When I first looked into this idea of an angel, the immediate movies that came to mind were Christmas movies. As our book discussed, the seemingly acceptable form of religion in media comes at Christmas time. “It’s a Wonderful Life” is a prime example where the entire movie centers around an angel, Clarence, who helps George Bailey realize how important his life is.
Moving
on from the Christmas genre, Angels have become more evident in other major motion pictures. In 1994 the film “Angels in the Outfield”, a young boy’s father tells him they will be a family again when the California Angels win the pennant, so the boy prays for divine help. The answer to his prayer comes in the form of a group of angles who help the team toward their winning. Though this movie is created for a younger audience, it has a powerful message about prayer and divine help.
There are also movies that are created for an older audience such as “Michael” and “City of Angels”. In “Michael” a writer comes across a man who is an angel on vacation. Michael claims that he has only a couple “angel vacations” to earth and he is taking his last. During his time on vacation he does everything that is contrary to what people believe angels should do including smoking, drinking and he has poor personal hygiene. Right before Michael has to return to heaven, he performs a miracle that saves the writers life.
“City of A
ngels” has a similar view of angels in the fact that it shows an angel who falls in love with a woman and is trying to decide whether or not to become human. When he does become human, the woman then dies and he is left alone. He states that he would rather have been alive with her for only a moment than an angel and never had that experience.
“Charlie’s Angels” is another movie title with the mention of angels, but in fact, the movie itself has very little religious affiliation. The word angel has taken a whole new meaning in this movie. The girls in the movie are not religious messengers sent from Heaven, but in fact a group of investigators working for a man named Charlie.
Though it might seem that the concept on an angel is moving to a more secular form than a religious form, I would argue that when an angel is used, it still always carries a religious theme. Even if it is not direct, the concept of an angel still means a messenger sent to save or to help someone. Though it is not always specific as to who has sent the “angel” it still carries a religious underlying message that someone is there to help when you are in need. Though the angels are not always a person dressed in white (i.e. Michael who smokes and drinks), they still end up saving a life or doing something good with a very religious meaning behind it.
Question: Does the use of angels in films still carry a religious meaning, or has it completely moved to a secular theme?
I would have to agree with you on the fact that when I hear the word angel or see it it a movie title, I would assume it has a religious message. Although movies such as "Charlie's Angels" do not have a religious message, I think in a way they still represent the same thing, people sent to help others.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it is unreasonable to think that maybe the religious affiliation is simply disguised. The use of angels is moving toward a secular theme bacuse of our culture, but I still think that people will always associate angels with religion and that they may recognize religious themes that are not always obvious in movies about "angels."
I agree. The mention of the word angel has religious connotations no matter where it comes from. Even the devil is said to have angels. They are not necessarily sent to save, but rather to carry out a deed or send some sort of negative message. But, even if it is negative, it can still be religious. I think examples of things like Charlie's Angels are merely people trying to bring religion into an everyday context. You could look at it from different angles though. One would be that a viewer could find God somewhat hidden in the message, but there nonetheless. He sends people to protect others and as as guardians. Humans are in essence God's angels. The other angle, however, would suggest that God is not necessary because humans are capable of protecting themselves. Why would we need heavenly angels when we have human angels already making the world a better place? It's all up to interpretation. You see what you want to see.
ReplyDeleteAngels in movies do not necessarily take on religious overtones, but they have not moved to completely secular themes either (there are, after all, more than two options). Your example of Charlie's Angels is a good example of when the use of the word carries no religious overtones. Although you argue that angel is used as a title for a helper or protector, and that such connections with the word are a result of religious heritage, I seriously doubt that many people make that connection, or if they do, associate such a connection with religious meaning. So while movies may use angels in religious settings, and the word angel may have religious roots, there exist secular movie settings where the religious roots of the word are not remembered by the average viewer.
ReplyDeleteIn short, a movie may have an angel as an overt religious figure, a covert religious figure, or simply use the term (as a title, name, etc) without any religious meaning attached.
I also would have to agree with your blog. When I hear words such a cupids, angels, etc., I don't think of religious things in the media. Angels to me kind of seem like how Christmas moved to being a more commercial time of the year instead of being a religious affiliated event. People who aren't religious still celebrate Christmas without really thinking too much about Christ, and when they hear the word angel (or see it in the title of a movie), I feel like it has the same feeling. You brought up a good point saying that there are some movies that have angels in them that kind of have a religious connotation since angels are God's messenger, but people kind of disassociate angels as being connected to God in a sense, and think more about the nature of angels instead.
ReplyDelete-Chelynne Renouard