Saturday, January 16, 2016
A Critique of La Sagrada Familia
A Tale of Two Churches: La Sagrada Familia and the Seville Cathedral
One feels, in the end, only vaguely Christian; the other thoroughly Catholic.
One feels, in the end, only vaguely Christian; the other thoroughly Catholic.
But Is it a Good Movie?
Sony trying to make money off Christians this year?
"Risen" Depicts the Resurrection as Historical and Theological Mystery
The cast and crew talk about AFFIRM Film’s new movie, starring Joseph Fiennes, which follows a Roman centurion’s hunt for the risen Christ
"Risen" Depicts the Resurrection as Historical and Theological Mystery
The cast and crew talk about AFFIRM Film’s new movie, starring Joseph Fiennes, which follows a Roman centurion’s hunt for the risen Christ
Not quite...
St. Benedict is used as an example by Alasdair MacIntyre and Rod Dreher to explain their communitarian response to current conditions; it is not meant to replace the religious vocation.
Traditional religious life: The real “Benedict Option”
Ancient forms of religious life—centered around contemplation and the Divine Office—remain appealing to young people looking to devote their lives to God.
By Hilary White
Traditional religious life: The real “Benedict Option”
Ancient forms of religious life—centered around contemplation and the Divine Office—remain appealing to young people looking to devote their lives to God.
By Hilary White
When I became a man, I set aside childish ways.
Some of the YAs were talking Sunday night about ST: TFA at dinner.
I've written of Jing Yong; in his wuxia novels, male readers are supposed to identify with the male hero, who is usually the main character. There may be kick-ass women, who can be the equal to men in fighting thanks to qi (upon which Lucas's Force is based, plus some added "mysticism), but they are usually secondary, though I can think of at least one exception, Siu Lung Nui in 神雕侠侣(神鵰俠侶) -- I suppose female readers may identify with her.
Conservatives (or Catholics) who luv the film and praise the repetition as essential to story-telling or try to rationalize away the Mary Sue aspects of Rey...
Didn't Joseph Campbell first gain notice by outlining what was supposed to be the archetypal hero's journey? Isn't that what influenced Lucas? Whom do boys and young men identify with? Luke Skywalker in the original trilogy. How are boys supposed to identify with Rey? It is clear that Disney has made Rey into a Jedi Disney princess, while expecting boys to love her character as well, in the name of egalitarianism and the obliteration of sex differences.
It has been claimed that Rey is a bit of a Mary Sue character -- she is a spectacular pilot, knows how to fight and easily learns to use the Force, with her skill exceeding that of mere padawan? Does she also takes to killing rather easily? The same critique could be said of Luke, who had lived a rather peaceful life on Tatooine and wasn't raised to be a citizen-soldier. We are not talking about killing at a distance, but at a rather close distance, even up close and personal with the lightsaber, with very little psychological preparation beforehand. I suppose the Rebels have enough of a warrior culture that Luke would not suffer much PTSD. Still, Luke never learned how to dehumanize those he had to kill (though it might be easy to do so since they would the armor of stormtroopers). How many have the psychological wiring to be able to make such a transition so quickly? (See the work of Dave Grossman.)
I would have to watch the movie carefully, and I'd rather not, so I don't know if Rey is shown actually killing anyone.
An alternate explanation has been advanced for the Mary Sue-like qualities of Rey, namely that her abilities are not innate but enhanced by the Force, that she has been chosen by the Force to be the new savior of the galaxy. The Force is now more like a god than an impersonal field permeating all things, like qi. What are the real-world implications of this? How many feminists will accept this interpretation instead of believing the movie to be an endorsement of their view of reality, than women are just the same as men, if not better, by their very nature?
Star Wars is more than a swashbuckler set in space -- training to be skilled in the use of the force may be similar or not to qi development in martial arts but it is as unreal. (Though those who are devoted to Asian martial arts may disagree.) I tend to favor reality-based fighting, and would prefer a movie show that. One could claim that the viewer can abstract from the Force and the Force training and focus instead on the development of skill and habit. But like wuxia novels, Star Wars seems to be appropriate for a certain age or stage of maturity and not beyond.
Given the problematic metaphysics of the Force (not such a problem in fantasy novels if one supposes the powers of magic are given by the Creator), and Disney's obvious SJW agenda, it is time for men to give up the franchise. We should have stories that encourage us to be heroic, but with the finite amount of time we have, why choose an inferior product? (Similarly, why let our children read Harry Potter?)
Related:
Star Wars The Force Awakens: JJ Abrams responds to criticism about the film being A New Hope 'rip off'
Star Wars: Episode VIII is ‘Much Darker’ in Tone, Says John Boyega
Just like ESB is darker than A New Hope...
Thought the author would apply Campbell to critique the new Star Wars movie, but he doesn't. So there is more than one kind of story... who would have known?
First Draft: Is Joseph Campbell’s The Hero’s Journey Dead in Screenwriting Today?
A side note:
I did see James Gandolfini's last movie, The Drop; I don't think one is supposed to identify with the protagonist -- the story is hardly an uplifting one. What is the moral? What is the point of making such a movie? Voyeurism? A glimpse into the life of a criminal? One could argue that the main character's life is hardly a happy one, and that it is doubtful at the end of the movie whether he can even find love. But it is a bit ambiguous, after all -- it seems that the women he has been dating may take another chance on another bad boy, one who is a real bad boy, even dangerous.
I've written of Jing Yong; in his wuxia novels, male readers are supposed to identify with the male hero, who is usually the main character. There may be kick-ass women, who can be the equal to men in fighting thanks to qi (upon which Lucas's Force is based, plus some added "mysticism), but they are usually secondary, though I can think of at least one exception, Siu Lung Nui in 神雕侠侣(神鵰俠侶) -- I suppose female readers may identify with her.
Conservatives (or Catholics) who luv the film and praise the repetition as essential to story-telling or try to rationalize away the Mary Sue aspects of Rey...
Didn't Joseph Campbell first gain notice by outlining what was supposed to be the archetypal hero's journey? Isn't that what influenced Lucas? Whom do boys and young men identify with? Luke Skywalker in the original trilogy. How are boys supposed to identify with Rey? It is clear that Disney has made Rey into a Jedi Disney princess, while expecting boys to love her character as well, in the name of egalitarianism and the obliteration of sex differences.
It has been claimed that Rey is a bit of a Mary Sue character -- she is a spectacular pilot, knows how to fight and easily learns to use the Force, with her skill exceeding that of mere padawan? Does she also takes to killing rather easily? The same critique could be said of Luke, who had lived a rather peaceful life on Tatooine and wasn't raised to be a citizen-soldier. We are not talking about killing at a distance, but at a rather close distance, even up close and personal with the lightsaber, with very little psychological preparation beforehand. I suppose the Rebels have enough of a warrior culture that Luke would not suffer much PTSD. Still, Luke never learned how to dehumanize those he had to kill (though it might be easy to do so since they would the armor of stormtroopers). How many have the psychological wiring to be able to make such a transition so quickly? (See the work of Dave Grossman.)
I would have to watch the movie carefully, and I'd rather not, so I don't know if Rey is shown actually killing anyone.
An alternate explanation has been advanced for the Mary Sue-like qualities of Rey, namely that her abilities are not innate but enhanced by the Force, that she has been chosen by the Force to be the new savior of the galaxy. The Force is now more like a god than an impersonal field permeating all things, like qi. What are the real-world implications of this? How many feminists will accept this interpretation instead of believing the movie to be an endorsement of their view of reality, than women are just the same as men, if not better, by their very nature?
Star Wars is more than a swashbuckler set in space -- training to be skilled in the use of the force may be similar or not to qi development in martial arts but it is as unreal. (Though those who are devoted to Asian martial arts may disagree.) I tend to favor reality-based fighting, and would prefer a movie show that. One could claim that the viewer can abstract from the Force and the Force training and focus instead on the development of skill and habit. But like wuxia novels, Star Wars seems to be appropriate for a certain age or stage of maturity and not beyond.
Given the problematic metaphysics of the Force (not such a problem in fantasy novels if one supposes the powers of magic are given by the Creator), and Disney's obvious SJW agenda, it is time for men to give up the franchise. We should have stories that encourage us to be heroic, but with the finite amount of time we have, why choose an inferior product? (Similarly, why let our children read Harry Potter?)
Related:
Star Wars The Force Awakens: JJ Abrams responds to criticism about the film being A New Hope 'rip off'
Star Wars: Episode VIII is ‘Much Darker’ in Tone, Says John Boyega
Just like ESB is darker than A New Hope...
Thought the author would apply Campbell to critique the new Star Wars movie, but he doesn't. So there is more than one kind of story... who would have known?
First Draft: Is Joseph Campbell’s The Hero’s Journey Dead in Screenwriting Today?
A side note:
I did see James Gandolfini's last movie, The Drop; I don't think one is supposed to identify with the protagonist -- the story is hardly an uplifting one. What is the moral? What is the point of making such a movie? Voyeurism? A glimpse into the life of a criminal? One could argue that the main character's life is hardly a happy one, and that it is doubtful at the end of the movie whether he can even find love. But it is a bit ambiguous, after all -- it seems that the women he has been dating may take another chance on another bad boy, one who is a real bad boy, even dangerous.
Mass Culture in the Hands of SJWs and Leftists
I won't mention any particular ethnic group associated with mass culture. *cough*
Gavin McInnes offers some humorous suggestions on how to be entertained nonetheless: Propaganda Pop Culture: From Cuckmercials to ‘Star Wars’
Gavin McInnes offers some humorous suggestions on how to be entertained nonetheless: Propaganda Pop Culture: From Cuckmercials to ‘Star Wars’
Friday, January 15, 2016
Hmmm
Pope Francis meets with Google executive, Eric Schmidt.
Posted by Vatican Radio - English Section on Friday, January 15, 2016
Pope Francis meet with Eric Schmidt, chairman of Google parent company Alphabet, for a private 15-minute meeting in the Vatican on Friday.
Posted by Vatican Radio - English Section on Friday, January 15, 2016
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Gerald Celente on 2016
I spoke with Keith Larson about trends for 2016, and much more yesterday...
Posted by Gerald Celente on Wednesday, January 13, 2016
God Knows
Mere coincidence that the local Roman diocese has invited both the LCs and the IVE in, despite their purported conservatism [orthodoxy]? Or is the similarity between the orders more scandalous? I don't think anyone in the chancery would knowingly invite members of troubled orders into the diocese to remedy the shortage of priests, or worse, because there is some sort of conspiracy to commit crimes. Still...
Jude Law as Pope
Another role requiring an American accent... Jude Law Appears in Uncomfortable Papal Robes While Filming TV Series in Venice (via Fr. Z)
Vanity Fair
HBO
Vanity Fair
HBO
Need to find out where the photo was taken
A lot of Asians...
Here is a thought-provoking essay from the US Jesuit America Magazine, taking a reading of the present state and future prospects for the ecumenical movement, especially in the West. What do you think?
Posted by Vatican Radio - English Section on Sunday, January 10, 2016
Hagia Sophia
The Great Church, “a magnificent sight and for those who see it supernatural, for those who hear of it...
Posted by Orthodox Christian Network on Friday, January 8, 2016
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Oh You Latin Trads...
The Cappa Magna in the Light of Nature, Rationality, and Mystery by Peter Kwasniewski
Of course, I'd probably be for simplification of episcopal vestments in the Byzantine rite as well...
Of course, I'd probably be for simplification of episcopal vestments in the Byzantine rite as well...
Magister Loves Benedict XVI, Tornielli Loves...
Pope Francis on Monday afternoon received the first copy of the Italian edition of his book-length interview with...
Posted by Vatican Radio - English Section on Tuesday, January 12, 2016
And he's not the only one...
Italian actor Roberto Benigni said on Tuesday Pope Francis is “so full of mercy, you could sell it by the pound.”He...
Posted by Vatican Radio - English Section on Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Anglicans...
Anglican leaders from around the world on Tuesday conclude the second day of a meeting in Canterbury focused on healing divisions within the global communion.
Posted by Vatican Radio - English Section on Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Godparents!
"The institution of godparents (sponsors) is one that dates back to the first century of the Christian Church. Anyone...
Posted by Orthodox Christian Network on Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Could it be because of the two main actors?
Box Office: 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' Not Catching Fire In China Good job, JJ and your casting director... though $1 billion+ will probably keep Disney satisfied.
More on Hacksaw Ridge
Currently in production, Mel Gibson's latest.
AFM: How Mel Gibson’s ‘Hacksaw Ridge’ Finally Came Together
'Hacksaw Ridge': The Remaking Of Mel Gibson?
wiki
AFM: How Mel Gibson’s ‘Hacksaw Ridge’ Finally Came Together
'Hacksaw Ridge': The Remaking Of Mel Gibson?
wiki
Three from David Bowie
The first would probably be pilloried today for being politically incorrect...
Steve Sailer: David Bowie, RIP
But is the newspaper making itself banal?
Steve Sailer: David Bowie, RIP
The Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano remembered David Bowie in its Tuesday edition, saying the influential rock star was “never banal.”
Posted by Vatican Radio - English Section on Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Monday, January 11, 2016
Who Listens to the USCCB?
Crisis: An Assessment of the New USCCB Document Faithful Citizenship
by Stephen M. Krason
The U.S. bishops recently issued an updated version of their 2007 document on the political obligations of Catholics, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship (FCFC). While an in-depth analysis of it…
by Stephen M. Krason
The U.S. bishops recently issued an updated version of their 2007 document on the political obligations of Catholics, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship (FCFC). While an in-depth analysis of it…
The Jubilee Year: Pastoral Success or Failure?
Chiesa: Jubilee of Mercy, But With the Confessionals Empty
The shocking letter of a priest with the care of souls. Fewer and fewer penitents, and less and less repentant. The counterproductive effects of a “door” thrown open too wide
The shocking letter of a priest with the care of souls. Fewer and fewer penitents, and less and less repentant. The counterproductive effects of a “door” thrown open too wide
Melanie Pritchard on Life on the Rock
Sunday, January 10, 2016
Question for the artist...
Are you familiar with the imagery for the Sacred Heart?
WINNER fans get ready, this is going to be amazing
Posted by Soompi on Thursday, January 7, 2016
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