Drowning in Over Stimulation

A Review of Prophetically Incorrect: A Christian Introduction to Media Criticism and Eyes Wide Open: Looking for God in Popular Culture

by Byron Borger

Prophetically Incorrect: A Christian Introduction to Media Criticism by Robert Woods & Paul Patton (Brazos Press, 2011) $19.99

This new book is a spectacular read, a serious (and seriously enjoyable) text about texts. Yes, media can be talked about as texts. How do we read them? Do they shape us, or do we evaluate them? How can we enjoy the good gifts that come from TV and film but also be wise about what is good, true, beautiful, insightful, and good for the common good? Can we be prophetic in our critical discernment and still be clear that we appreciate the good gifts of popular media? What does it mean to have a “prophetic imagination” without reducing our concerns to depressing sloganeering? There are many questions that those in media, or those media promotion/education/review need to ask, and these authors can help.

Woods and Patton know their stuff, walk the fine line, offering solid and balanced insight in ways we need to hear. They both are experienced media producers and they are now professors with PhDs; their learning comes from years of involvement. There is a splendid introduction by the excellent writer, Quentin Schultze (author of the important study of a Christian view of mass media, Communication for Life) under the heading, “The Audacity of Prophetic Truth.” It is itself a tutorial on how to think faithfully—critically, but not as a curmudgeon—about popular culture.

Not many books on evangelical media literacy have rave reviews from the likes of esteemed, progressive Bible scholar Walter Brueggemann, but this isn’t your ordinary cheap book merely showing that religious people can be with-it and hip. It is a rich and provocative read, thick with meaning and insight. It is up to date, a bit edgy, intellectually stimulating, and, I’d suggest, may never have been published in the evangelical publishing world it if weren’t for the ground-breaking work of the William D. Romanowski a decade earlier (a book we’ll celebrate, below.) Despite Prophetically Incorrect’s intellectual rigor, it is quite readable, and, at times, very tender, as in when they warn about depression or cynicism or other common “occupational hazards” for those drawn to a calling in media criticism. Very highly recommended.

------------------------

Eyes Wide Open: Looking for God in Popular Culture by William D. Romanowski (Brazos Press, 2001) $21.99

Although significantly expanded in a revised, 2007 edition, the first version of this remarkable work broke new ground in 2001 with its savvy awareness of pop culture and its profound realization that the popular arts are artistic artifacts and should be treated as such. Few Christian scholars (and even fewer preachers and pundits) understood this—MTV videos or SNL skits or rock songs weren’t taken seriously as art, and usually, the preachers spoke against the vulgar and profane nature of some pop culture.) Romanowski led the way suggesting that faith communities nurture a more balanced perspective, a view of what people made in God’s image can make, treating popular entertainments as art-forms. The book, with its clear and passionate Biblical basis, made a powerful, new case.

As a former entertainer (and a bit of a jokester) himself, Romanowski understands the child-like joy of music and film, TV and video games. But he also has a studied Christian perspective on aesthetics, giving him an astute ability to deeply understand the arts. An even earlier serious book by this same vibrant author (Pop Culture Wars) demolished the philosophical distinction between “high culture" and “low culture” so often assumed (especially by evangelicals warning against diving into the streams of popular entertainment) which paved the way for a generation of evangelical thinkers to not only appreciate popular entertainment, but to study it with engaged, gutsy determination. A virtual cottage industry of thoughtful writers about film, sports, rock music, advertising, electronic media and the like soon developed.

The author’s “in but not of” the world worldview is clear and he wisely makes the case for discerning but active cultural appreciation and engagement as clearly as any book up until that time—many think it is still unsurpassed today. (Interestingly, in the second edition, some of the Bible study was taken out as it seemed to the editors that Bible believing Christians simply didn’t need convincing that it was appropriate to watch secular TV or go to the local cinema. The book had done its job and expanded into somewhat deeper territory.) I not only think this accessible, lively book is brilliant, but that it was a game-changer, pioneering and brave. Many of the more recent books cite it. It remains essential.

You can order both of these books at Hearts and Minds Books. Mention Q Ideas when you order and receive 20% off.

How do you critically evaluate media for the common good as a follower of Jesus?
What are the best practices for engaging media that presents a questionable message?

Editor's Note: The artwork above was found here.

Comments

Edward Bryant

I think the best place to start when evaluating "media for the common good" is the cultural mandate and imago dei as communicated in Genesis 1 and 9. human beaing bear the image of God and called (by God) to create culture, things and work. The ultimate purpose of these things should be to bring Glory to God. One of the ways we do that is by doing things that do not debase the image we bear. Not an easy excercise, but I merely suggest a good starting place is to consider media, much as folks like Kuyper would admonish us to consider "all of life." in addition, i would argue that this orientation does not necessarily have be be purely negative, but it can also be a positive orientation that evaluates with hopeful and joyful expectation that the "media" being evaluated will shine new light upon the weighty glory we each bear.

Byron Borger

Nicely put, Edward. I think these very notions are central to all truly Christian cultural engagement. Not only do these books really help develop a vocabulary and discerning vision to do just that, the Romanowski book has an excellent resource in the back, a thoughtful appendix that gives various ways to understand how religion, gender, politics, and such can each be a lens to help us understand the work under consideration. It may be helpful to keep in mind, too, that since all people bear the great image of our Creator, even the most debased person can create great art; we share some human-ness that finally longs for beauty and goodness, coherence, meaning and such. Thank goodness there is so much good to discover, signals of the "weighty glory" you mention.

martha

My comment is as a person who got a "C" in rhetorical analysis, embraced Christ late (later?) in life, but who has lived richly and gratefully all her days. Here's the thing--you know James Taylor's "I'm your handyman"? I always, even when I had no idea about Jesus, knew that Jesus was singing to me through this song as I drove around in my car and listened to it on the radio. It was just weird at first. Like a non sequitur. It was like being unconscious of a subliminal message, yet knowing on a conscious level that something was "going on." When I finally connected the dots, the first thought that came to my mind was, "Well, He WAS trained as a carpenter!"

Walt Mueller

Just finished "Prophetically Incorrect" a couple of weeks ago and have been a fan of "Eyes Wide Open" since it first came out. The former is an especially welcome volume as it offers a thoughtful and deep considderation of how followers of Christ can follow him into the media world. . . something few if any of us have ever been nurtured into doing. With 8-18 year olds now spending over 7 and a half hours a day engaged with media, this is necessary. It also pokes readers into seriously considering our prophetic role in today's world. Romanowski has always been a champion of common grace and general revelation. . . again, theological concepts most Christians never encounter or are asked to consider while their faith is being formed. "Eyes Wide Open" is required reading whenever I teach. I would add to these two a third book, Tim Challies' "The Next Story." Wow. . . what a refreshing and thoughtful read! To answer your questions. . . and I hope this doesn't sound self-serving. . . but these are the things we've been working so hard to do and teach (especially to the emerging generations) at CPYU. Our "How To Use Your Head to Guard Your Heart" 3D media evaluation guide and the non-sectarian version ("Minding Your Media") take the approach taught and reflected in the books you've mentioned. We've tried very hard to bring it down to the "street" - right where kids live in practical ways. Again, I don't want to sound self-serving here, but we've worked hard on these things, believe in them deeply, and have seen them work! Keep it up Byron. And oh, thanks for giving me more to track and read!

Comments are now closed

ALSO BY BYRON BORGER

ALSO IN MEDIA