Looking for God in Popular Culture
"This
is absolutely the best series now out to help you explore the dimensions of film
and its communication power in our world today. With the accompanying book, study
guide that comes with the videos, and the additional website resources available,
this is a must package for any serious teaching experience that wants to dig into
the popular culture from a spiritual perspective."
Dave Anderson, Director Compass Arts Film Academy
This
three-part video series began as one component of a new course by the Student
Life Division at Calvin College designed to introduce first-year students to the
idea of cultural discernment. Popular culture is one of the most influential forces
in contemporary society. While
most students at Christian liberal arts colleges spend a good amount of time watching
movies and television programs or listening to music, they do not necessarily
engage popular art and culture as Christians. This is also true of adults who
harbor Christian convictions and also consume their share of the mainstream media.
While they think their faith should matter when it comes to popular art, in the
absence of distinctly Christian critical tools, many simply defer to vague personal
tastes and preferences. For some, "Christian" means simply the absence
of depictions of sex, violence or profanity. This video series employs a different
approach. The central question it addresses is: How might a Christian faith perspective
shape our appreciation and evaluation of popular artworks?
When the videos were completed, we decided to make the series, along with a study
guide, available to other colleges, schools, churches and campus ministries for
use in college and high school courses, Sunday school classes, and various study
groups. The purpose is to provide an additional resource for Christians who are
searching for a faith-based criticism of the popular arts and culture.
These
videos are closely related to the book in content and are intended to bring the
key ideas and themes of Eyes Wide Open to life visually by featuring clips from
over 120 movies, TV programs and music videos for analysis. These are educational
videos that are loaded with ideas and information. They are meant to be engaging
while also generating substantive discourse. Viewing these videos in conjunction
with a reading of the book will deepen and enliven your discussion. Like the companion
book, the video series is grounded in Christian principles and offers an informed
and fascinating approach to popular art and culture.
- Episode 1: Popular Art and Culture (45 min)
- Episode 2: A Christian Cultural Landscape (35 min.)
- Episode 3: The Cultural Landscape of Hollywood (55 min.)
I
don't know anybody who has more insight, wisdom and balance about pop culture
than Dr. Romanowski. If you've read his books, you already know that. Now, you
can not only read his words…you can experience and see for yourself. In the
Eyes Wide Open videos the impact is astoundingly clear and powerful. This is a
major teaching tool for Christians as they struggle to understand and speak to
popular culture. What a gift to the church!
Steve
Brown, president of KeyLife Network and professor, Reformed Theological Seminary
in Orlando
Bill
Romanowski has translated his critical study of popular culture, Eyes Wide Open,
into a provocative spectacle and visual feast. What he told his readers in his
best-selling book, he now shows with panache. Lavishly illustrated with images
from popular Hollywood films and music videos, his three-part video series applies
orthodox Christian doctrine to the influential images of Hollywood. With keenly
astute analyses, Romanowski exposes the innards of the white sepulchers of film
to show their impact, potential and dangers in regard to religion, violence and,
of course, sex. Romanowski will help young people read the images we so blithely
consume, and will, simultaneously enable us all to discover the significant place
our Christian faith has in interpreting the cultural landscape.
Terry
Lindvall, Distinguished Chair of Visual Communication and Professor of Film at
Regent University
ECPA Announces
2002 Gold Medallion Book Award Winners
Eyes Wide Open, Brazos Press
www.ecpa.org/ECPA/press_releases.html#2002GMWINNERSCalvin News
Looking for God in Pop Culture
www.calvin.edu/news/releases/2000_01/eyes.htmThe
Spark, Fall 2001 issue
Take 2
www.calvin.edu/publications/spark/fall01/romanowski.htmDr. William D.
Romanowski's Homepage
Bio, publications, favorite films
www.calvin.edu/~romw/
