Brian Bennett

Are You What You Eat?

The old adage purports, “You are what you eat.”  As a child this statement might not have made sense, but in the world of The Walking Dead, it makes more sense than ever.  While Halloween is past, it might seem odd bringing up a television show/graphic novel series based on the current reigning horror creature, […]

Brian Bennett

The Death of Books… or at least a bookstore

While the closing of the Border’s chain of bookstores can hardly be considered a recent development, the final reckoning looms large on the horizon for the last few stores.  I have personally witnessed several stores closing throughout this year.  Most recently this past weekend. If people are arguing that books are dead, they were not […]

Brian Bennett

Adaptation and Authority

With the incredible number of movies being adapted from previously existing works, it was bound to happen.  True believers are screaming in agony. Well some are at any rate.  Stories being told in the films don’t match up with the already established story lines that have existed. Some deviations might be insignificant but are much […]

Brian Bennett

Weird Al — Unveiling Culture through Parody

For over three decades, Weird Al has been engaging in serious reflection of culture.  His reflection is bundled up and wrapped around rock and pop tunes and a comedic veneer, but his re-writing of lyrics break open genres and open us up to something new.  In his newest release, Alpocalypse, the cover of which portrays […]

Brian Bennett

O Facebook, You Have Searched Me Out and Known Me

Once again Facebook finds itself in the midst of yet another privacy issue.  Facebook is launching a facial recognition program that will aid users in tagging photos (that is, attaching names to photos).  Once a user is tagged, Facebook’s facial recognition software will suggest his or her name when others have a photo and Facebook […]

Brian Bennett

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 […]

Brian Bennett

Apocalypse and Messiahs

It used to be that superheroes were merely comic book fodder. Then they became Saturday morning fare.  In both cases one was likely to find poor writing and cheap animation that stretched most minds when it came to suspension of disbelief.  Even when the superheroes started appearing in blockbusters, such as the Superman series in […]

Brian Bennett

Gods, Sin, and Fear Itself

Throw together a disaster brought about by superhero Speedball, the Norse gods, and the Sinthia Schmidt, aka Sin daughter of Captain America’s nemesis the Red Skull, and the setting makes itself for Marvel Comics’ event “Fear Itself.”  This event, while having several stand alone limited series, will run throughout a large number of Marvel titles. […]

Brian Bennett

Songs For the Life of Faith: “Sigh No More” by Mumford & Sons

It is not impossible to go out and find pop music with a distinctly Christian message.  The Contemporary Christian Music scene has plenty of artists who are doing just that.  The medium however can be somewhat confusing.  The sound of many songs seem drawn explicitly from the Top 40 list.  It seems Christians want to […]