Viewers and critics alike always have plenty to say about film adaptations of books. Some complain about missing scenes or critically components or misrepresented characters. However, they often remain silent on subject of religiosity and its transplantation onto the big screen. For example, the prominent Christian author CS Lewis wrote the series The Chronicles of Narnia, series about a battle between good and evil and a Christ figure purifying power. CS Lewis wanted to portray these characters as biblical people. For example, the Lion is supposed to be Jesus and the Queen represents Satan. In the film the Lion is preaching the better life to everyone and the evil people end up killing him. He is then resurrected because of his pure intentions, which, all leads to a battle to cleanse the earth.
Now this example is one that is deep and makes one really think about religion and the way Christians view their beliefs. Can someone who is not Christian see this film and know what symbolizes are taking place? Probably not. So, can all religious films be understood the way they are suppose to be?
Another example is in Passion of the Christ. This film was very controversial in the sense that no one made a film to be so intense and detailed about Christ’s life.
In the film, The Passion of the Christ it covers Jesus’s last twelve hours of his life. It starts with the Agony in the Garden and ends with his resurrection. Throughout the movie it shows us flashbacks of his life and everything he went through, from when he worked as a carpenter, the Sermon on the Mount and the Last Supper.
People saw The Chronicles of Narina for the effects, but did they see The Passion of the Christ to fest on Christ or for the controversy? This was a film that I believe to be one that people went to see because of all the hype that was talked about with it. I personally never saw it but had friends who did because they heard it was so controversial.
Religion movies always seem to cause some type of disagreement usually having to do with someone of the opposite faith.
It is the writers job to get the audience drawn in with the movie and wanting to learn more about the religion. But, are movies the place for that? There are tons and tons of films out there having to do with religion. I think its up to how the director portrays the film that makes us view that certain religion in a certain light. For a religion I know nothing about and see a film on it, most likely that is how I will view that religion.
So my question is: can religious themes be portrayed effectively in wide range of audiences? Is film the right place to be portraying religion?
It’s an interesting question. I tend to believe that filmmakers are generally less concerned with promoting a religious belief than they are with creating a story that follows familiar motifs that the audience will recognize. Many movies today include a Christ-like figure, re-telling a familiar story to the movie-going public. Superman. Optimus Prime from Transformers. Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings. Others include characters modeled after Moses, a central figure in the Jewish faith, including William Wallace from Braveheart and Neo from The Matrix (who also doubles as a Christ-like figure). We’ve seen these stories dozens of times.
ReplyDeleteWhile these films aren’t overtly religious, they do include themes that can be recognized by savvy audience members. Aren’t these religious-type themes being portrayed effectively? There may be those who believe deep and sacred material should be presented in a respectful way, which we see all the time in this religion via LDS Films. But is that the only effective way to portray religion via film? I don’t think so.
Kristi posed several interesting questions about understanding religious symbolism. I wonder if it is less of a knowledge of religion and more of a knowledge or familiarity with the culture that is needed to understand American cinema. Religion in America is very much part of the culture. Movies, though not religious, can have intentional or unintentional symbols or references to Christianity, and the audience’s familiarity with those symbols contributes to their understanding.
ReplyDeleteI was in an American literature class with a Hindu friend of mine from India. She and I were assigned to give a presentation about American author Nathaniel Hawthorne. She was talking about the symbolism in one of his stories and I noticed a number of biblical symbols she missed. While she knew what was happening in the story, a deeper understanding was elusive because of her limited exposure to western culture. Conversely, the course curriculum happened to have a story by Indian-born author Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. Just as my friend had had difficulty with some of the religious symbols in the Hawthorne stories, the entire class struggled with some of the symbolism in the story by Divakaruni. Her knowledge of Indian culture and religion added to our understanding of the story laden with Indian religious and cultural symbolism.
Logan Bradford:
ReplyDeleteI don't know that I necessarily would pose the question as you have posed it, Kristi. I think I would rephrase the question to read, "can religion be portrayed effectively and accurately in film?" I do not believe there is a right or wrong place to portray religion--only preferences, catered to people's individual wants and needs.
But to answer your question, yes, I do believe writers, directors, and producers can portray religion accurately and effectively in film. Film, I believe is a much more "private" medium for communication than television; consumers typically research the films they see than they do the TV shows they watch. Therefore, they choose their films based on what they want to "get out of them," as opposed to the amount of time they have till their microwave dinner is done.
I HATE that I am about to use this example, but I thought in some of the Mormon films, they did a fine job of portraying correct doctrine (The Best Two Years, God's Army (I just threw up in my mouth), The Work and the Glory). I really can not speak for many other religions, simply because I am no expert on their belief system.
You, however, bring up an interesting point, Kristi, about the potential that the film very well could be the person's first and/or only contact with that religion; what if the portrayal is accurate, but only a small part of that religion? What if it actually is incorrect? I suppose then, it is merely the production team's responsibility to ensure that their portrayals are completely accurate, etc.
Those are my thoughts.
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ReplyDeleteGreat post kristi! You really got me thinking! Especially about the stereotypes and generalizations I have created in my mind because of how religions I am unfamiliar with are portrayed in the media. I keep thinking os the time I saw slum dog millionaire and a conflict between hindus and Muslims was represented. Since I don't know much about hoe those two religions interact, I immediately concluded that they had I'll feelings toward each other in general. In that case, it's my job to research and become educated. I don't believe it's the filmmakers responsibility to spell things out for us. I believe it is our job to dispel stereotypes, and it is their job to be accurate in The portrayalnof the religioon, but it is not their job to be detailed in their portrayal. And about the question of whether the media is the place for religion, especially film.....yes, it's dramatic, and people relate to it. Movies would often lack humanity if they lacked religion.
ReplyDeleteI think that film is a way to promote religion, just as any other medium can promote religion and it's a very smart way to promote religion in some ways. Where else can you combine music, visual effects and words that can play to the emotions and intellect of mass audiences? There are some things that other mediums can't do. Like a book, although we can create mental pictures of what's going on, our emotions are affected differently when we see the story on screen, either positively or negatively.
ReplyDeleteWhen we think of how people are affected by the films that the church produces such as: The Testaments, Finding Faith in Christ, The Restoration, we can see how film can have a positive influence on people and their perceptions of the Savior, the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith.
On the other hand, when we see films like SLC Punk, we can see how people have incorrect perceptions about the LDS faith.
So I think that film can portray religion effectively to audiences if it is done in a way that the religious facts are straight and accurate. Also it depends a lot on the audience member to find out for themselves. If they watch the DaVinci Code and they ask themselves about the relationship between Mary Magdalene and Jesus Christ,an intelligent being would go pick up a Bible and study it out for themselves. That's the way we should look at all religions and their doctrine, get it from the source.
Emily Borders :)
I think that film is a really good way to inform people about religion. People are paying to come see the film and so they are probably going to be focused on what is going on. Films usually last around two hours which allows for a pretty in depth learning to take place. Another strength that the theatre has is that emotional value is expected many times when people go to see a movie. Usually most people are 100% invested in what they are watching which is an advantage for those who are trying to tell the story.
ReplyDeleteAs for the Chronicles of Narnia, I don't think it will be possible for people to understand the meaning of the movie because I never even thought about it until a friend told me and I have been Christian my whole life. But does that take away from the movie? Does that mean I didn't get it? I think some movies with underlying values are still good wholesome movies and don't really lose their value even if people don't get the deeper meaning. However, the Passion of the Christ, although I didn't see it, probably helped those who believe in Christ to have a deeper sense of sympathy for him. I know that when I watch any Joseph Smith movies I feel more for what he did because it becomes alive on the screen.
I think religion can be represented in film very well. I have no problem with the way C.S. Lewis ties Christian themes into his writing. I believe that it is actually more beneficial to not be upfront religious sometimes. "The Chronicles of Narnia" for instance appeals to a wide variety of people. You don't have to be religious to understand the storyline. However if you CAN did deeper, it allows you to think about the "bigger picture."
ReplyDeleteI think that movies that incorporate and even investigate religion can be very informative. Plus, what is the Book of Mormon anyways? It's a bunch of stories about our history and those sometimes make the beset types of movies.
As for EFFECTIVELY portraying religion, I don't know if the big movie theaters are the right source to turn to when you want religion. I agree with Jessica when she says if you want true religion, get if from the source.
Beth Grimmett (Walker)