Religion and Film 2021

 Saving Private Ryan 04/30/2021 - Last night I decided to rewatch the film, Saving Private Ryan, and there were some things I did not notice much until after taking this class. The first being the film as a religious movie. In the beginning, as soldiers were running onto the beach getting killed, there were many men holding rosaries and praying at the top of their lungs. Even the sniper throughout the film said prayers as he shot at the enemy and kissed his cross necklace before going into action. In addition, all of these men did not want to go on the mission to save Private Ryan. However, by the end of the film majority of them ended up dying and saw honor in it and hoped that Private Ryan lives a good life in order to "earn it." Similar to the Thin Red Line, the sacred and profane were evident throughout the film. The sacred being present in nature (the trees, grass, rain) adding a sense of beauty. The profane was obviously present in the midst of the firing of guns, tanks...

 Nature and Nurture 04/30/2021 - Yesterday I was walking my dog and came across a baby bird in the middle of the road.  This bird was petrified, frozen in place, not knowing what to do. There was no sign of the mama bird nearby. So I moved the baby bird out of the middle of the road and set it in some grass away from any known danger. This made me think of how animals in nature are sometimes thrown out into the dangers of the world without being taught much. Thus, animals, like humans, have to learn to live and survive on their own through experience. However, animals are almost pre-wired to know what to do through instinct. When animals are put in certain situations, they almost always know what to do, but at such a young age they might be confused, stuck, and scared. Humans may not always have this natural tendency to know what to do. Thus, we learn through experience and from our failures how to survive and do things in this world. In addition, it made me think of...

 When viewing the two short films of the decalogue series, I struggled finding enjoyment in a film that was intended to give the audience an eerie feeling and discomfort. One way this was used is the lighting. The film is dark which sets the tone as devoid of hope and life. One of the more interesting things  found in the movie is that  Krzysztof Kieslowski develops the characters very well. The father throughout the film was very smart with numbers and was on a constant proof to solve issues with analytics. This gets juxtaposed with his son dying by falling n the pond, something that he deemed improbable due to the ice being completely frozen. As a man who trusts in analytics, he goes through every possible option of where his son may be before heading to the pond, which for someone else would have been the first place they go.  Midrash is a Jewish belief that one should not only understand the words of the text, but what is behind the words as well, the i...

 The Fountain released in 2006 and takes place from three separate perspectives of time: past, present; and future. We follow various explorers from each of these time periods who are in search of a "tree of life" in order to obtain eternal life and youth. Eventually we see each explorer and each storyline link together as they are each on a quest for the same thing, some for themselves and some to give it to others. Each of these characters and explorers are obsessed with finding the tree of life, so much so that the Christian explorer is sacrificed after having drunk from the tree of life, along with many of the other explorers. The obsession of all these individuals with eternal life being so great that they would kill and be killed for it is entirely ironic. They are so afraid of death and so concerned with preserving life that they never actually get to enjoy it. Similar to other explorers, Tommy is obsessed with avoiding death and with preserving life. The arc of the st...

 What particularly struck me about the films we watched the films was the immersive feeling of the films. They had a way of making the viewer tense and uncomfortable. In the instance where the father was looking for his son, it was entirely frustrating to watch him check all over his town and retrace the steps of his son. He was so focused on finding the answer analytically. If he had been in touch with his heart and followed it it likely would have lead him straight to the pond. Instead, the audience watches him scramble all over the town  checking anywhere and everywhere except where he knows his son is. The concept of Midrash, that we discussed in class,  was used as a form of interpretation of the Jewish law and of the Torah. It is meant to be a deep and serious reflection on God's word such that you almost meditate on the message. The film medium is the perfect one to impose this sort of feeling on someone. Where written word can be powerful and moving, film encompas...

 Surfing as Relion 04/28/2021 - I decided to read an article about surfing today and found a really interesting one talking about how some people consider surfing as a religion. It mentioned how that surfing is growing, people view it as "an ecstatic and mystical experience." I found it enlightening that some surfers view their time out in the ocean more so of a pilgrimage than a sport, as they are "seeking a sublime or perfect wave." There are even ritual dimensions to it as well that include "early rising to greet the sea... and promotion of solidarity through stickers and surfing clothes." Then there is the act of surfing that comes off very "Zen-like" in which time slows and the surfers become one with the ocean, feeling and copying the way the water moves. Surfing can be very healing for the soul, especially when on a heaven-like beach that is picturesque and quiet. Soul surfers see surfing as sacred in that they are connected to nature, hav...

 Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl 04/28/2021 - I have read this book multiple times and find new things each time I read it. Today I read an article about the top three lessons to be learned by Viktor, who was a holocaust survivor. I will talk about two of the three lessons. The first lesson talked about here is "in order to survive, you have to be okay with dying at any moment." I saw this be helpful in getting rid of the fear of dying whenever, especially in concentration camps. Outside of this, it is beneficial to be okay with dying because you will live each moment in the present. Second, having meaning to your life will give everything you do and think meaning. Viktor thought of his wife every day in the camp, and that is what gave him the strength to endure the pain and trials each day. To have meaning will give your life some sense of direction and you must always revert back to it in everything you do. Most people have not figured out their life's mea...