Louisa Andrusko-Blog 13-Outside Reading 4/17/11

In “How Religion Editors of Newspapers View Their Jobs and Religion,” Don Ranly explores the relationship between journalism and religion. Ranly argues that “perhaps more than ever reporters are expected to be specialists.” As a journalist and specialist, impartiality and an objective viewpoint are considered key characteristics. Interestingly enough, these religion journalists are reporting on something very subjective and diverse. Ranly categorizes the journalists into three categories: neutral, humanists, and traditionalists. While this is some disagreement between these journalists on the amount of influence religion should have in journalism, according to the study performed for this article, almost all of the journalists interviewed believed their research to be significant and relevant to readers.

Being an objective journalist seems more important now than ever, especially after the many public investigations of corrupt journalists. However, when reading this article, I had to wonder: What role does subjectivity play in religion journalism? Further, is subjectivity/impartiality even expected? In my opinion, religion journalists have targeted audiences that are aware of the biases that will accompany the news they receive. Just like non-religious news sources, people choose news sources that most closely align with their own beliefs. However, according to this study, religion journalists do feel they are looked down on more than their non-religion counterparts. The recognized and accepted subjective journalism that occurs may be a reason for this.

The intermingling of subjectivity and objectivity was very interesting to me. While religion has so many different interpretations to different people, the core of religion is still supposed to be unattested or questioned. Unconditional faith, it seems, is demanded in many faiths, leaving little to no room for questions. I believe we see this trend continue in religion journalism. Interestingly enough, religion journalism is objective in that it follows set rules, yet subjective in the journalist’s slightly different perceptions.

Ranly, Don. "How Religion Editors of Newspapers View Their Jobs and Religion." Journalism Quarterly 56.4 (1979): 844-849. Communication & Mass Media Complete. EBSCO. Web. 16 Apr. 2011.

Brynne Valla--Outside Reading #5

Michael McGowan finds many theological and philosophical elements in the film Star Trek that I did not recognize while watching the movie. One of the themes he briefly touches on is the idea of self-sacrifice. In the opening scene of the film, Kirk’s father, as captain of the ship, remains on the ship so that people can escape off it. He sacrifices himself and saves hundreds of people.

Another theme McGowan delves into more is the apocalyptic imagery throughout the movie. He notes that the destruction by fire under the leadership of Nero ties into Christian theology. McGowan writes, “In Star Trek and ancient Rome, Nero chooses suicide rather than submission to encroaching forces.” He parallels the historical Nero that New Testament documents describe to the one in the movie and makes a compelling argument about the religious correlation between the two. McGowan suggests that the “cosmic battle which eventuates in good triumphing over evil” is evident in both the film and John’s revelation of the beast in the Bible.

Although I have seen Star Trek quite a few times, I have never thought about the connection between the names of the antagonists in the film or in the Bible. Additionally, I never thought of the imagery as apocalyptic. However, I think McGowan makes a compelling argument and I have to agree with his religious findings in a secular film.

McGowan, Michael W. “Film Review: Star Trek.” The Journal of Religion and Film. Vol. 13, No. 1, April 2009.

Brynne Valla--Outside Reading #4

A religious theme we haven’t discussed in class is the opposition to religion in film. In the film The Invention of Lying, a severe atheistic message is revealed. In the movie, the characters live in a society in which only the truth can be told. Most of the people do not sugar coat the truth, and they definitely do not lie—no such thing has even been thought of.

That is, until Ricky Gervais’ character, Mark, consoles his dying mother by telling her that a man in the sky has told him about a beautiful place where she will be young, happy, care-free and with her loved ones. When the nurses overhear him describing what viewers come to know as Christians’ idea of Heaven, he must maintain his façade and pretend that he is the messenger for the man in the sky (Christians’ idea of God).

Throughout the course of the movie, silly things are done to discredit religion. One of the best examples of this is when Mark writes the Ten Commandments on the cardboard of pizza boxes in his house.

A film reviewer suggests that Mark’s motivation to lie rests in his love interest, Anna, played by Jennifer Aniston. Many of Mark’s lies have been started in order to win Anna over. Bill Blizek writes, “At just the moment Mark can lie and win the girl of his dreams, he instead tells the truth…It is better, Mark decides and the movie concurs, to go without what you most want than to get it through a lie.”

Blizek believes that though the film might be anti-Christian, “it can also be interpreted as against any of the stories that we make up to make us feel happy—whether religious, political or even personal. In a kind of existential humanist way, the movie says that we ought to embrace life, enjoy life live life to the fullest, even if there is no god and no life after death.”

I have to disagree with his stance on the blatant anti-religion in this film. Although the film does not explicitly mention religion, the themes and parallels to the Christian faith are undeniable. Furthermore, the silly events and the ultimate fabrication of Christianity in the movie are clear indicators of doubting Christian ideology and authenticity.

Additionally, I do not think that the movie discredits stories we make up. Rather, I believe that the movie sets out to discredit Christianity. Also, the fact that Ricky Gervais is a staunch atheist also bolsters this notion. Regardless of its intent to discredit or to entertain, the movie is a fun one to watch and it promotes thought about how one sees religion and truth.

Blizek, Bill. “Film Review: The Invention of Lying.” The Journal of Religion and Film. Vol. 13, No. 2, October 2009.

Louisa Andrusko-#11-4/13/11-Student's Choice

Walking the Noland trail earlier this week, I was struck by the beauty and wonderment of my surrounding environment. I had just finished working on my paper for this class on nature as a sacred place in Into the Wild, and was inspired to take my own miniature journey. Even though the trail is less than a mile away, I have not taken full advantage of all it can and does offer. A place of refuge and serenity, the Noland Trail I believe, contains what the main character was searching for in Into the Wild.

Interestingly enough, the Noland trail is literally separated from the mundane, materialistic world around it. With shops, school buildings, and construction constantly around us, the Noland trail serves as a break from it all. Eliade writes that nature is always filled with the sacred and that something divine always transcends it. Untainted by the profane, the Noland Trail continues to be a place of relaxation and reflection for the Newport News community. Even though it is right in the middle of so many profane things, travellers still respect the sacredness of the trail. It seems, in a way, there is an unspoken agreement among the Newport News community to always honor the Noland Trail and the sacredness that fills it. Despite a little trash here and there, the trail has remained pure.

I think it’s important to spend time in nature and to really appreciate all it has to offer. Fortunately for CNU students, there is a place nearby where we can go to just get away from it all.

Louisa Andrusko-#10-4/13/11-Limitless

The action packed film Limitless blurs the lines between reality and fantasy as we're taken on a drug-induced rollercoaster ride. Fed up with his mundane, unfulfilling life, Eddie seeks new heights through the help of the addictive drug, NZT-48. Of course, Eddie quickly becomes dependent on the drug, putting his need for the drug before his own (and girlfriend’s) safety. We watch as Eddie goes to extreme measures to secure the drug as he thrives off the power the narcotic gives him.

The climactic scene in which Eddie drinks another human’s blood off the floor demonstrated Eddie’s full transition from a human being, to a barbaric animal of some sort. In class, Dr. Redick likened Eddie’s actions to those of a vampire, a parallel I definitely noticed in the film. His animalistic instincts are heightened from the use of NZT-48 and his need to survive takes precedent over his need to be civil and humane. While we can all relate to the human’s basic need to survive, Eddie’s methods both shocked and horrified us.

This scene made me wonder what we, the audience, would have done in the same situation. Eddie honestly thought he would die without this drug and his only way to live was to drink this man’s blood. Are there instances (probably not as intense or graphic) in our own lives that force us to do something we know is morally and socially wrong, in order to survive? Further, are ethics completely thrown out when someone is in a life or death situation?

Brynne Valla--Outside Reading #3

In his review of Toy Story 3, William Rodriguez examines love and friendship. He focuses on Agape love—and believes it to be represented by multiple characters at many different instances. He defines agape as achieving a common good for a community and is sacrificing oneself for another. In class we talked about agape and how it correlates to sacrifice—such as Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. We also talked about it being unconditional love, not a brotherly or erotic type of love.

In the movie, Woody leaves the comfort of his home with Andy and a new owner to rescue his friends from the Sunnyside Day Care they are trapped in. During their escape, the toys are faced with death via conveyor belt at the local dump. Rodriguez says the best example of agape is demonstrated when the toys hold hands and await their demise together. He says, “Their loyalty to one another is exemplary, but one is also surprised by their sense of responsibility to one another. They feel compelled to assuage fear by sharing their burdens.” At the last minute, the aliens save the toys. The toys are overwhelmed by being alive and the love they have for each other in that instant.

The sacrifice that the toys were willing to make for each other is evident in all Toy Story films but is especially apparent in this movie. This type of love is exalted in each film and almost seems to encourage viewers to demonstrate this type of love on a daily basis.

Rodriguez, William. “Film Review:Love and Friendship in Toy Story 3.” The Journal of Religion and Film. Vol. 14, No. 1, April 2010.

Brynne Valla--Outside Reading #2

Adam L. Porter reviews The Book of Eli and points out many religious themes throughout the movie. This film clearly covers religious ground as the whole premise of the movie and plot concerns a religious text.

Porter argues that the movie “affirms the power of God and explores the way religion can be uses, both positively and negatively.” He opines that Eli embodies the positive power of religion. Eli guards the last remaining Bible with his life and is attempting to follow God’s command to take it West.

On the other hand, Carnegie wants to obtain the text from Eli and use it as a means of control over other people. While Eli seeks to practice the religion within the sacred text, Eli seeks to use the Bible “as a weapon, aimed at the minds of the weak and desperate” in the post-apocalypse world.

Porter argues that because Eli succeeds in bringing the book west (in one way or another), the positive side of religion is upheld. Eli’s success reinforces God’s divine protection over his messenger and emphasizes the demise of those who try to abuse religion.

This film’s premise is simply that of a man trying to take a religious text west. However, the symbols within the movie and the positive and negative sides of religion as displayed in the movie by Eli and Carnegie are not as evident.

Porter, Adam L. “Film Review: The Book of Eli.” The Journal of Religion and Film. Vol. 14, No. 1, April 2010.