Voice Mail Hacking and the Kingdom of God
I suppose we, as a blog that concerns itself with the media, would be a bit remiss if we had not given some attention to the recent scandal surrounding Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation. The well-known and highly successful media conglomerate has been charged with phone hacking. Allegedly, News of the World, a subsidiary of News Corp., has been involved in hacking for the past several years now, acquiring very private and personal information from people as high up on... Read More
You are the man!
Despite this phrase’s usual congratulatory significance for outstanding performance, it is also the phrase uttered by the prophet Nathan when he confronted David for his murder of Uriah so he could take his wife. Shortly thereafter in the midst of the accusation, Nathan utters “You did it in secret but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.” The resonance with Rep. Weiner’s admission of several online infidelities is astounding. Rep.... Read More
The Revelation will not be Televised
I may have to add a proviso or two to my earlier, Baudrillard-heavy reading of the Royal Wedding. Watching it on PVR the next day (having opted not to get up at 3 am for the talking heads) the whole production turned out to be – as one might perhaps reasonably expect from a wedding – less of a Hollywood spectacle than a lengthy televised church service. When else would two billion people tune in to a church service, let alone one involving such a brilliant spokesperson... Read More
The “Birthers” & The Growth Of Christianity
Rhetorically speaking, it’s unbelievable that the media has recently directed (nearly) all of its attention to the “Birthers,” a group which is currently championed by author, businessman, and television personality, Donald Trump. Then again, this is America. So maybe it’s not so “unbelievable” after all! For those of you who are unfamiliar with the highly publicized issue (by the way, if you are, you’ve missed little to nothing),... Read More
The (Real) Royal Wedding
Contrary to what you might think, this is not a picture of princess-to-be Kate Middleton trying on her wedding dress before her upcoming nuptials on Friday. Despite its verisimilitude, this is the work of Alison Jackson (check out her website), an artist whose work explores the cult of celebrity in a unique way. By staging photos (and videos) such as this one using lookalikes, she... Read More
The Adjustment Bureau Adjusts Free-Will
George Nolfi’s recently released film (March 2011), The Adjustment Bureau, has brought the philosophical-theological question of free-will to the big screen in an engaging way. Based on the short story, Adjustment Team (by Philip K. Dick), The Adjustment Bureau tells the story of David Norris (Matt Damon) and Elise Sellas (Emily Blunt) – two driven individuals who seem destined to be together. Curiously, however, a mysterious group of well-dressed men in fedoras... Read More
What’s Black and White and “Red” All Over?
One would have had to be living under the proverbial rock to have somehow missed what’s been happening in the Middle East as of late. But just in case that rock is your home, let’s get caught up to speed: 1) Protests in Egypt finally ousted President Mubarak from his 30 year reign, 2) Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi (and his regime) have met their protesters with rank military violence, 3) Moreover, Tunisia, Bahrain, Yemen, et plus, have all been experiencing their... Read More
Mini-Mediation: Wild Sheen
Actor Charlie Sheen has made headlines this week with his no-longer-exclusive ABC interview on 20/20 in which his extremely odd behavior was sort of funny, mostly pathetic, slightly frightening. Sheen appeared with his two “goddesses” (girlfriends) and spoke about a variety of self-involved topics, such as “winning” and being on a drug called “Charliesheen.” Awesome–literally, “so impressive or overwhelming as to inspire a strong... Read More
Jon Stewart, Media’s Corruption, & Evangelical Responsibility
On September 29th, 2010 Fresh Air host, Terry Gross interviewed The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart at the 92nd Street Y in New York City.i Though September 29th, 2010 seems ages ago (in media time), some of the content from that interview has lasting significance and relevance concerning our perspective on media and (in parallel) on the Church. About halfway through the interview, Gross inquired as to whether or not Stewart felt more politically engaged due to his involvement with... Read More
Transmission Complete: Christmas Media and the Christian
What did you get for Christmas? Or better put, what did you receive this Christmas? It is easy for Christian consumers to forget that the real meaning of Christmas—the so-called season of giving—is that God is received among humans in Christ, the baby Jesus. This gift trumps even the most generous donor or the most perfect present given by Santa Claus under the tree. What does it mean to receive Christ in the world? There are plenty of clues—from the gospels to tradition,... Read More
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