Exploring Film Technique pt 1

Throughout the majority this animation, the viewer can clearly sense the bunny’s irritation towards the moth that is flying about her kitchen and disturbing her baking.  It is clear to the viewer that the bunny is elderly and appears to be rather cranky and set in her ways, so she does not take kindly to this energetic moth. This irritation eventually transforms into rage and the bunny does everything that she can to destroy the moth. Out of intense frustration, the bunny decides to incorporate the moth into the cake that she is in the midst of baking. As it is being baked, this aggravating, yet determined moth ends up opening a doorway to a starry world, which appears to be the afterlife, that the bunny is able to access through the oven. The bunny's irritation and rage transform into awe and wonder as she enters into this new world. It appears as if she is remembering her youth and her lover and thus the joys that life can bring. The film ends with the image of the bunny and her husband shown as younger, happier versions of themselves. As the bunny enters this new world, the music changes to match the feeling of awe that this starry world creates, making it easier for the viewer to connect with the transformation that the bunny is experiencing. 

In the film Northfork, a young orphan lays confined to his bed while awaiting his inevitable death. He has a very powerful dream in which he moves freely through the air in a swing. Swinging is an action that many children enjoy as it creates a sensation that is similar to flying. The orphan, who in reality is unable to leave his bed or do anything on his own, smiles as he experiences the freedom of flying. He obviously has a strong desire for life, but is unable to physically express it as a result of his illness, so it is up to his mind to create the illusion of freedom and childlike enthusiasm.  

The scenery is an incredibly important aspect in the film Paris, Texas. The director uses the scenery to highlight the personalities and attitudes of characters throughout the film. One scene beautifully illustrates the differing temperaments of Travis and his brother. A jagged and treacherous mountain range is featured behind Travis while he converses with his brother who is standing before a safe and pleasant looking pasture. This juxtaposition is meant to contrast Travis’s precarious and nomadic tendencies with his brother’s civilized and steady lifestyle. Another example in which the setting is symbolically rich is the string of scenes in which Travis visits his wife. Many physical barriers exist between the two of them. They are separated by a wall, then a one way mirror, so Travis can see his wife but she cannot see him, and lastly, they are forced to communicate via telephone. Travis tries desperately to reconnect with his wife despite these many barriers. These barriers seem to represent the emotional distance between the lovers that was caused by the apparent emotionally traumatic event that occurred in the past and caused their separation. 

Numen

Holiness is peculiar to religion to despite coming from the sphere of ethics. This is very interesting to me that holiness can apply only to religion yet it is taken from ethics. Holy is an ethical concept but it is hard to define. I agree with Otto that it completely eludes apprehension in terms of concepts. The reason for this is that holy has became synonymous with "sacred." The word holy has come to mean completely good, an ethical concept. I think of Holy as something else. I don't always think Holy can be good. Japanese cultures emphasis these, having the spirits but holy while committing good and evil acts.

analogies and associated feelings

The inherit other wordly nature of the numinous makes it hard grasp. That is part of  the fascination of it. No attempt to describe the numinous can really succeed so perhaphs analogy from another area that is not religions is neccessary. The analagoies between sublime and the numinous fit this. They are both ideas that "cannot be folded".  Some general ideas can be gathered from them but the exact definition isnt really possible.

Game of thrones-red women

The red women is a priest in the show game of thrones. A very beautiful women who uses her beauty and magic to manipulate the men in power. At the ending of the season premier her beauty is juxtaposed with her true form, a very,very old women. After failing the man she thought was the savior of the world. She must start to come to terms with reality. The scene shows her in front of a mirror as she removes clothes, revealing her very attractive body and breasts, but then she removes her broach and the camera pans out to show an ancient looking naked women, but it is clear in her face and eyes that it  is still the red women.

Leaving it all

Keegan Ruddy
Outside reading
Forming Intentional Disciples

In Sherry Weddell's Forming Intentional Disciples, there is a quote from the Gospel of Luke "Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men." And when they brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. (Luke 5:10-11)" (Weddell pg.65) This call to discipleship caused the original disciples of Jesus to leave everything. Now that is powerful, a call that was powerful enough to cause men to leave everything. Their jobs, homes, and entire way of life. In order to follow a man they did not necessarily know that well. They must have just felt the call from God. Yet many times we all here a call from God and can ignore as humans. These men did  not and through their acceptance and following and learning from Jesus, the Christian Church was born. The first followed Jesus, so that now all Christians can. Yet do all Christians give it all up for Jesus? We are called to not be attached to the things of this world and that is a challenge. A challenge we have an example to follow in though. Firstly the example is Jesus, who was not attached to this world. Secondly, is these disciples. They gave it all up in order to find something and learn something bigger than they could ever know or imagine. They followed Jesus and learned from Him how to change hearts. Change hearts that could then change more hearts. The trend has continued since the time of Jesus. They left it all for Jesus and to win hearts for Jesus. Christians now, must be just as bold and do the same!

Confess to beauty

Keegan Ruddy
Outside reading
Saint Augustine's Confessions

A quote that captured my attention in Saint Augustine's The Confessions was "Narrow is the mansion of my soul; enlarge Thou it, that Thou mayest enter in. It is ruinous; repair Thou it. It has that within which must offend Thine eyes; I confess and know it." (Augustine pg.4) Our soul is a mansion. God created it, therefore it is good, as we know from the Creation story in Genesis. It is a mansion because God dwells within it. Our bodies are temples for the Holy Spirit, they must be beautiful. Yet they are like ruins, beaten down by our sin. Augustine knows that our sin is offending God. Yet we ask God to fix this, because we are helpless without Him. This is such an interesting and beautiful part of Christianity. We ask the God we offend, to clean those offenses. We ask this because, before we could even ask, He promised and gave us a Savior in the form of His Son. Augustine confesses what he believes in these books and it shows that he knows he has to rely on God! Not just n some things, but in all things. For God knows all we have done, even the "secret" faults and forgives us when we ask for His forgiveness. Then God Works with us when we try to better ourselves for Him and to know, love, and serve Him more fully.

"Gift-love"

Keegan Ruddy
Outside reading
C.S. Lewis The Four Loves

In C.S. Lewis' The Four Loves, Lewis' begins the book by explaining what type of love Divine Love is "Divine Love is Gift-love. The Father gives all He is and has to the Son. The Son gives Himself back to the Father, and gives Himself to the world (in Himself) back to the Father too." (Lewis pg.11) Lewis' original example of Gift-love is a man taking care of his family even though he himself will not see the fruits of his labor. This idea of gift-love, is selfless love. A love that is a total gift of self to another. Now his second type of love in this chapter is need-love. That seems to be the idea that as humans we have a nature of needing help. We are not competent or sufficient on our own and need love, mostly from God. Secondarily, we need love from those in our life. The second example Lewis' gives to the reader of gift-love, comes from need-love, "that which sends a lonely or frightened child to its mother's arms." (Lewis pg.11) Children need love, they need it from their mother in order to survive. They need love in the form of physiological needs, and as they get older, emotional needs. These types of love outline human natures need for love and the gift of love they receive, whether it be Divine Love or human love.