RESPONSE to Daniela's post: Moralizing Violence: Hell House

          Daniela, I enjoyed this post because you asked a valid question on the representation of violence in association with Christianity. When is it OK? and why is the violence in Christianity ignored? I think that Hell House is a perfect example of how Christians use popular culture to missionize, but does so in a hostile manner. Not only is the violence in Christianity ignored but scaring people into having faith in Christianity is a violent act in itself.
         You are correct when you also said that this is simplifying violence. This reminded me of the film "Donnie Darko" and the "lifeline" concept that is taught by Kitty Farmer to her class. She claims that:

*"As you can see, the Life Line is divided into two polar extremes. Fear and love. Fear is in the negative energy spectrum. And love is in the positive energy spectrum." 
When Donnie Darko is asked to categorize a given scenario in to one side of the spectrum, he argues: 
"No, I mean I know what to do, I just don’t get this. You can’t just lump things into two categories. Things aren’t that simple[...]There are other things that need to be taken into account. Like the whole spectrum of human emotion. You can’t just lump everything into these two categories and then just deny everything else."
After Donnie argues with Kitty farmer, she quickly threatens him and claims that he will get a zero for the day if he does not complete the assignment. Instead of hearing out what he has to say like a fair Christian, she immediately points out the trouble that he is causing.
I think that Donnie is right. Like categorizing fear and love, it is hard to name an act violent or not without fully taking in the circumstances. The Christians in Hell House deem things bad so that goodness can be found in having faith in Christianity. Violence is not as simple as it used to be in the early stages of human development when it was purely for means of survival. It now has a lot more political systems and human rights that need to be taken into account. So as some Christians are quick to point out violent acts to missionize the goodness in their religion, does not mean they have the right to not act peacefully towards violent actions.


*Excerpts taken from: http://www.donniedarko.org.uk/script/

F**K Gender Stereotypes!

        There is too much gender stereotyping in the media. Men and women are categorized into cultural norms of ideas on what it means to be male or female. These stereotypes are greatly used in television ads, as they are short and to the point in selling a product. Women are the chief consumers of ads as voice overs are 90% male in America. Men have the voice of authority whereas women are weaker and domesticated. But how did these stereotypes begin? Why are men and women categorized in this way and what benefit does it serve? The media aims for consumers to fall in these stereotypical traps, so that they can feel obligated to purchase the same products to fit in cultural norms. Well...

F**K GENDER STEREOTYPES!

and in place of the two *'s, is first C - then U.

= FCUK!

Which stands for French Connection, the clothing store.

They recently did an ad campaign satirizing gender stereotypes in the media. In these commercials, "the man" and "the woman" are routinely defined by a male voice over. 

THE MAN

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rI9XhQ1IIWs&feature=player_embedded

"Strong" - "Beard" - "Verile" - "Laugh from the heart" - "He knows not what sequins is"

THE WOMAN

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKMzboGUB6s&feature=player_embedded

"She needs not a man, but they come" - "Pretty" - "This is the woman and this is the way of things"

While the man is described as a strong character, the woman's bodily appeal is focused upon. In the woman's commercial when the voice over says: "This is not so provocative," the camera quickly pans to all the places on the woman's body that are seen as sensual. However, the ad does it in a tasteful manner. The purpose for this ad campaign was not to ignore the stereotypes of a man or woman, but to define them in a classical way with the voice over's relaxed tone and sophisticated words. The man and the woman are not defined with the extreme stereotype - white-dominant authoritative male versus the passive domesticated female - that most other ads use...

I think that FCUK's ad campaign is a brilliant way to combat the issue of gender stereotypes in the media. I think it would be impossible to completely ignore these cultural norms in advertisements, but FCUK shows a way in which it can be done tastefully.

RESPONSE to The God in "Good Grief"'s post: Tweet If You < 3 the Pope

         I was not aware that Christians needed the approval from the Pope to accept digital communication. Why is this? It is true that some view popular culture as an aspect of society that can greatly hinder the significance and value of Christianity. Perhaps he did so to make anti-popular culture believers have a change in heart. I personally think that the Pope was correct in making this move. 
        Christians evidently seek guidance from higher Christian figures when it comes to accepting modern notions of culture, and the Pope took advantage of his power with knowledge of this. I am sure that this proclamation influenced many Christians to start accepting popular culture. However, some Christians view religion as a private and personal thing that is separate from the abundance of things that society gives. What I think the Pope is doing in making this proclamation, is bringing Christianity in to popular culture so that the two can become one (instead of Christianity being a separate privatized thing).
        This is a positive move for Christians on his part because the Pope is allowing the religion to move forward with the advances of the time. If Christianity continues to do this, I predict that in the future Christianity will greatly become a part of popular culture and perhaps be more accepted as relevant in the 21st century. I am not saying that Christianity has no significance, but I believe in a very technological driven age, it is important for something to fit the norms of publication in order to really gain a response. Christianity should not be left behind in the 21st century, because it can teach moral doctrine within a world that has negative popular culture values, such as sex, stereotyping, and more.

'Sports Bay' Stained Glass Window

         Professor Harris mentioned in class a New York City church that has a stained glass window inspired by sports. I decided to research into it and found an image of it with a description of all the sports that are included in the window:

*Click on the image so you can zoom in!

*The description is as follows:

1) St. Hubert (656-728). While hunting, Hubert encountered a white stag whose antlers formed a crucifix. He converted to Christianity and later became Bishop of Liege. He is the patron saint of hunters and animal protection.

2) St. Paul's injunction to run the good race (1 Corinthians 9:24)

3) Tennis.

4) Figure Skating.

5) Fencing.

6) David conquering Goliath (1 Sam. 17:49).

7) Baseball.

8) Swimming.

9) Basketball.

10) Jacob wrestling with the angel (Gen. 32:24).

11) Ice Hockey.

12) Auto Racing.

13) Football.

14) Esau the hunter (Gen. 25:27). Esau is the son of Isaac and the brother of Jacob. Esau was tricked out of Isaac's blessing by Jacob.

15) Boxing.

16) Bowling.

17) Boxing.

18) St. Paul's injunction to put on the whole armor of God (Eph. 6:11)

19) Fishing.

20) Bicycling.

21) Golf.

22) St. Matthias chose by lot to take the place of Judas who had committed suicide (Acts 1:23-26).

23) Skiing.

24) Sailing.

25) Polo.

26) Samson Killing the Lion (Judges 14:5-6).

27) Hunting.

28) Tobogganing.

29) Soccer.

30) Elijah and the chariot (2 Kings 2:9-15).

31) Archery.

32) Sculling.

33) Archery.

Other minor or controversial sports are depicted in the outer margins of the window:

a) Billiards.

b) Fencing.

c) Pistol shooting.

d) Curling.

e) Lacrosse (?).

f) Cricket.

This window is in the Cathedral of St. John the Divine and includes various Biblical characters in events of strength and courage. It is meant to represent the connection between the games of today and the old religious Olympic games. It is directly above a stone that has names of former famous athletes engraved in it, to call to prayer all those who have been successful in sport. However, what I want to question is why this stained glass window was incorporated in the church in the first place.

        The activity of sport is a religious activity for some people because they devote time, hope and support to athletes and their teams. Sport is powerful because it has the ability to bring people together for passionate reasons. Even the old Olympics were so important that wars were stopped so that the games could on. During that time and today, focus is put on individual athletes as they are seen as Christ-like figures. Sports fan praise them like Gods like Christians praise God himself, and I argue that this was the reason why the window was built in the Cathedral. Sports, like Christianity, prove opportunity for one to be passionate about an inspiring figure. This is done in an expressive manner, either by: cheering or praising the Lord, buying an athletes jersey or wearing a cross necklace, watching the big game every Sunday or going to church every Sunday. It is evident that both of these two important aspects of society have parallels. 

         

*Picture and description from: http://www.museumplanet.com/tour.php/nyc/sjd/16

RESPONSE TO Jackie's Post: Do Zombies Make Us More Religious?

       Jackie, you raised an interesting question in asking: why do some people turn to religion during crisis, and others not?


       It's hard to predict exactly how people would react during a zombie apocalypse, but my guess is that there would be both religious peoples and some taking violent action. However, I think that there would be an over abundance of people looking for something to hope for and pray to, in what would be perceived as a helpless situation. This is where God comes in. Although we are ashamed to admit it, some of us who call ourselves 'religious' or 'kind of religious' only really do our praying when we need something from God. Some do not see the significance in spending the time praising and thanking God for all that he has already given us. Would it be right for us to continue calling ourselves religious if we only pray to God when we need something?


      Musician Regina Spektor brings this into question in her song "Laughing With." The song is about laughing at God, but the minute something bad happens, no one laughs anymore. She starts it off by listing situations in which people do not laugh at God and look to him for help:

*No one laughs at God in a hospital  

No one laughs at God in a war

No one’s laughing at God

When they’re starving or freezing or so very poor

In the chorus, she then goes on to sing that God can be funny in our everyday lives and when he is presented as something that is greater than us:

But God can be funny

At a cocktail party while listening to a good God-themed joke or

When the crazies say he hates us and they get so red in the head

you think that they’re about to choke

God can be funny

When told he’ll give you money if you just pray the right way

And when presented like a genie

Who does magic like Houdini

Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus

God can be so hilarious

Writing a song about laughing at God is significant because it illuminates the fact that some people to do not take religion (specifically Christianity) seriously enough. She ends the song with the words: "No one's laughing at God / We're all laughing with God." I take these words to mean that the joke is really on us. We laugh with God because some of us do not take ourselves seriously enough when it comes to religion. So I ask the question: has the significance of religion always been this way, or has it been slowly corrupted over time?

*Lyrics from: http://www.lyrics-celebrities.anekatips.com/laughing-with-lyrics-regina-spektor

Film: A Walk 'Into the Wild'

       Film is one of the most popular forms of media because it serves as an alternate reality. It also serves as a medium in which we might learn to live a better life. It's an existential function of religion in which we can figure out the ways religion helps its audience to understand the world. This type of popular culture can help people to experience transcendence as it gives the mind an opportunity to enter another world with new circumstances. 
       In the February 8th lecture, we discussed Christ figures in film that normally include monomyths which is a quest of a hero from common life into a supernatural world. This hero is normally a regular person who gains powers and transforms a community.

       An example of this is the Sean Penn directed film, "Into The Wild." This movie is based on a true story about a man named Christopher Mccandless who, after graduating from college, decides to give all his life savings away and go out "into the wild" as a primitive man; just him and the earth. Calling himself "Alexander Supertramp," Mccandless has strong feelings against his society and believes that every human being should have the opportunity of experiencing the Earth as God made it, on their own. His aim is to reach Alaska, and along the way he touches many lives and inspires people to love their life and to task risks in doing what they want. However, by the end of the film and when he finally reaches Alaska, he becomes very lonely and dies from starvation. His famous words was his revelation that he wrote down in a book he had: "Happiness only real when shared." 

The real Christopher Mccandless.

        There are interesting themes in the film that can be linked to Christianity:

- His betrayal of society

- His positive affect on other people's lives

- His personal redemptive journey to a greater understanding of himself and the world

- Killing of a moose and feeling the greatest remorse of his life afterwards

- Dying for the sin of society that has been inflicted on him

- In the end realizes that love can heal all

Christopher Mccandless is a Christ figure in the film because all of these themes inspire one to reflect on how they live their life. He is a redeemer because he dies for the sin of society that has been inflicted on him, and thus teaches the audience a lesson by providing an opportunity to question the possibility of one giving up all of their possessions. 

RESPONSE to Kathleen's post: Personal Paranoia Fuelled by Law & Order or the media?

       Kathleen, I think that your paranoia is definitely rooted in your love for crime shows and a product of your overactive imagination. It is the media that is coating your brain with these terrifying thoughts. I'm sure if you watched Barney more so than any crime show, you would not be having the same paranoias. 
       I want to argue that what the media projects to us is not always easily apparent, or at least easily acknowledged. Certain images are projected at lightening speed, and so we indeed see them but are not conscious of ourselves doing so. These images get into our minds subconsciously because we are not conscious enough of our viewing of them to block them out. Images within our subconscious affect out behaviours. They are like the seed in a flower pot; So far down in the soil but from which everything grows.
      The first example that came to mind that exhibits this is Britney Spears's new music video for "Hold It Against Me." When I first saw this video, I was disgusted by how quickly every image was flashing, and the fact that Britney's face is not shown for longer than a second. It made me feel nauseous and dizzy! I do not understand how people can have joy out of watching something like this! I felt my attention span decrease as each frame flashed before my eyes.
      I decided to get as many freeze frames as I could (and let me reassure you, this took multiple tries) to see some of the quick images that were being exposed to the subconscious mind, and to my surprise I found many cases of advertising. (Not that I was actually surprised. just the fact that I had not consciously noticed them all before watching the video).

BRITNEY SPEARS - Hold It Against Me

Spritzing herself with....

Her own brand of perfume! Why didn't I think of this before?!

Flat out screen shot. Wow.

Tricky, Tricky, Tricky...

Flat out screen shot, again.

This is just for laughs. Britney aka the Joker? Why so serious?

So tiny but it's still there....SONY

As you can see, there are may images being projected that we may not notice so apparently. Kathleen, maybe you should try taking quick screen captures of one of your crime television episodes and see what is getting inside that head of yours without you knowing it!

The Book: The Bible Illuminated

         In 2008, an interesting adaptation of the New Testament called Bible Illuminated: The Book New Testament was published. On the website for the book, it claims that it is easier to read than the regular Bible because contemporary photographs are used to "make the connection between the Scriptures and the modern world." With the main features of photographs with relevant pull quotes and chapters, Bible Illuminated: The Book New Testament aims to inspire thought and get people involved with Christianity by making it relevant to todays society. It was interesting to me that by releasing something like this into the public, is implying that the Bible is not necessarily perceived by all to be reflective of the present times. Even though some may be offended by this, I think that this is a great presentation of how popular culture and Christianity can inform each other. Popular culture has presented the Bible in an innovative way!
        There is a part in Bible Illuminated: The Book New Testament that devotes a few pages on "8 Ways to Change the World," where various charities like: Give Water, Invisible Children, WWF, Peace One Day, and Innocence Project are incorporated to further bridge the gap between the Bible and the modern world. 
        Not only is this book trying to make the Bible more understandable, it also makes the modern adaptation more accessible by publishing it online. A free chapter can be downloaded from the website or you can view the whole book in digital format. Here are some photos from the book to exemplify how it uses contemporary photographs to enhance the Bibles messages.  

(*I do not take credit for any of these photos. They are all from http://www.bibleilluminated.com)

“A man stands behind a shattered window of a women’s dormitory following the fatal shooting of two African American students at Jackson State College. May 16, 1970. Jackson, Missisippi”

         Is it wrong to make an adaptation of the Bible because it is a big part of history? Is this adaptation successful in making it relevant to the modern world? I personally find the Bible easier to read as this magazine-like text. Popular culture has the ability to communicate a message even more powerfully by incorporating various kinds of media into one. These captivating images have coaxed me into purchasing this book...

RESPONSE to Dan's post: A History of Violence

       Dan, you raised an interesting point about the violence that is in the Brothers Grimm stories and the fact that the reason why violence is in the media is because it is accepted to a certain degree. I want to expand on this point and look at the fact that the kind of violence in the media reflect the violent actions (or reactions to these actions) occurring in a specific time period.

       The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain recently made another appearance in popular culture. The book is often taught in school systems as it greatly contributes to the history of American Literature. Written in the vernacular of its time, the book was brought in the limelight again because of its use of the word "nigger." This caused an uproar in today's popular culture because people were outraged that the word "nigger" was still being tossed around in the classroom and that it made students uncomfortable. I completely understand the reason why people would be angered by this. The slavery and racism that existed in the 19th century does not exist in the 21st century. It would be correct and indeed reflect our modern age to remove the word from Twain's novel. However, even though the word has terrible connotations to it, removing the word and replacing it with a censored version would mean removing history from the book. Mark Twain was not necessarily a racist, but he was representing the kind of violence that was going on in that time, and even though they were immoral acts of violence, does not mean that it should be forgotten.
         In conclusion, this print media explicitly represents the violence that was occurring during the 19th century. The fact that it was brought up again in popular culture today and reassessed, represents the changed attitudes toward violence. It is wonderful that racism does not exist as much as it did.

Michael Jackson's Apocalyptic Thought

          Apocalypticism is a subject about the supposed-up and coming END OF THE WORLD. With theories centuries old, the Christians's finite sense of time entail that it will occur after a series of events. There are many predictions of this in the Book of Revelation in the Bible, and many Christians devote their time to further predicting the events of the apocalypse. As stated in lecture, the purpose of apocalyptic thought is for a group in crisis, repentance, consolation in the face of crisis, and to authorize the message that the world will eventually come to an end. 
         Apocalypticism has managed to make its way into popular culture today and at times is used to make profit. An example of this given in lecture was the "Left Behind" book series that even has movies to capitalize on this idea. Furthermore, apocalypticism does not just belong to religious groups. Our presentations of the coming apocalypse reflect our present times, and with this comes with political and social anxieties.
         This got me thinking of the modern day apocalypse, global warming. Christian's have a firm belief on the thought of this subject:

“Our relationship with God is not dependent on our belief in human-caused global warming”*

Christian's believe that the end of the world will inevitably happen no matter what the causes are for global warming. However, Michael Jackson believes otherwise.
        In his song, "Earth Song" he asks his listeners to look at the world around them and notice how human's have slowly demolished it. 

**Did you ever stop to notice
All the blood we've shed before
Did you ever stop to notice
The crying Earth the weeping shores?
...
What have we done to the world
Look what we've done
What about all the peace
That you pledge your only son...
...
The heavens are falling down
I can't even breathe
What about apathy
...
What about the holy land
Torn apart by creed
...
What about Abraham
What about death again
Do we give a damn

Michael takes the realization that our world is coming to an end and calls the human race to prayer.  In this song he aims to illuminate the events that have unfolded on our planet and that they should be stopped. During the 2010 Grammy awards, this song and its message was revisited and performed by various popular artists that asked the entire audience the same question that Michael asked the world 16 years ago:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxb548Jpck0

This powerful song and its approach to apocalypticism capitalizes on the fact it's an event to call the world to prayer in the midst of a state of panic. There are popular culture icons that give hope to the world in troubled times, and Michael Jackson was/is one of them.

         

* www.gotquestions.org/global-warming.html
**'Earth Song' lyrics: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/michaeljackson/earthsong.html