Faith & Life Weekend Seminars

Show & Tell: The Christian & the Movies in Contemporary America

Presented by: Drew Trotter

Session One - "On Worldviews and Movies in America"

Using seven questions for discerning the worldview a movie projects, we will look at film clips from contemporary American movies and try to discover what they are saying. Even the most action packed blockbuster has a lot to say about what Americans believe as a people, and that information is crucial for the Christian who wants to live responsibly in America today. In addition, for some time now, the ever-increasing explicitness of crude and blasphemous language, and of sexual and violent activity in films has caused Christians due concern for the effect cinema is having in our culture and in individual lives. Can Christians go to the increasingly explicit movies being made today? In what frame of mind should we go to the movies? What is the role of our emotions in viewing a film? Are there principles and questions we can ask that will help us use our experiences at the movies in positive and godly ways? This lecture attempts to demonstrate the importance of film as a cultural barometer in America today and to give practical answers to the questions of how film can be used in the life of the Christian.

Session Two - "The Christian and the Movies: Four Questions"
Continuing with the discussion from the night before, we ask questions of a number of contemporary films that help us discern the worldviews making an impact on American culture today. We also weave into the discussion important clues about the techniques filmmakers use to manipulate their audiences towards their point of view. How do dialogue, composition, camera movement, music, acting, directing and all the other myriad aspects of filmmaking work together to get us to think and feel certain ways? We will also try to give an answer to four misconceptions Christian moviegoers often have about the movies as entertainment today, and provide a solid Biblical framework for the proper use of movies as entertainment. Through all this, we will develop a method of film watching that is intelligent and understanding, enabling us to increase our enjoyment of movies even as we more ably use them to understand our culture and ourselves.

The Four Misconceptions:

• “Movies are just harmless entertainment”
• “Old classics are truly Christian”
• “Children's movies are truly Christian” or “Children's movies are demonic”
• “Contemporary movies are demonic”

Session Three - "But I just go to the movies to be entertained..."
A viewing of a movie of your choice with discussion to follow. We will practice what we have preached, and teach ourselves how to view a whole film and discuss it with our friends for the intellectual and spiritual benefit movies can provide.

NOTE: Some of the clips viewed at this seminar may be from R-rated movies and contain strong language and/or violence.

To contact Drew Trotter you may either e-mail drew@studycenter.net or phone (434) 817-1050.

DREW TROTTER, President of the Center for Christian Study, has taught biblical studies and systematic theology at the seminary level for more than twenty years. He received his Ph.D. in New Testament Studies from Cambridge University and is the author of Interpreting the Epistle to the Hebrews (Baker, 1997). Drew also writes movie reviews regularly for the newsletter Critique, and has lectured on film and culture at seminaries, churches and colleges throughout the eastern United States.

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