Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ
Many Americans flocked to see Mel Gibson’s movie, “The Passion of the Christ.” On over 2.000 screens across America the viewed the “harrowing depiction of Jesus' last 12 hours in wide-screen vivid color.” (Allen 2004) People viewed images of Jesus being flogged, crucified and left to die. This violence caused some Christians discomfort with theology, and some Jews’ fear that it will “incite violence against them because of its portrayal of Jews’ involvement in Jesus’ death.” (Allen 2004)
Despite all of these factors, people embraced the idea behind the movie. Church members even used the movie for evangelizing. Rev. Glenn Barth of the Minneapolis office of Mission America, said, “Any time the cross of Christ becomes the topic of conversation around water coolers, it’s a real opportunity for the church to get its message across.” (Allen 2004) Sacred Realms points out that “The cross, (is) a common religious symbol with which virtually everyone is familiar.” (xii) People are going to have the opportunity to find a community, to share stories and relate with one another through the discussion generated by “The Passion of the Christ.” In a sense, this movie may even be viewed as a way to get the social-glue flowing.
Gibson risked a lot to produce this movie, and has been one of the first major stars to be open with his faith. Although this movie will allow people to view the story of Christ, many mainline Christian groups are urging caution to those who see it. “The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) Jewish-Christian dialogue committee issued a statement, saying, in part, ‘We can expect that Mr. Gibson's project will shape or reshape understandings of this...
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...) it is a valid point that maybe there should be more about the Resurrection at the end of the film. However, viewers of the Christian faith will know this, and those who are not may be curious and question the story for themselves.
Although people renting out the theatres on Ash Wednesday will be made up of mostly Christians, it is always good for people to view the story and to reexamine what they know. The movie may also reach a few people who are curious about the story and want to know more. The most important thing is that “The Passion of Christ” makes everyone aware of a story that happened long ago but is still important today.
Bibliography
Allen, Martha. (2004, February 15). ‘Passion of the Christ’ rouses faithful, worries others. Star Tribune, p. 1.
Garber, J., McGee, Jon., & Warms, R. (2004). Sacred Realms. Oxford University Press.
...ies to the British crown, such as officials and soldiers, whose economics relied on the British Crown. This was true, but in many cases, their reasons were much simpler. Many Loyalists were simply happy with the status quo; this was the government in which they were accustomed. Others saw the Patriots as hooligans and outlaws, while others had invested heavily in British goods, and others still did not want the prospect of war. Many consider the power that the British soldiers, or “Red Coats”, had in the American colonies as justified under the British Crown. They were the police force, arresting and upholding the British laws. Many people who held the title of Loyalist saw the frequently violent actions of the Patriots as criminal in nature instead of heroic as the Patriots saw them, and as such refused to assist them even if some agreed with them to an extent.
In conclusion, I found a quote from Michael Medved that I thoroughly agreed with, he says, “This same habitual blindness to spiritual, substantive dimensions of every significant challenge continues to handicap Hollywood”. I believe what he wants to get across here is that the Hollywood industry always misses the mark when it comes to spirituality and this is his whole meaning throughout the book. Whether I agree with his wording or not, I am a Christian, and I should be concerned with the way the media is influencing the mind of the world around me. I am called to be the light in this world, and I do believe that is the one area Medved and I agree; in some way, we both believe that the world is under attack and it is our job to show the light to this darkened world.
Mark Twain is considered as one of the most renowned authors of his time. He attained worldwide success, very early in his professional career. Twain was mostly known for writing realistic novels, in which the language and the mindset of the people reflected the traditions and values of their environment. As he spent ample time near the Mississippi River, the symbolism of the river and its significance is reflected in his books. Overall, Mark Twain was a celebrated author, who relied on realistic reflections of his own observations, with an added mixture of humor.
Mark Twain was a writer whose works revolved around his childhood experiences growing up on the Mississippi River. The main source of his writing was the time he spent in Hannibal, Missouri as a young boy. He also used his childhood friends in many of his work, such as modeling the character Sid in Huck Finn after his brother Henry. Twain also used the happy times in his life to express his feeling in his writings. Twain used the trials of his life to make his works humorous and all-time American classics.
Quentin Tarantino’s 2009 film Inglourious Bastards entails a Jewish revenge fantasy that is told through a counterfactual history of events in World War II. However, this story follows a completely different plot than what we are currently familiar with. Within these circumstances, audiences now question the very ideas and arguments that are often associated with World War II. We believe that Inglourious Basterds is a Jewish revenge fantasy that forces us to rethink our previous understandings by disrupting the viewers sense of content and nature in the history of World War II. Within this thesis, this paper will cover the Jewish lens vs. American lens, counter-plots with-in the film, ignored social undercurrents, and the idea that nobody wins in war. These ideas all correlate with how we view World War II history and how Inglourious Basterds muddles our previous thoughts on how these events occurred.
Mark Twain was a catalyst for the American education reform movement and the social changes that it brought. By writing in a style that the common man could relate to, he opened a nations eyes to problems, within the nation, that may have gone undetected.
"The Passion of the Christ" by Mel Gibson, recounts the last twelve hours of the life of Jesus of Nazareth, portraying his arrest, trial, crucifixion and death. One of the most popular religious movies in modern times, it therefore becomes susceptible to criticism. Although the film is based upon the stories within the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, there are many exaggerations and non-biblical elements present in the movie. This is not unexpected, since it is a movie, but the vivid detail of the brutality in the movie as well as the Anti-Semitic theme are the most publicly criticized elements of the movie. The Passion emphasizes the brutality Jesus endured to give himself for his people, but at the same time in the movie the Jews are the ones that cry for his death. During several scenes of The Passion of the Christ, there are elements such as characters, themes, and motifs that are not found within the gospels, but are in the movie to add more dramatic elements.
Willy Loman’s character is capable of making errors. He believes he is a very successful salesman and well liked. He also thinks that the company likes what he is doing. He once said, “I’m the New England man. I am vital in New England” (Miller pg. 32) Because of his false belief about his success Howard fired him. After he got fired charley offered him a job, but he refuses to accept, because he is too proud and jealous to work for Charley. His actions were wrong because at no time was a successful salesman. He is not a powerful character. Willy lives in his fantasies where he is the man. Who goes out to another place and comes out rich, he is love by everyone and admired by his family. In real life, he is lazy and does not live up to his own ideals. “As Aristotle explains, a tragic hero must be one of noble character and must fall from power and happiness.”(Www.ccd.rightchoice.org/lit115/poetics.html) but Willy neither has a noble characteristic nor does he fall from power because he does not have a position of power.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens, mainly known as Mark Twain, was an American autho who shaped the country through his literary works. Twain’s childhood influenced his best works by giving him great stories and the right experience. His early life was key in developing his writing. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was shaped by his early experiences. Huck and Jim’s adventure illustrates the irony of the “peculiar institution” in the South. Ten years later, Twain wrote Puddn’Head Wilson, which further explored slavery. Mark Twain’s early life paved the way for his future success and influenced his best works, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Puddn’Head Wilson.
...ds to film, the religious stories surrounding the scenario are more than likely far less exciting and more straightforward than what is portrayed. The depiction of Christianity in a melodramatic fashion aims to keep people interested but it is not taken into consideration that the events that had taken place in Christian texts such as the bible could be equally interesting and exciting if they are depicted accurately within the story being narrated. Movies are over eager when they get a religious topic to work with and place it unnecessarily over the top, so that the religious undertones and lessons are almost lost and to get them, one must pay extremely close attention.
Mark Twain is a one of the famous American author who set a milestone in American literature history. He used a humor and ironic elements in his book to portray the lesson to his readers. Also, he liked to satirize the social system and morality to educate the people. Therefore, in his three famous works, The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn, The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg, The Mysterious Stranger, he satirized the human’s selfishness, evilness, and greediness.
The movie, Jesus of Nazareth, showed the Paschal Mystery in a secular and spiritual way, that everyone could understand. It went into great depth on almost every topic in the Gospels and historically with people like Pontius Pilate and Caiaphas. The Paschal Mystery is a very important to the Catholic religion as it is what differentiates us from other religions, especially Judaism. The fact that God joined us in human form, in the Incarnation, is amazing and shows the character of God, that He is loving and forgiving. Although the death of Jesus was horrible, it gave us our salvation and saved us from sin.
There are many quotes to describe a classical American author, but Ulysses S. Grant describes one particular true American author as “. . . the simple soldier, who, all untaught of the silken phrase markers, linked words together with an art surpassing the art of schools and into them put a something which will bring American ears, as long as America shall last, the roll of his vanished drums and the thread of his marching hosts.” (American Experience, Grant’s Memoirs) Mark Twain is this simple soldier who is a true American author who expressed America with his writings. He fought for America in his writings as he did when he fought in the Civil War; the realistic literary time period. And his travels around the nation and life-changing experiences influenced him to write for the American readers to imagine what he viewed. Twain is a true American author due to his life events that influenced him to share with his beloved readers.
God reveals himself to the tribe of Judah through Jesus, although they reject him. The movie ultimately shows God’s plan for restoring his relationship with mankind, through the sacrifice of his son Jesus. The greatest personal insight gained from the movie was the political and spiritual battle with the religious establishment and the blindness of the Jewish culture that lead to the rejection of their symbolic spiritual Passover.
Gonzalez, Justo L. The Story of Christianity. 2nd ed. New York City, NY: HarperOne, 2010.