"Christian" is a Bad Adjective

A collection of 29 posts

On Movies & Media

Woodlawn: A step in the right direction?

So I've already received one note from a fan of so-called "Christian movies" who pointed to some positive reviews of Woodlawn in the mainstream press, and who then implied that this negates my protests about the Christian movie industry. (The Rotten Tomatoes "score" — which

Journal

Simone Weil on pagan mythology

Here's Simone Weil writing — in Waiting for God — on how, by resisting Christ in her pursuit of the truth, she came to realize that he is the truth waiting for her within everything — even pagan mythology: ...After this I came to feel that Plato was a mystic, that

Journal

The "Most Christian" Movie of the Year?

In Selma — and I'm pretty sure about this — there is more gospel quoted, more gospel celebrated, more gospel embraced and openly lived out than in any so-called "Christian movie" released in 2014. (Except the one that was, you know, a Jesus movie.)

Film Forum

Saving Christmas (2014): A Looking Closer Film Forum

Featuring a guest review by my new friend N. D. Wilson, author of Boys of Blur, Death by Living, 100 Cupboards, and more.

On Movies & Media

Well-Made Movies Won't Be... Left Behind

Today, Matt Zoller Seitz, editor of RogerEbert.com, defended The Good Lie, a movie in which the central characters are Christians, as "a good movie." Why did he feel the need to defend it? Well, the success of The Blind Side inspired some backlash — opposition to movies in

"Christian" is a Bad Adjective

Why I Want to Be George R. R. Martin's Neighbor

There is a place... a magical place... where J.K. Rowling, Neil Gaiman, George R. R. Martin, Patricia McKillip, and J.R.R. Tolkien stand side-by-side...

"Christian" is a Bad Adjective

Against the deliberate "integration" of faith and art

Thanks to a Tweet from Image, I read an interview this morning with Wayne Roosa, an artist and art historian, in First Things. And I came across some words that were stronger than espresso. They woke me up and drove me to concentrate. Why have I grown so tired of

Of Gods and Men

Of Gods and Men: One of those movies we need, but few people really want.

I finally saw Of Gods and Men. The film received a rave review from my favorite film critic, Steven Greydanus, so it's been high on my list of must-see priorities. I'm so glad I spent a Saturday afternoon and eight bucks on it. It's

Lectures

IAM Encounter 10: How Then Shall We Tell Stories?

I hope you enjoy this presentation of my visit to Encounter 10, the 2010 arts conference hosted by International Arts Movement. This talk was my response to a question posed to me by the IAM team. I had the privilege of sharing thoughts in response to the question "How

"Christian" is a Bad Adjective

C.S. Lewis explains.

C.S. LEWIS: What we want is not more little books about Christianity, but more little books by Christians on other subjects — with their Christianity latent. And that's why so many of the most important, insightful, imaginative Christians who write will never be published so long as they

On Movies & Media

Washington Times on "Christian movies"

Reporter Bekah Grim of The Washington Times wanted to know why I don't get excited about "Christian movies." So I took a long, deep breath, tried to remain calm, tried to avoid R-rated language, and I told her. (Note: The article says I used the word

On Movies & Media

NPR: "The New Christian Film Industry!" Christianity Today: "Make It Stop!"

NPR recently ran a story about the (supposedly) exciting new "Christian movie industry." The story contained this quote: "I think we're going to see significant production houses that will be funding $200 million films done by Christians," he predicts. "We're going

"Christian" is a Bad Adjective

L.B. Graham on the Problem with "Christian fiction"

An excellent post by author L.B. Graham! I don't know his stories (yet), but I'm impressed with his perspective on prevalent problems in "Christian fiction." Christianity is not about moralism, and Christian fiction shouldn't be either. Christianity revolves, not around good

"Christian" is a Bad Adjective

Many Thanks to the Christy Award Judges. (Updated. What *is* Christian fiction, anyway?)

Many thanks, again, to those who chose the nominees for this year's Christy Awards. I'm told it is a rare honor to have a book nominated in two categories, and this year, Auralia's Colors was nominated for Best First Novel and "Visionary"

On Movies & Media

Change We Can Believe In... At the Movies

The Passion of the Christ inspired speculation—in Christian and mainstream media—that things might be changing for Christians in Hollywood. Some used stronger language, declaring that the gate of Hollywood were swinging open wide for faith-focused filmmakers. Some Christians began to speak with an Obama-level fever for CHANGE in

On Movies & Media

Mick Silva's Advice for Writers; Narnia's Makeover for High King Peter

Silva ponders Mick Silva on the voice of the Christian writer. * High King Peter of Narnia's "small mind" In C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia, High King Peter did not have a "small mind." But it seems that American filmmakers are

"Christian" is a Bad Adjective

NY Times: Ten Great Christian Rock Songs

It's not hard to demonstrate that Christian rock is often... even usually... cheesy, derivative, and shallow. Much of it sounds like commercials for Jesus rather than artistic endeavor. But there are exceptions, although I'd prefer to take the modifier "Christian" off of those songs

"Christian" is a Bad Adjective

"Christian Fiction" and the Faith of J.K. Rowling and Sara Zarr

I know that many of my fellow Christians are so convinced that J.K. Rowling is a servant of Satan that they won't be persuaded by anything as insignificant as... oh... the author's own words about her faith. But I'm encouraged that the conversation

On Movies & Media

Terry Mattingly on Two Words: "FOX" and "Faith"

Terry Mattingly looks at what happened to* The Ultimate Gift when it was tagged with the term "Fox Faith." He writes: “I told the Fox people this movie was going to resonate with the Christian audience and that’s fine with me, because I am a Christian,” said

On Movies & Media

So it continues: Are Christians a niche audience?

Readers are responding to my recent article at Christianity Today Movies: Christians as a Niche Market? And, as you might expect, their perspectives vary.

On Movies & Media

The Weinsteins Start Up Their Own "Faith-Based" Film Endeavor

Great. Now the Weinstein Company is developing a faith-based filmmaking line. Since the Contemporary Christian Music has done so much to sidetrack Christian musicians so their music doesn't accidentally end up in arenas where the world might hear it... why not create Contemporary Christian Cinema? That way, faith-related

On Movies & Media

Why My Faith is Not FoxFaith (and Great Art is Not Necessarily "Christian Art")

When I saw a promotional video for the arrival of FoxFaith, a special library of movies that "Christians and families can enjoy," I had a flashback. As I perused the titles of films being included in that label, I felt the walls closing in, trapping me in a

On Movies & Media

Why My Faith is Not "FoxFaith," and Great Art is Not Necessarily "Christian art"

When I saw a promotional video for the arrival of FoxFaith, a special library of movies that "Christians and families can enjoy," I had a flashback. As I perused the titles of films being included in that label, I felt the walls closing in, trapping me in a

"Christian" is a Bad Adjective

Phil Keaggy Speaks the Truth

Here's a revealing interview with Phil Keaggy, where he's saying some of the things about the Christian music industry that I've been saying at Looking Closer for a decade or more. This is just a piece of that article... Keaggy: I don't

On Movies & Media

If Christians want to make significant contributions to filmmaking...

William Romanowski, author of Eyes Wide Open, showed up in the pages of today's USA Today, addressing the potential for Christians to encourage productive dialogue through the medium of film. Only when evangelicals agree to look at Hollywood not just as an evangelistic tool, or a harmless entertainment