefs as them. I don't go to a movie to be told that I am a sinner and that I am doing all the wrong things in the eyes of God if I am not a Christian.

What We Bring to the Table

I find it impossible to refute the idea of an artist's work being influenced by their life. For goodness sake, you can only write about what you know, or else good luck trying. Our ability to create only goes as far as our understanding is. That is not to say that your understanding can't expand from Point A in your life to Point B in your life. Frank Capra had a Catholic upbringing, and upon further inspection that can be seen in his film "It's a Wonderful Life," like we discussed in class. Time and time again, we see this in films, poetry, and art. We all come from different cultures, communities, and upbringings, so in a way, we are experts on that; who knows our life better than we do (except God)? When you come to school, you have your binders, your pencils, your backpack, and your paper. You don’t sit down and take someone else’s paper and another person’s binder, but may borrow someone’s pen. You can fill in the gaps with the help of other people, but you primarily use what you brought with you.

It’s interesting to look at this concept and apply it to society. One could argue that this idea could be applied to a cult society. Although it’s a much darker view, I think it’s still very relevant. Cults, secluded from the rest of the world around them, force their people into a certain belief and they are raised strictly in that religion and lifestyle. Wouldn’t you agree that if a person from a cult background - who had only ever experienced that life – wrote and directed a movie, it would be much different than the one you’d make?

Life and Comedy

I LOVE comedy, I live for comedy. I personally don't find myself very funny but I yearn for funny movies, funny shows, funny people, and in the future I would desire that my husband be a funny guy.

As someone who has suffered, and continues to suffer, a lot of negativity from past issues and mental issues, humor is one of the things I crave. I try to seek out comedies that can actually make me laugh. Funny videos and funny cartoons always make me smile and feel entertained and like I totally didn't waste time watching them. However as the years have gone by it's been harder and harder to make me full on laugh out loud primarily with any visual media. 

I also crave comedy for another reason. Despite suffering through what I do I keep a stern belief that's along the lines of "just get over it" even though I know personally it isn't that easy, however I believe that feeling depressed or being mopey requires merely a level of mental decision to put your foot down and say I'm not going to take this anymore, it sucks and I'm going to deal with it instead of sitting here and whining. However there are times when I get so deep into a hole that I can't reach that breaking point where I can shrug off the pain. In a recent breakdown I had I was so miserable and angsty that I just wanted to create an angsty piece of work and post it, but once it was posted I felt so much better. (pictured below)

I believe I felt better because I just needed to be real with people and be like yo I'm really feeling like crap here. But once it was posted not only did I feel better, but I felt that the wall that was keeping me from reaching that breaking point of shrugging it off was gone, and I was able to look at the present situation differently. Getting back to the comedy, it kind of traces back to what Leeper said on the first(?) day (or it was one of the first days) about how one should embrace the tragic truth of life in order to fully enjoy it. I realized after creating a negative piece, that I felt much better instead drawing a humorous cartoony portrayal of me being angsty. (pictured below)

So I guess my point is, I crave comedy and to be comedic because rather than sit in a dark corner being dramatic and feeling sorry for myself and others, is it not more fun to be honest and make humorous drawings or videos to really all in all make fun of the truthful tragedy that is life?

Being honest about the tragedy of life is a great relief, and poking fun at it makes it all the more sweeter of a deal.

Pieces of You and Your Story

I don't disagree a bit with what Leeper explained about how your story tells you. Ever since I started creating characters I've felt connected with them, and as I got older I was able to more logically connect  that my own personalities, thoughts, experiences, are sometimes mirrored in the characters I create.

Lately more specifically I've been able to trace back through my stories and notice common themes and specific issues that remain true in almost all of them. It's funny how we subconsciously project ourselves into our stories and characters; whether it's our experiences, people we know, our beliefs, our personality, somehow we wind up within the work we create without meaning to. Even if we think we're totally pulling this story out of thin air, once you really get down to the nitty gritty and look deep into it you start to see the connections.

Why is it that we subconsciously project ourselves into our stories? Could it be a reflection of God making us in His image and us desiring subconsciously to make things in our own personal image? I personally have no answers on this, I personally tend to be more of a concept person than a think deeply and find possible answers person, at least on my own, with others providing other ideas I can get there. I wish I had more answers for y'all, but for now I guess I'm just providing this food for thought. I also don't have a fancy picture. I'm just totally letting you guys down here lol.

Let Your Story Tell You?

I found Prof. Leeper’s comment, don’t tell your story, but let your story tell you, very interesting. Having completed a rigorous Advanced Placement Literature course in high school, I have learned quite a bit about how authors place literary devices and archetypes into their work. It gives the art deeper meaning. Based on this knowledge, I feel that many times screenwriters and directors do intentionally put hidden meanings into their films. I don’t think it is often by accident.

            For example, Spirted Away and Star Wars fulfill the archetype of a quest. In art, every quest has a hero (usually reluctant), an antagonizing force, an intended meaning for the quest, and an actual meaning for the quest. In Spirited Away, Chahiro doesn’t desire adventure, but she embarks on the quest against the evil Witch to save her parents. However, in the end, she discovers her own strength and independence, the actual goal of the quest.

            Star Wars is the same way. Though Luke is reluctant to fight against the Empire at first, he decides to risk it all in order to save Princess Leia. However, this is not the real goal of the quest. By the end of Return of the Jedi, we realize that the real goal was for Luke to find his courage and a far more rewarding life than he had on Tatooine.

I find it hard to believe that these archetypes were not on the writers’ minds when they wrote the screenplays.  

Bleed Your Heart Out

I think that Geoffrey Hill may have a point or two in his comparisons between the legendary Capra film and Sir George fighting the dragon. Hill went further on to find evidences of Capra's faith in this work of his which led to some interesting discussion on how to let your faith influence your art making.

Saint George and the Dragon (Future Sci-fi style)

I have seen the Kendrick Brothers' films from Flywheel to Courageous, and I have taken life lessons out of all of them on how to be a better follower of Christ, son, brother, and friend. However, I still agree with Prof Leeper that making purposefully Christian films, specifically with moral truths that are solely Christian, makes it difficult for many people to swallow. There are many normal films/books/video games that speak great truths because the writer poured their heart into their work and bled themselves all over it. Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right. Even more so are our hearts reveled through our work when we open up and throw ourselves wholly into what we do. And of course it doesn't just go for writers but actors, artists, directors, and animators too.

I have a preoccupation with making art that has a distinct Christian message as my faith is a part of my journey and for many years was all my life was built around. As I find new interests and absorb new ideas from my brothers and sisters in the media, my imagination has begun to construct new tales as well as to rewrite the old.

My Little Artist

Perhaps we are all just stories in the end, and all we wish is to leave our chapter of the great fairy tale for others to read. (BTW, anyone who hasn't read the "Gospel as Fairy Tale" needs to read it. Best chapter yet.)

Now you know WHO I got the line from.

Yes I believe there is a connection!

Yes I believe there is a connection!

Writers, filmmakers, and even animators have to make a connection between their characters and the audience.  This is the key to having an audience relate to your work.  There are several ways, but here are the ones I find more affective:  relatable characters and experiencing something new.

Now usually writers (etc) makes this connection with the hero.  The most obvious character that you want everyone to fall in love with.  But one of my all time characters is Loki from "The Avengers" and "Thor".  Loki is one of those characters where they made him into something so much more.  I could really relate to Loki (especially if your a younger sibling like me).  His actions were based on feelings that you could remember feeling.  Even though Loki took his actions into hate (like Cain and Able), we all felt like Loki.  We all had those feelings and could have a direct connection to.   Thor was prideful and reckless in the beginning of the movie.  But generally, people remember the time they had extreme emotions of anger and sadness than when they were boastful.  

But then there are some things, we (as artists) want to show people of different thoughts and emotions they haven't experienced before.  Like tragedy, not everyone has experienced such great sadness all at once. But in tragedy, it's all different problems happening at the same time.  They may have experience something tragic, but not tragedy as a whole.  But it's the same with other genres as well.  Bringing different emotions to the audience that they haven't had before makes the work a lot more memorable.

(This wasn't the main topics in class, but this was something Mr. Leeper said quickly that sparked something that I feel is very critical as an writer/filmmaker/etc)

What You Take With You

As I sit here letting the music of U2 wash over me in wave after wave, I find myself wondering about the meaning of art and I can't help it if Professor Leeper's words keep resonating deep within my subconscious.  He adamantly expresses that the book entitled "Mary" was a rather poor example of literary prowess.  Yet, the woman he describes from his experiences WEEPS at the mere reading of the novel.  Something in that book transcended the boundaries of the dogeared pages and penetrated deep into her psyche.  Was Professor Leeper's experience with this particular novel marred by his reluctance to see the book from her perspective?  Most certainly not.  The book in question may very well have been poorly written and Professor Leeper had a higher standard for literature than what the book offered.  Some might see this as the difference between "High and Low Art."  A Botticelli painting in Professor Leeper's mind holds far more significance than the novel "Mary" ever did.  Is that merely because the painting is better than the book?  To that I say no again.  The great thing about art is that you can take from it exactly what you want.  Whether you like it or not people are going to interpret the same piece of artwork differently than you do.  For example...

This piece is called "The Raft Of The Medusa."  It was first introduced to me back in 2006 in my European History Class.  It has stuck in my mind for years as quite possibly my favorite painting of all time.  I don't expect everyone to love it the same way that I do but I believe it to be good art.  If you find the idea of "High and Low Art" to be a stupid argument...  Fear not!  For Bill Watterson thought it was stupid as well!

Faith & Film

          What does it mean to be a Christian in the film industry?

This is something that has been on my mind for a while now, especially when I decided to pursue animation, and when we brought in up in class, I couldn’t help but wonder really, truly, what it means.

             All I knew was the stereotype. Ya basically either do Veggietales or make good, but not good, movies like Courageous. And that worried me. Not that I don’t love both of them; but nowadays media is at it’s peak, and there doesn’t seem to be a lot of room for religion. In all honesty, if you say there’s a Christian film being released, you’ve already lost a lot of your audience.

              So, using the magic of Google, I looked up Christian filmmaking, and found an article that was basically titled “Stop Making Christian Films’. Uh….? Naturally, I opened it, ready to get really angry or for some kind of religious shock. But I was surprised, and as I read the article, I began to understand. The man interviewed, Lee Stanley, is a Christian filmmaker, and is also pretty successful, at that. But his advice? “Not to hit people over the head with the Gospel”. He says we shouldn’t “scare people away with our testimony” and instead focus on keeping God first in our hearts, and getting the message to those “who don’t already believe”.

              I think a lot the points he makes are true. Once a movie is labeled as something religious, it’s almost bound to go downhill in Hollywood. I think we should become masters of our craft, and work hard. As Leeper said, we need to focus on that first, and in time our art will become the explanation of what we believe in. God will help shape our vision.

So it’s up to us to realize what we want to do next, right? We are the new generation of Christian filmmakers. We have to make the choice of how to keep our faith and get the message out there to as many people as possible, and not just to those who already know what’s up.

This is the article I read, in case you're curious!  

http://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-filmmaker-stop-making-christian-films-49412/

Is this a horror game or what?

The game Dangan Ronpa is a wonderful example of unexpected comedy. It's supposed to be a horror game in which high-school-aged kids are thrown in an arena together Hunger Games style. But there's a twist: They have to figure out who killed who via their "class trials."

It seems like it would be tragic as "students" make friends and then watch them die. However there is SO MUCH comedy laced in.

A prime example is Touko Fukawa.

The thing with Touko is that, while she seems like a normal bookworm, she has a split personality, and her alternate is Genocide Jack, a notorious serial killer. However, Genocide Jack is one of the funniest characters in the game, spouting lines such as:

Her ironic use of "family-oriented" is unexpected and makes players chuckle, even though the current situation seems dark.

At one point, Touko faints in a morgue, and Genocide Jack wakes up and says, "Whoa, what? Where am I? IS THAT A DEAD BODY? NEAT! But no, seriously, where am I?"

A recurring theme in the game is hope vs. despair, and Genocide Jack always finds herself on the side of hope, despite being capable of mass murder.

Also, it's important to note that the SERIAL KILLER is, ironically, one of only five people who never murder anyone in-game (aside from those who get killed before they have the chance to commit murder themselves). While the others try to pin multiple murders on her, she's innocent every time.

Also, look at her dumb expressions. Like, wow Genocide Jack, you're a dork.

Style and Media

Today we talked about how we limit ourselves in media. I’m going to go out on a limb here and talk about music for a little bit. When people listen to music they almost always listen to it for entertainment and not for quality. Take music by Mozart or Beethoven and compare it to the techno/dance genre.

Many people would say classical music puts them to sleep and is boring. Others could say techno gives them headaches. It’s all a matter of perspective. A certain audience can consider music good but to recognize both to be good would be completely insane, wouldn’t it. Unfortunately that isn’t that uncommon because I’m like that ­­— I enjoy almost all types of music from classical to rock, and jazz to electronic.  This parallels to film as well because most people might not like long elaborate movies like I do because they can’t handle the type of film. 

There may be some absolutely terrible movies that have been made just for the purpose of creating revenue. People will still go and watch it even though it isn’t a good movie.

Just because something isn’t high quality doesn’t mean someone won’t enjoy it. In my opinion enjoying a piece of media is all about the amount of exposure to the style of media.