Excellent analysis! It seems so rare these days to find art that is honest about the doubts and struggles that accompany the religious life, and it is refreshing to hear about someone who is working with those themes. Especially in art by Christians for Christians, there is enormous pressure to portray the life of faith as one free from any problems or worries - the "redemption" narrative, which although authentic for many people, is only part of the story, and which has been overworked in my opinion. Thanks for showcasing artists who are being honest and direct about what they see.
Thank you, and thank you for reading! Flannery is especially good in that regard: "They think faith is a big electric blanket, when of course it is the cross."
Gotta see me some Sorrentino! On art that mix mundanity and transcendence in unsettling ways, another great film that comes to mind is 'Lourdes' from 2009: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_EoX6rEPFs
ooh i didn't know that one! I didn't mention it here, but Sorrentino often has an aside portraying dubious miracles/charlatan faith healers (again kind of similar to Fellini's ribbing on the purported apparition of the virgin in Dolce Vita). However, he also portrays unmistakable miracles (usually done by/happening to people who aren't expecting it/are terrified by it) so its a more complicated portrayal of how real things (supernatural occurences) can get recruited into people's schemes or their personal dramas just like anything else.
Excellent analysis! It seems so rare these days to find art that is honest about the doubts and struggles that accompany the religious life, and it is refreshing to hear about someone who is working with those themes. Especially in art by Christians for Christians, there is enormous pressure to portray the life of faith as one free from any problems or worries - the "redemption" narrative, which although authentic for many people, is only part of the story, and which has been overworked in my opinion. Thanks for showcasing artists who are being honest and direct about what they see.
Thank you, and thank you for reading! Flannery is especially good in that regard: "They think faith is a big electric blanket, when of course it is the cross."
Gotta see me some Sorrentino! On art that mix mundanity and transcendence in unsettling ways, another great film that comes to mind is 'Lourdes' from 2009: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_EoX6rEPFs
ooh i didn't know that one! I didn't mention it here, but Sorrentino often has an aside portraying dubious miracles/charlatan faith healers (again kind of similar to Fellini's ribbing on the purported apparition of the virgin in Dolce Vita). However, he also portrays unmistakable miracles (usually done by/happening to people who aren't expecting it/are terrified by it) so its a more complicated portrayal of how real things (supernatural occurences) can get recruited into people's schemes or their personal dramas just like anything else.