Media and

Spirituality thru Film

Dialogue
Notre Dame of Dadiangas College
September 13, 2005
 Lecturette 1:
Media and Spirituality
 Media
Is just a part of a
COMMUNICATION
process…

: WHO says WHAT in

which CHANNEL to
WHOM and with what
EFFECT
(Laswell, 1948)
 BERLO’S MODEL OF
COMMUNICATION (1961)

Sender Message Channel Receiver Effect

S M C R E

FEEDBAC
K
 FORMS OF MEDIA
PRINT GROUP
BROADCAST FOLK/TRADITIONAL
ELECTRONIC NON-MEDIA
 FOLK/TRADITIONAL MEDIA
• Dance
• Rituals • Praise singers
• Drama • Meetings
• Story-telling • Songs
• Ballads • Popular theatre
• Chanters • Drums
• Flute • The gong
GROUP/VISUAL MEDIA
• slides
• flip charts
• extension /
• poster
information kits
• stickers
• blackboard
• banners
• bulletin board
• billboards (on public
transport) • maps/charts/diagrams
• Photos • wall paintings
• journals • stamps
• video productions
• public debates
PRINT
• Newspapers • Manuals

• Magazines
• Pamphlets, booklets
• Newsletters
• Letters (direct mail)
 BROADCAST & Electronic
• Radio
• Television
• Tape recorders
• Video Cassettes
• Satellite dishes
• Cinema
• Cellphones
• WAP / Internet
 NON--MEDIA COMMUNICATION
NON
• Networking
• Face-to-face • drama
• home visits • Symposia, seminars
• Public meetings and workshops
• games/contests • folk theatre, case
• Group discussion study
• role playing • Demonstration
• exhibitions
 SPIRITUALITY
• How one understands
the “experience of
God” affects one’s
understanding of

Christology
Ecclesiology
Eschatology
Morality
Spirituality
: dynamic relationship
between the divine Spirit
and the human Spirit
that leads to
transformation.

“lived and a multiform

phenomenon “
Spirituality
• A process. . .
• A relationship. . .
• A communication. . .

When we are profoundly touched by the Other,

we cannot help but communicate it!
 FILM AND
SPIRITUALITY
 Film = Motion picture…
GENRES
• Action
• Romance • Comedy
• Horror • “Adult”
• Adventure • Cartoons
• Sci--Fi
Sci • Animation
• Drama • Period/Historical
• Musical
• Etc.
 Can we
experience God
in films?

• Why do we watch films?

Or why not watch them?
• What are your
considerations when you
watch a film? (mood,
values, regulations, etc.)
• What are your immediate
reactions after viewing
films?
 Film and
Spirituality
Three Key Areas

• How do we understand
spirituality?
• Characteristics of film
language
• The dialogue concerning
spirituality in film
OR
Entertainment
Anything that pleases us, lifts
us out of ourselves, helps us
enjoy ourselves.
Sometimes it can be easy and
quick bit of relaxation – just
vegging in front of the box – or
simply a time-filler.

True and genuine

entertainment is something
that really satisfies and help us
be our better selves.
Education
Thinking of it as facts
and figures being
drummed into us
relentlessly, we may
not be very keen on
education at all.

Education is not
information, it is
transformation!
 “Edutainment”
Educational
and
Entertaining
FILMS
Films tell stories and drama of all kinds. When
we view films, we engage, participate,
identify, reject, classify, enjoy evaluate,
digest and criticize. Mostly in a spontaneous
way, jumping without order. We speak of
many things about the film informally with
one another during or after viewing; often
casually.

In short, we engage in interpersonal

communication about the film. We are doing
film dialogue, informally.
Three Areas to
Consider
• Social Impact
of Film
• Film as Art
• Film as
Business
Media and Spirituality
Film, as the medium, the
language where to experience
the divine-
divine-human relationship
that eventually leads to
transformation..
transformation
 Film and
Spirituality

Bring out the

“spiritual
dimension”
of the story!
• Fish out the Divine-
Human relationship in
the story..
Characteristics of the Medium
Film to Express Spirituality
• Spirituality takes a form of
a story or drama, of
dramatized-life stories.
(narrative than
argumentative level)
• Always expressed in the
form of a concentration
condensation of crucial life
events.
• Always situated in
concrete socio-cultural
contexts, showing
confrontation.
 Characteristics . . .
• Always individualized and
incarnated in living
persons. (lived spirituality).
• Quite often takes the form
of an audiovisualized life
journey.
• The audiovisual language
of film has at its disposal,
its own facilities to express
and experience spirituality
and spiritual values.
Characteristics

• Spirituality implies
visions/appreciation
of life, human
nature, world and
being – often very
different and
conflicting
interpretations and
evaluations of them.
them.
Characteristics. . .

• Spirituality in the
context of the film
dialogue is a
dialogical spirituality
– It concerns spirituality
and spiritual values
implied in the film story
and is explored/
discovered through the
dialogue in the group.
Experience Film
Dialogue. . .
 Lecturette 2:
Introduction to Film
Dialogue
Film Dialogue
 Film Dialogue & Other Concepts
• Film Reading - read the film according to the
message it tries to convey, promote and
advocate. It tries to capture what the director is
trying to say. Read the film according to the
directors’ perspectives and not the viewers’
Concepts . . .
• Film Critique/Analysis –
criticize/analyze the film according to
the merits or demerits of the film, mostly
according to its technical and
aesthetical aspects. It is concerned on
how the story is written, presented and
developed in the film. It is also
interested in the story flow, setting and
characters.
 Concepts . . .

• Film Appreciation –
appreciate the film
based on its goodness;
aesthetics and
visually-good and
stunning camera
shots; appreciate the
film for its unity and
diversity.
• Film Dialogue – is being in contact with the film;film;
“the inner self” is the focus
focus.. As one watches a
film, one discovers oneself, one makes a journey
to his/her innermost beingbeing.. One gets attached
with his/her senses, logic, emotions
emotions.. “Mining the
gold in films
films..” Film dialogue focuses on life’s
experiences that will surface after film viewing
viewing..
• Remember: All films have
values. But they depend so
much on the viewers’
viewpoints and perspectives.

• Films are reflective of realities.

• Films should be treated in the

light of spirituality and
meanings.
 Film Dialogue in a Nutshell
a. The spiritual film dialogue:

• A systematic goal-oriented group

dialogue about film/TV stories;
• Organized and guided viewing of
films/TV-stories;
• Sharing of life- experiences and
interpretations from a Christian
perspective, in the light of the
gospel;
• Clarification of central symbols,
scenes, dramatic forms;
Nutshell . . .
• Discovery of religious/spiritual
dimensions in the story
story;;
• Broadening experiences and
interpretations;;
interpretations
• Evaluation and integration of
experiences;;
experiences
• Process going from reception to
perception of media stories
stories;;
• Biography/reference systems of
the viewers
viewers;;
• Group animator facilitates the
dialogue;;
dialogue
 Characteristics of the
Spiritual Dialogue
b. Characteristics of the spiritual
dialogue:

• The group members describe

what they have seen in the film
in the light of their own
background, their Christian life
experiences, worldview, faith,
spirituality;

• With the help of guiding

questions, the interactive
sharing on the film initiates the
spiritual dialogue;
Characteristics . . .
• Interactive sharing within the group
continues and stimulates the dialogue on
the spirituality in the film story and the
spirituality of the group members
members..

• This dialogue is a spiritual dialogue

dialogue.. The
spirituality developed during the dialogue
is a dialogical spirituality involving the
film, the individual and each member of
the group
group..

• This spiritual dialogue can be practiced

in all kinds of events
events.;
.; film and other
media
 Main Objectives
of the Film Dialogue
• A better Christian
understanding of media
stories;;
stories
• A process of dialogue,
confrontation and
clarification;;
clarification
• Integration of life
life--
experiences;;
experiences
• Growth in religious and
spiritual meanings;
meanings;
• Cultivation of the life of
the spirit from a
Christian viewpoint
viewpoint..
 Guiding Rules
for Spiritual Dialogue
• Initial reflection: brief sharing of first impressions,
experiences, emotions, questions.
• Analysis of the audiovisual language, the story, the
message, key moments in the story, important
images, symbols, scenes, music, verbal texts,
camera, editing.
• Analysis of spiritual dimensions: the “spirit” of the
film, the inspiration, motivations of the main
characters, the ways they order and integrate their
experiences; the more or less implicit worldview,
value system, images of religion or faith,
processes of transformation, mystical experiences.
Sensibilities – Attitudes
towards Film Medium
Post Modern Film Theory:
Audience’s Perspective
Sensibilities – Attitudes
towards Film Medium

Modern Film
Theory

Director’s
Perspective
Both theories compliment
each other:

Technique and content

Director’s message and meaning
on the audience
 What is
sensibility?
• Attitudes towards the
film medium is
audience perspective.
• Refers to: interests,
tastes and style of
individuals, groups of
culture.
Sensibilities . . .
• Interests
 Sensibilities . . .

• Tastes

• Style
of individuals,
groups of culture
Sensibility is a key idea for
helping us to appreciate
our differences in
responding to media
and arts.
KEY FOCAL POINTS
OF SENSITIVITY
(Carl Jung, 1921 published
Personality Types)
Focal Points . . .

Extrovert and
Introvert
Focal Points . . .

Deciders and data-

gatherers
Focal Points . . .

Sensate and
Intuitive
Focal Points . . .

Objective and
Subjective
FILM AND SENSITIVITIES:
Language, Sexual Issues and Violence

Film Sensitivity is a word

about which we are
sensitive. It indicates
how we are effected and
affected by what we see.
 Varying Aspects
of Human Sensitivity

Delicacy
• Formation of
a ‘delicate’
conscience
Aspects . . .

Fragility
• A sensitivity that
has been
overprotected; not
been exposed to
harsher human
realities.
 Aspects . . .
Robustness
• Able to deal with the
brutality and be
compassionate to
those who suffer
(rather than avoiding
the issue or, when
confronted by it,
collapse or become
disillusioned).
 Crassness
• Wallows in what
Aspects . . . is ordinarily seen
as gratuitous is
‘crass’ or rude or
vulgar.
• Desensitization’
to language and
violence by
constant
exposure or by
overexposure.
Area of Sensitivity
Area of Sensitivity . . .
Area of Sensitivity . . .
 pelikula@titusbrandsma
Visit us at: www.pelikula-titusbrandsma.ph
Call us at 726-6054 / 09217941407