Theologically Reflecting on Art, Part 2: Jesus and Movies

Now, let’s ask the question of the hour: Why are we doing this? Why are we having this talk about a movie? To answer, I would first say that this is not simply a discussion about a movie. To see it as such is to miss the point. We are communally engaging in a “feast” of theologically rich art. We are reflecting on a shared experience. We should view it as nothing less. That is the beauty of art. It doesn’t objectively tell you what you need to know. It presents a particular idea to you and allows you the responsibility and privilege of interpreting it. And as with any art, it is much better to engage in communal reflection than individual reflection. (Why is it that we keep coming back to that point over and over and over again when dealing with Christianity?)

And this is a very biblical idea. From the very first verse in the Bible we see God’s people expressing themselves artistically—with poetry, prose, and narrative. While there are some books passages that are much more literarily mature than others, all of the Bible is fantastic literature.

One of the most dangerous things Christians can do is to neglect to see the Bible as art.

But the Bible also presents us with many models of theological education. The most important of which, in my humble opinion, is that of Jesus. And how did he teach more often than not? That’s right…through parables.

Let’s think about what a parable is: it is a story that is presenting a reality about which we are encouraged to reflect—drawing a deeper understanding than we might from, say, a law code or someone else’s mail. There is rarely one single point. In fact, there is rarely even one angle from which to view them. That is the beauty of this art form: it allows us to engage on a deeper level than basically any other teaching method. Modern Christian educators would perhaps call them “Case Studies” of sorts. No wonder Jesus used this method!

So would it be so incredibly heretical if I proposed in this essay that movies can be modern parables? Many are not nearly as theologically rich as, say, Babette’s Feast, but there are so many movies out there that can be used in many of the same ways we use Jesus’ parables (see the list below).

So by producing and engaging theologically rich art, we are actually following the teaching model of Jesus much more appropriately than if we were to give a lecture on a certain theological theme, for example. And this is equally true of deep theological thinkers and people who are ignorant of theology. It is a simple solution: allow an art form with which people are comfortable to become the seed of theological discussion. Then go from there.

If people are uncomfortable or unable to adequately discuss the Bible alone, or if they need another conversation partner in an already deep spirituality…use art.

Here’s a real life “for example”: A faculty member at the graduate school I attend recently expressed some concern about his teenage son’s spiritual quest. His son attends a public school and is exposed to people from different (or no) faith traditions all day long. This man’s concern was how to approach the topic of “Jesus vs. Everyone Else” with his son in a way that would encourage honest and sincere questioning. So the suggestion was made that he should read the book Life of Pi by Yann Martel with his son. This novel tells the story of a boy who actually practices Islam, Hinduism, and Christianity simultaneously. It is a perfect conversation starter for the kinds of conversations that he wanted to have with his son. Granted, that book has not been made into a movie (yet!—I heard a superb rumor that M. Night Shyamalan may be buying the rights to it!), but you can see where I am going with the illustration. Why should we not do the same with certain movies?

There is no other art form with which modern people, especially young people, are more comfortable than that of film.

It is much easier to get people to talk about a movie than it is for them to talk about Ephesians. It just is. Why not embrace that?

Overstreet says:

“…film is uniquely qualified to explore spirituality. More than any other art, it mirrors our experience in time and space. Reflecting our world back to us, it gives us the opportunity to explore and revisit moments. Offering imaginative visions of alternative worlds, it helps us glimpse aspects of our own that we might otherwise have missed. Slowly, we begin to discover the universal in the particular, the timeless in the temporal, the miraculous in the mundane.” (77)

Wright adds,

“Cinematic art can focus our attention on reality so as to call up meaning from its inner depth.”

Next time you are reading a parable, think of Jesus and the gospel writer as artists instead of rabbis or a religious teachers. What is going on in a parable? Jesus is presenting us with an idea, a situation, in order for us to wrestle with it. A parable is inviting us to engage, to think through something—and often from many different points of view.

And following that, next time you are watching a movie, think of the filmmakers as teachers. What are they showing you? What are they trying to tell you? How can the story that they are telling be used for engaging the world around us? Would this movie be a good conversation piece with some of your non-Christian friends? Did it teach you something about God that you didn’t know? If so, what?

May God bless us in the reading of his Word, and the watching of our movies!

What do you, the faithful and much appreciated few who have read all of this, have to say about this last little rambling of mine?

I leave you with this from Overstreet:

“If dining at the table of movies becomes my primary focus, I am forgetting the purpose of the meal. It is served to give me strength so that I can return to my life stronger, healthier and closer to being whole.” (94)

Recommended Viewing (A Few Movies with Some Theological Substance):
Amadeus, Any movie telling the story of the Exodus and of the Passion (a fun exercise would be to watch them all in a relatively short period of time and to compare and contrast them), Babette’s Feast, Baraka, Chronicles of Narnia, Crash*, Dead Man Walking*, Les Miserables, Magnolia*, Meet Joe Black, Million Dollar Baby, Ordet, The Green Mile, The Matrix*, To Kill a Mockingbird, Schindler’s List*, Se7en*, What Dreams May Come, ?

Recommended Reading:
Steven D. Greydanus’ Review of Babette’s Feast:
http://decentfilms.com/sections/reviews/babettesfeast.html

My Blog: mateov.wordpress.com—“Art and All Things Spiritual”

Overstreet, Jeffrey. Through a Screen Darkly: Looking Closer at Beauty, Truth, and Evil in Movies. Ventura, CA: Regal, 2007. Specifically chapter 3, pp. 69-102.

Overstreet’s blog and movie reviews: www.lookingcloser.com

An Essay-Level Review of Babette’s Feast by Wendy Wright: www.unomaha.edu/jrf/BabetteWW.htm

Yancey, Philip. What’s So Amazing about Grace? Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1997. Specifically chapter 2, pp. 19-29.

* = I’d leave the kids at someone else’s house. There is either sexuality, violence, or language in these films that might be a problem for some.