In movies and film, religion plays a very different role than in television. In my experience watching television programming it seems that religion is much more prevalent. In many shows there is usually a side character who has strong religious beliefs which play a significant role in who they are as the character. Despite this, in movies it seems religion is much less discussed. I think it is because the medium is so different.
Movies have a very limited amount of time to tell a very large story. Because of this, if religion is present in a movie, it is usually the overall theme. There is usually not too much side plot with religion, rather, it takes center stage. This is evident in movies like Bruce Almighty and The Passion of the Christ. Instead of slightly touching on religion they boldly center their plots around religious stories.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQZJ7j7fPIE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rd-GXzReZuc
Although these movies are completely focused around religion, it seems there are not too many movies out there that are based solely on religious stories. It's a big risk for directors and producers to make and market a movie when it is about religion because of the culture in which we live. When a movie is religious it inherently is geared for a specific audience based on those who share those beliefs. Because of this, it also has the possibility of turning away those who believe something different.
Looking at this it seems that religion is not discussed very often in film. With only an average of two hours to portray a story, the medium does not allow for enough side plots to have religious side stories. They do not permit time to play into stereotypes of religious people because it usually does not enhance the story. In recognizing this, they tend to leave any reference to religion out of the film. It is safer for them to err on the side of caution than to vulnerably place so much money into a story that may offend or detract specific audiences.
My question to you then is whether or not religious movies help promote religion in society or if it is better that Hollywood stay away from religion?
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I would have to say that it really depends on the person. Some people are really influenced by religion in movies and others aren't. For example, I had two friends who saw The Passion of the Christ. One thought it was horrible because it focused on the pain of Jesus and not what he gave to us. The other thought it strengthened her testimony because it made her visualize just how much Jesus endured because he loved her.
ReplyDeleteThere will always be those who will see the same movie and be touched spiritually and some that see it only as a fun story.
But no matter what, religion will always appear in films. Part of what makes movies successful is their ability to tap into certain emotions, feelings, and beliefs of the audience. Religion involves all of these things so it makes sense that it would be examined in movies.
I think you made a great point religious characters are used mainly as side characters, and often as comedic side characters. I'm thinking of the Rabbi friend in Seinfeld. I think religion is too much of a sensitive subject to be the plot of a movie. People seem more comfortable if religion plays a comedic role.
ReplyDeletePeople go to movies to be entertained, not to search for religion. So I believe Hollywood shouldn't play the religion card too seriously, especially because beliefs are often dramatized to make the religions more interesting.
I think that religion in movies can be good and bad. On the one hand, intriguing beliefs represented could always help some people become more curious and want to find out more about that particular religion or religion in general. For some people who have no religion that they follow or belong too, even the slight exposure they can receive from a movie can educate and enlighten them or make them think about the world or themselves in a different way.
ReplyDeleteHowever, it can be harmful to include snippets of religion in movies. Like the comment above mentioned, the beliefs that Hollywood depicts are more often than not "dramatized to make the religions more interesting." I know it's a TV show but what if what everyone thought about mormons all came from what they had seen or heard about Big Love? Or what if what anyone knew about the Catholic Church was what was represented in The DaVinci Code?
I definitely agree that for the most part religion is kept to a minimal role in movies because of the length issues and pure entertainment goals. However, what about movies not really about religion that still express a certain religion's values or beliefs? The rugby movie Forever Strong is one that had a relatively wide release no too long ago but also hinted at several mormon values and teachings and was located in Utah. On a more negative note, there was also that movie about the Mountain Meadow Massacre that also gave people some indirect views of the Church and mormons in general.
I think that everybody views movies as a type of entertainment. They do not go to learn or to have life changing experiences. But although movies are made for entertainment they can still inspire people and help them find religion in their lives. A movie that portrays a religious Christian family that is happy might inspire someone to seek christianity for their family. The Book of Mormon teaches that all things that are good from Christ. A movie does not have to focus or revolve around a religion to spark interest of inspire someone, but by portraying different people in different religions in a movie they can inspire others to search out there own questions and beliefs.
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