Category Archives: Uncategorized

“Film is difficult to explain because it is easy to understand… somewhere between lies the genius of film.” (P191 If film is distinguishable by its adherence to technology and technicalities, it is equally distinguishable by its esthetics. Understanding the technical dimensions (the science of film) can make us better readers of the films esthetics, orContinue reading “Does Art Still Matter: Film, Modernism, And The Need To Understand This World”

In a recent episode of the Bema Podcast, host Marty Solomon references Brad Gray, discussing one of the distinguishing factors of the Judeo-Christian narrative. I mentioned in a previous post on this site that memory is a concept indebted to the Judeo-Christian Tradition, at least in the way it utilizes it as redemptive act and concept.Continue reading “Backing Into the Future: The Memories That Make a Life”

He (Jesus) was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him (Luke 4:15) All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this (Luke 4:28) Separated by a meager 13 verses, the fourth chapter of Luke’s Gospel details these polarized responses by the “people in the synagogue” in Galilee, Jesus’ hometown. Which begsContinue reading “Luke 4: The Way of Holistic Redemption”

I acknowledge that the majority of my friends and acquaintances find this weird. I also know I’m not the only one who feels this and thinks this. But whenever I find myself in discussions with others about an assumed and seemingly common and pervasive desire to escape or retreat back to nature and the outdoors,Continue reading “Reflections on the Nature of Building and the Building of Nature”

Some more thoughts on my journey through the book How To Read A Film by James Monaco. Thoughts relating to how we see, how we know. Monaco points out that a common artistic presence runs underneath all forms of art regardless of adaptations of technology and the subsequent  development of new technique. One can studyContinue reading “Film, Modernism, and the Relationship Between Function and Interpretation”

The subject of memory became crucially important to me following an experience I had some years ago during a particular dark night of the soul. I detailed that experience in this space before, and I also talk about it with the Fear of God Podcast in a conversation about the film The Never Ending Story (partContinue reading “Relic, Memory, and the Search For Identity (Part 2)”

Google the question “can we trust our memories”, and the answer that comes up is an emphatic no. Despite memory being the only tool we have to recollect the past, it is notoriously untrustworthy in the way it reconstructs facts and conceals the truth. My earliest memories reach back somewhere into the recesses of myContinue reading “Relic, Memory, And Searching For Identity (Part 1)”

A previous post in this space mentioned I was reading a book called How To Read A Film by James Monaco. Some of what I read yesterday has been inspiring more thoughts There’s a historical note that describes the formation of film as a specific artform that exists uniquely in relationship to the whole. FilmContinue reading “Film, Worldviews and The Art of Necessary Participation”

I have a confession Back in June I decided to join a number of facebook atheist debate/discussion groups. The words debate and discussion being contained to a necessary air quote variety of terminology. As a few of my friends noted upon vocalizing my confession- “everyone’s got a calling I guess.” I’m still trying to parseContinue reading “Discussion Groups, Christmas Gifts, and Some Thoughts About the Nature of Art”

What is Rosebud A few years ago I began a New Years Resolution Plan called Rosebud. I heard about it on one of the travel podcasts that I follow. The process essentially looks like this:Step 1: List Three Roses-This is the stuff that I would consider the greatest strengths, successes or accomplishments of the pastContinue reading “Rosebud 2024: A New Years Resolution Plan”