While the specifics ellude me at the moment, I remember briefly coming across the subject of christianity and film studies.
Now, as a film studies student myself, this topic caught my eye.
Basically the question is can christians be involved in the study of film in academia?
Personally I think that generally the answer is no. Or more specifically it takes a unique christian to be able to effectively pursue film studies in the world of academia.
But I am curious to see what other people think.
The Christian and Film Studies
Posted by Grinth Wednesday, June 29, 2005 at 3:01 PM
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4 comments:
8:50 PM
Well first off, thanks for taking the time to comment. I really appreciate it =).
I guess I should clarify Film Studies. The common misperception is that involves education to become a cinematographer, director, actor etc.
While these are viable options from a degree in Film Studies, the degree that directly relates to these films would be more along the lines of Film Production.
The simple way I like to describe Film studies is a literature degree with the medium of film. Now obviously there is a lot more to it than that, but fro brevity's sake I won't explain further unless you would like me too.
One of the reasons why I ask this question is speaking from experience, most christians I know take issue with what is covered in Film Studies.
As one student put it "I really want to take a film studies course but I'm afraid some of the movies shown will offend my sensibilities and beliefs as a christian."
I know of other christian students who have filed complaints against the professor for showing "offensive" films.
As my mentor and film professor says at the beginning of each of his courses "There are films rated 'R' in this course. There will be material covered that you could find offensive. If that is the case drop the class."
Sex scenes is an interesting example to bring up redwolf. In the course of studying film it is an inevitable subject that will be covered. It is tied to so many things (gender roles, feminism, sociopolitical and socioeconomic issues etc) that it is important to map the history of this in film.
Even films like Beach Babes from Beyond have important commentary on society at the time - no matter how bad the film itself may be.
Then there are those films that will include things of this nature that are essential for a film studies student to know inside in out if he or she is even remotely serious about persuing film professionally.
A perfect example of this is "L'Age D'or" by Luis Bunuel. Not wanting to give away the ending let us just say that it is extremely offensive to those of any religous persuasion.
It is in anyone's nature to not analyze why you are offended and simply address the emotion of being offended itself, but it has been my experience that christians in particular have a very difficult time moving past being offended to see why exactly they were offended and to analyze why the director might have chosen to offend them in the first place.
Without this you avoid an essential part of understanding film, its history, and how that influences film and directors today.
This is why I say that it would take a unique christian, one who is willing to put aside there normal sensibilities, to truly study film.
As far as being a curious question - it is really just something to discuss - and somethign that I think can avoid any tempers rising =).
However, it boggles my mind when someone wants to study film, but wishes to avoid anything that might offend them.
I myself am offended by films - yet it is often an intentional thing by the director and something that should be delved into and understood rather than avoided.
It just seems to me when it comes to those who are christian - their moral beliefs lead them to accept nothing but avoiding that which might be offensive.
6:34 PM
Some very good points Malki and by and large I agree.
Choosing not to be offended can be a very difficult thing to do, and you are right definitions of christian and offensive can vary.
I guess my issue would come in when someone goes out of their way to avoid being offended, or avoid subjects that they don't want to deal with.
Like other disciplines the whole needs to be considered and not just a part.
Ultimately I think it may tie into the idea that many people still do not recognize film as an art and see it purely as an entertainment business.
8:04 PM
Thanks for the heads up redwolf. Definitely very interesting.
8:58 PM
I personally am a huge fan of the books (which I read 7 times as a kid) and the live action versions that were done in the eighties.
I used to own all of them: LWW, Voyage of the Dawn treader, and the Silver Chair I believe.
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