A letter worth noting at the Feedback page for Christianity Today Movies:
Narnia Evangelism
posted 09/02/05Your Reel News column states, “It’s not surprising that believers would see [The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe] as not just mere entertainment, but as an evangelistic opportunity. “In stark contrast, C. S. Lewis’ close friend Walter Hooper argues “I was worried that those who talked about ‘teaching’ the stories as Christian ‘theology’ might by such efforts frustrate the spell of Lewis’ clearly worked illusion.”
As a Lewis scholar, I completely agree with Hooper. First and foremost, all seven Narnia books are literary masterpieces that were written to be enjoyed by all, and just as one need not be polytheistic to enjoy the splendor of ancient Egyptian art, or benefit from scientific progress, much of which originated in polytheistic cultures, one need not be Christian to enjoy the Narnia series or any other great masterpiece that happens to have been written by a Christian, especially as great a writer and philosopher as Lewis. However, the good fellowship that naturally comes from great books and great movies can definitely be used as an evangelistic opportunity. After all, before he became a Christian, Lewis himself shared a love of medieval and ancient tales with his friend and colleague Tolkien, a committed Christian. I believe this solid friendship that began with a mutual love of literature caused Tolkien to be influential in leading Lewis to Jesus. If anything is to be used as an evangelistic opportunity, then let it be the friendship that comes naturally from shared interests such as that of Narnia.
Katrelya Angus
What do you think? Are the evangelism events being organized around the Narnia release misguided? Shouldn’t we just let the art speak… or better, show… for itself?
And, if I do say so myself, I was flattered to see this letter posted as well:
I thoroughly enjoyed Jeffrey Overstreet’s review of The Brothers Grimm. Too few movie reviewers give such attention to critical analysis, but Overstreet’s reviews are insightful, both because they tastefully express his opinions AND provide plenty of supporting evidence. As a fellow editor and writer, I’m impressed.
Kelly Tait
Thanks, Kelly! I must say, I had more fun writing that review than I did seeing the movie.
Turning this film into a mere evangelism tool is almost certainly a bad idea. I blogged this a few days ago, using quotes from an e-mail interview I did a few months ago with Doug Gresham.
Any discussions of this nature will come naturally. To force it by “evangelistic attempts” will be forced and impersonal. Let the movie stand for itself and the conversations on faith, etc. will come on it’s own.
I agree. Great art speaks for itself. I had a Muslim friend who greatlt enjoyed the Narnia books as a kid, and was shocked to find out it was a Christian allegory. Rather than blatantly using it as propaganda, a better use would be to explore the themes in the Narnia books – what is evil, how is it overcome – in a non-religious manner. Let people come to their own conclusions.
It’s a bit off topic, but they just had a showing of TLTWTW right next to my hometown and one of my teacher friends was lucky enough to get in to see it (sans special effects). She said it was amazing…even without all the effects!!!
Yay!!!
It would be so sad to seeing people handing out leaflets outside of the cinema, much in line with a lot of what happened with ‘The Passion Of The Christ’.
It just does not show respect for the artform. These books aren’t written for propaganda purposes.
I can’t believe that someone would actually make “V for Vendetta” today. After everything that’s going on in the world today, who’s going to root for some terrorist cross between of bozo the clown and zorro? Did anyone else think that the trailer was in massively poor taste?
It’s more relevant today than at any other point in the last thirty years – terrorism is the only sane response to a rogue superpower, be it foreign or domestic.
See it’s comments like that that make me laugh. Considering the comic books were written back during the days of Thatcher I find it humorous that everything the author worried about for those times NEVER came to pass. Sure they’ll make arguments saying otherwise but the message rings hollow. We aren’t the fascists and someone better start acknowledging that because otherwise it just shows how ignorant one is of what a fascist really is.
And besides, fiction makes everything so nice and neat that the innocent remain unhurt by terrorist acts by the “good guys” there is no such thing as a terrorist act without collateral damage. Just the same as there is no war without collateral damage.
Why wouldn’t “V for Vendetta” be made today? There is nothing any more different about the world of “today” than the world of five years ago. If something has changed, it is that the U.S. has had to face the reality that most other nations have been dealing with for decades. Terrorism is what it is: a fighting tactic. The U.S. has used terrorism in the past, including to gain our independence. We will use it again. Some would argue that we are using terrorism now and that we have allies who use terrorism. Moore’s book is a comment on the fact that neither terrorism nor fascism is a particularly viable option, and on the relationship between the two. Yes, V is the hero of the story. But exactly how much of a hero is clearly up for debate. I don’t have high hopes for the film, but not because of the fact that the protagonist is a terrorist.
I’ve never read the comics, but I’m really looking forward to this movie. I don’t know that it will condone terrorism. V seems to be an ambiguously heroic figure. I have some hopes. The government has done something horrible to V. In a previous trailer, he ays “What was doen to me was monstrous,’ presumably in defense of his crusade against the gov’t. Natalie Portman’s character responds back, “Then they’ve created a monster.”
It is Natalie Portman’s character who is the main character and who, i presume, we are supposed to sympathize with. Not necessarily V. This could be a very interesting film (although I am dreading the W Brothers’ furrowed-brow approach to cinema).
CTDelude:
“See it’s comments like that that make me laugh. Considering the comic books were written back during the days of Thatcher I find it humorous that everything the author worried about for those times NEVER came to pass.”
I haven’t read V for Vandetta…but I’ve read a lot of his work (Watchmen and Swamp Thing being particular favorites). I don’t think V for Vandetta was trying to suggest those things WOULD come to pass. I’ve thought about doing two political post apocolyptic stories for years…one the starts off with a conservative republican president making the mess that causes the downfall, and one story starting with a liberal democrat president causing the downfall in his own way. Yet, I never considered either idea threats of what will come to pass.
I think people see relevance in how the book approaches terrorism. Not because it’s a prophetic story.