Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in the March 2022 edition of The Master’s University Magazine. Matt Green is the director of TMU’s Cinema & Digital Arts program. He is also an organizer of the school’s Muse Conference, which looks at media through the lens of scripture. Above is an image from Green’s time directing “The Man From Nowhere.”
By Professor Matt Green
The year was 1985. I sat in a packed movie theater, my elbows awkwardly positioned on the armrest to avoid the stranger on my right. On my left was my father, sharing his love of cinema with a curious 5-year-old. The lights dimmed, and I was immersed into another world where I lived vicariously through the adventures of Marty McFly, a teenager struggling to fit in – not only in his own time, but anytime. It was a communal experience unlike anything in which I had participated before. Huey Lewis belted out “Back in Time,” as Doc, Marty and Jennifer flew toward the screen in an airborne DeLorean. The lights slowly illuminated the theater, and I knew from that point on that I wanted to make movies. The film affected me subconsciously in ways impossible for a child to process. But the fact remained – this form of media was powerful, and I knew it.
Dr. Bob Dickson, a colleague of mine at The Master’s University, astutely points out that “media is the information currency of our day.” Over the last two years of the pandemic, the world has recognized and attempted to harness the power of media. Subscriptions to online streaming platforms reached 1.1 billion during the pandemic. A long time ago (the 80s), most of us only had one TV in the living room. Now almost everyone has a mobile TV in his or her pocket. For Christ followers, this can be concerning and something that prompts us to ask three questions: Is media good? Is it bad? Or does it even matter?
My favorite filmmaker Steven Spielberg, in his powerful tribute to World War II veterans, “Saving Private Ryan,” begins the movie at the end of the main character’s life. A much older Private Ryan visits the graves of his fallen friends, and after three hours of the most realistic depiction of war ever captured on film, the story returns to the older Ryan back at the cemetery. This technique is called a “wrap-around” and is commonly used in narrative filmmaking. Likewise, I will address my final question first: Does media matter?
Let’s begin by defining media. It encompasses a wide variety of fields. Simply put, media is any way an individual or group communicates a message to influence the masses. The evolution of media can be traced throughout history, from Egyptian hieroglyphics and the prominence of theater and debates within Greek society, to the invention of the printing press in the 14th century. This was followed by George Eastman’s pioneering of photographic film in 1888 and the birth of social media in the 21st century through the growth of the internet.
The world uses media as a microscope to explore the human condition because individual people are desperately searching for meaning. Although often unacknowledged, an awareness of our need for a Savior is revealed in humanity’s art. Therefore, films like “Star Wars,” “The Matrix,” “Harry Potter,” and “The Terminator” focus on a “chosen one,” a singular character whose powers are so strong, they are destined to save the world. The superhero genre, currently the most popular in cinema, is littered with Christ-allegory.
Not all media is redemptive, however. Philip Ryken, in his book “Art for God’s Sake,” writes, “Modern and postmodern art often claims to tell the whole truth about the pain and absurdity of human existence, but that is only part of the story.” Christians, on the other hand, are commanded to share the good news of Jesus Christ and His redemptive work – the whole, true story.
Not all redemptive films or TV shows will do this by means of a “conversion scene,” but they will tell a story that communicates the truth about our relationship to our Creator. Good films, TV shows and songs get it right when they accurately depict the human condition – our brokenness, our innate sinfulness, and our inability to save ourselves – and show the consequences, while retaining, as Ryken writes, “a sense of what we can become” because of Christ’s finished work. “Rather than giving in to meaninglessness and despair, Christian artists know that there is a way out,” he writes. This biblical worldview will stand in stark contrast to secular thinking because we know the whole story.
How we use media matters, too.
When used properly, media can be an effective tool in persuading and influencing an audience – shaping ideas, changing minds, and moving people to action. In all forms of art, the goal is to establish an emotional connection with the audience. In a fallen world, however, media can easily be used to manipulate. We see this tendency every election cycle – commercials for tax hikes are disguised by pictures of cute school children. These emotional messages are designed to manipulate voters. The difference between persuasion and manipulation is simple – the truth. If media withholds or exaggerates the truth, it loses its veracity. And truth is of particular importance to our Creator. It should be important to us too.
So, since we’ve established that media most definitely matters, we must ask ourselves: How should we consume media and contribute to it? Paul, in his letter to the Colossians, makes it very clear that our affections are to be on “the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God” (Col. 3:1, LSB). In Philippians, he encourages us to think about what is true, honorable, pure, lovely, and commendable (Phil. 4:8). We must remember that whenever we consume any form of media, we are on the receiving end of a message. It is imperative that when a believer engages with media, he or she critiques it through a biblical worldview. Solomon writes in Proverbs 2:6, “For Yahweh gives wisdom; [f]rom His mouth come knowledge and discernment.” We must resist the temptation to “turn off our brains” when we watch a movie, listen to music or read a book. A Christ-follower must approach media with a heightened level of wisdom and discernment, especially since the messages can be so powerful.
As believers, we must make sure we are not enslaved by our love of media, which should never replace our desire for God. We should be consumers, but never consumed. There is a place for the consumption of media if it does not drive a wedge between us and our first love, Jesus Christ. To actively engage with media, we must train ourselves to always be asking questions: What is the message? What is being portrayed as good or noble? What is being portrayed as ignoble? Are good and evil clearly defined? Are there consequences for evil actions? Are there any Judeo-Christian values, and if so, how are they portrayed? By training ourselves to actively engage rather than to passively absorb, we will learn to identify the subtle messages and worldviews embedded in the content we consume.
How should Christians engage as content creators within media? I have the pleasure of instructing students in the Cinema & Digital Arts program within the communication department at TMU. My goal is to train up men and women to use their artistic giftedness to communicate God’s truth. In Exodus 31, the Israelites were instructed to use their artistic gifts to build the tabernacle in a way that would glorify God by exhibiting His artistry, truth and relationship with His people. Artists often wrongly assume that within art there are no rules, but G.K. Chesterton, in his 1908 book “Orthodoxy,” points out:
“It is impossible to be an artist and not care for laws and limits. Art is limitation; the essence of every picture is the frame. If you draw a giraffe, you must draw him with a long neck. If, in your bold creative way, you hold yourself free to draw a giraffe with a short neck, you will really find that you are not free to draw a giraffe.”
Even within art there are rules and order. Therefore, I have a passion for utilizing the gifts God has given me in training future generations to create media that testifies to the Creator of order. If the Lord has prompted someone to engage culture through media, I want them to pursue it with excellence. Christians should strive to make content that has redemptive value. Whether it is through TV, movies, books, music, or even social media, we can utilize whatever platform we are given to be a vessel for good.
If you create content, continue to ask good questions: Does what I make glorify what God hates? Am I neglecting work, tasks and relationships in favor of what I am creating or consuming? What does this content inspire me toward? If you can answer these questions in a way that glorifies the Lord, then be bold in using your giftedness to be a light in this fallen world.
To learn more about the Muse Conference and to register, visit masters.edu/muse.
