In a world inundated with visual narratives, how often do we pause to reflect on the intersection of faith and film? Deepen your understanding of the spiritual dimensions of cinematic storytelling with these recommendations from Dr. Pearce Durst, Associate Professor of Christianity and Culture.
The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey
“Philip Yancey tries to help readers see Jesus for who He was. This may require scraping away the dust and grime of modern misconceptions. While historical context is immensely helpful, Yancey explores (among other things) how cinema can be used to restore the original masterpiece. For instance, Yancey refers to a time when he watched 15 films on the life of Jesus and then taught a course exploring the accuracy of these cinematic interpretations. While they seemed comical and stiff at times, at other times these films provided the viewer with a clearer vision of the humanity of Jesus.”
Redeeming Vision: A Christian Guide to Looking at and Learning from Art by Elissa Yukiko Weichbrodt
“We find God’s redeeming vision throughout scripture. This loving regard contrasts the objectifying gaze that is common in our contemporary culture. With this in mind, Weichbrodt offers a model to move beyond consuming, surveilling, controlling, and condemning. By learning the vocabulary of formal elements and principles of art, this book puts forward a way that we can learn to see how images create a kind of ‘cultural liturgy.’ As a whole, Weichbrodt provides a field guide that equips us with the means to look redemptively, to be more oriented in love, and ultimately open to transformation.”
Christ and Culture Revisited by D.A. Carson
“Is it the case that the mid-20th century theologian H. Richard Niebuhr set the table for many conversations we are still having today? Carson believes it is so. He revisits Niebuhr’s Christ and Culture to explore the question of how Christians should interface with culture. He posits that Christian education can help us develop a countercultural way of looking at all reality under the Lordship of Christ. This means that our engagement with film and the arts more generally can produce wonderful work that inspires a new generation.”