Learning in 'my time'

For my last assessment I’ve been researching alot on the effect of media on society (among other things). This has relationship has stimulated much thought. This knowledge has had an impact on my ‘pleasure time’. As I watched a movie I was stunned by the profound effect it had on me. I didn’t expect this purely leisure based activity to cement what I have learnt. As I write and process this assignment I can’t help thinking of this movie. It was clearly made a few years ago; I couldn’t help enjoying the simple split screen and the general filming techniques that (perhaps because of current trends) I haven’t seen in ages. It really reinforced the content. I could see why the producers had used this. My appreciation for this film increased as I watched. I loved the slow pace. I loved the split screen. I loved the character comparison and the brief periods of image montages. Perhaps because many of the techniques in this have been revamped they now look and feel different in the recent films I have seen. The power of how techniques are coupled has become clear to me.

In essence, the nature of film and the very techniques used have changed so dramatically. I felt I was watching with fresh eyes. The film captured me much more profoundly than any recent film I have seen. I can understand how film production affects attention. I can clearly see how much it can have an effect on the viewer- I mean I’m still thinking about it now!

Religious Experience. Is it possible to represent?

I've just been away with my church for the weekend. It was wonderful spending time with the people and with God. It was amazing spending time with him and having him speak clearly to me. The wisdom of those around me was noteworthy, the insights of God, shared through them served to confirm what God was doing and saying to me both internally and externally.

I assume that for many of you, this does not translate personally. My point is: I think it is very difficult to translate an intense religious experience. It is not difficult to explain what happens internally or externally or how they are linked. However to represent this and the intrinsically linked dynamics would be incredibly difficult. I definitely believe that the media is limited in their ability to represent something. Ultimately I will never know what it feels like to bungy jump unless I do it, irregarless of how many documentaries I watch on it.

What experience would you love to have people to have?

What experience would you love to have people to have?

Watch this. A cultural portrayal of Religion

It is brilliant that the media has the ability to influence society. The showcasing and publication of challenging ideas is illustrated as a wonderful resource by Canas (2008) in her exploration of the Canadian television comedy ‘Little Mosque on the Prairie.’ This show promotes cultural diversity and tolerance. Cana’s (2008) article clearly represents and portrays the positive power of the media whilst recognising historical negative representations of Muslims. Clear and concise examples provide deep and rich understandings of the issues facing Muslims in Canada and the representations of people groups. These examples are stark, they assume that ideas are absorbed by viewers, and portray historical representations of Muslims as ultimately negative. Ultimately they succeed in displaying the media’s role in portraying and influencing culture. It is clear that the media is viewed by Canas (2008) as a powerful and influential vehicle that has a place and role in the representation of religion.

 According to Canas (2008, p195-196) the historical representation of Muslims has been distorted. Her outline of this assertion is clear. Orientalism is used to support the notion that historical representation of Muslims portrays them as “inferior, premodern, and violent” (Canas, 2008, p196). In particular the women are noted as “exotic and voluptuous belly dancers” (Canas, 2008, p195). According to Canas (2008, p196) the oriental portrayal of Muslims has been “greatly reinforced and spread by the media” since 9/11. This idea, is clearly valid and supported by several theorists who have studied media representations of Muslims (Canas, 2008, p195). Whether these portrayals are clearly Muslim is not discussed by Canas (2008). The difference between the portrayal of middle Eastern culture and Muslim identities is worthy of mention, as the two appear irrevocably linked by Canas. The absorption of these portrayals is either misrepresented and/or unabsorbed. The orientalist representation of the inferior and/or belly-dancing Muslim is not necessarily translated to viewers. Especially to those who can see a distinction between culture and religion. In reflection, Canas brief investigation of the portrayal of Muslims should be extended, as viewers do often distinguish between religion and culture.

 What do you think? Have you absorbed the idea of the ‘inferior’ or ‘belly dancing’ Muslim? Has there been a distinction between culture and religion in these representations?

Canas S. (2008) ‘The Little Mosque on the Prairie: Examining (Multi) Cultural Spaces of Nation and Religion’ in Cultural Dynamics 20 (195) Accessed online at sagepub.com on 1/May/2012

A response to Sylvie

Do you imagine that mainline religions will lose adherents unless they become socially relevant?

I think there is a marked difference between: reaching people to inflorm them about ones beliefs and; losing your beliefs in becoming socially relevant. There is a dichotomy here. The reason I suggest this is because sometimes beliefs are modified to reach people to discribe their beliefs. An fictional example: if the Armish bogged about their beliefs it would be self-distructive as they would be refutting their own beliefs in order to inform others about them. This would surely lead to social irrelevance.

Simply put, if attempts to become socially relevant undermine beliefs, it will not increase adherents.

Just my own thoughts. I most certainly wouldn't respond to a religion if it, in it's promotion, undermines itself

The Avengers. The portrayal of Religious Views?

..I couldn't watch the Avengers without thinking about this course. I spent the whole time thinking about what this portrayal means, what it tells us about society. Really, i just wanted to watch a blockbuster, but i couldn't stop analysing it. If you do not wish to have the same experience please stop reading now.

It was Thor, a demi-god, who origninally caused me to begin to think about the portrayal of religion in this film. I'm still skeptical about whether we can 'pull' religious ideas out of fiction. But stay with me and please respond. I want to know how you feel about this concept.

*caution; events of events of the film are explained below*
..There is one scene in which Thor and Iron man are fighting. Trees split, greenfolage is brutally flung as the argoant, self-heroized Iron man clashes with Thor. It says something about where we place technology. Not only does it save iron-mans life. It also enables him to become a hero who brings about peace and enables him to substancially challenge a demi-god.

Is this true about how we feel about technology? Is this how we feel about demi-gods and God or gods themselves? Can we really become strong enough, through our own inventions, to proport a sufficent challenge to these powers? Are there any other films that depict this? And do you agree that this representation reveals something about how society feels about the gods or god?

Whedon, J. (Director). 'The Avengers' (2012). Marvel

MIRACLE

...Did any of you read the courier mail on Sunday April the 15th? I was so utterly shocked to see an article about the miraculous on the front page of a newspaper! In all honesty I haven't seen a great deal of publicity about the religious, especially when it covers belief in an interactive and caring God. It was refreshing to read this article, to see something so different, yet incredibly local, covered in the paper.

I've seen documentaries before about the healing power of God (1), but never come across it in the secular media before. I thought this was so fascinating, especially as religious phenomena is often kept out of the spot-light. The dynamics of reporting are perhaps more open I previously conceived.

(1) films such as Wilson, D. 'Furious Love' (2010). Wonderlust Productions


CourierMail

A response and reflection on Bowman

Bowman's article does not incite me to rage or shock me. It simply provides an understanding of how the economy and consumption work in regards to religion. She suggests that this is a process that has the potential to challenge "existing organizational and commercial theories and practices" (Bowman, 2012, p21). This assertion is preempted by and linked to a quote by Redden that "much New Age commerce is value-driven" (Bowman, 2012, p20), purposeful and marketed to varying degrees (Bowman, 2012, p19).

The differing degree to which marketing is a force and marker of religious activity is noted by Bowman (2012, p13-19). This dynamic between religion and consumption is marked by:
-specialist services, that are often clustered around a religious or spiritual site
-functional services, such as food and beverage
-the sacralization of commercial transactions
-purchases becoming channels of experience when taken home

These religious, yet commercial, activities are cyclic, and culture influencing (Bowman, 2012, p13). It is clear that Bowman is attempting to link commercial and religious activities. She notes the effect, outcomes and dynamics of these two areas in a succinct and clear manner that does not undermine or diminish the power of the commercial or the power and influence of the religious and spiritual.

In reflection these commercial and religio-spiritual dynamics appear to be a positive and productive phenomena. However, like any dynamic, these two arenas can sometimes be interwoven to such a degree that the issuing reason for this dynamic is lost. The outcomes clearly are negative. I suggest this because the corruption of business and motivation clearly have a negative impact on belief and practice. How does business and belief make sure they continue to work in harmony? How does a religious business person make sure they do not loose belief in attempts to gain financially? And are the corruption of these two dynamics noticeable to the buyer and to provider?

There really is a vast array of issues that would surround the religious and business person.. but perhaps these dynamics would be of great benefit to their business.


Bowman, M. (2012) 'Understanding Glastonbury as a site of consumption' in Religion Media and Culture: a reader. Lynch, G. and Mitchell, J. (eds). Routledge. Oxon