Looking at the popular cultural artistic images can create both instant denotative meaning as well as underlying connotative meaning of a mythic quality.
The photographic images that we viewed today observing cultural myths reminded me of the TED presentation by artist Alison Jackson. We watched the clip in Barry Taylor's Theology, Pop Culture, and the Emerging Church class and it was a surprising look at her provocative explorations of celebrity culture and did not disappoint. She creates obscured photos and films of celebrity look-alikes in surprising, shocking or strange situations, portraying them, as she has described it, "depicting our suspicions."
Personally, I think the popular celebrity culture magazines like US Weekly should be reserved for time spent on the loo. But my wife thinks differently, and thus our family is not just readers, but subscribers.
Monday, February 25
Reflection: Week 8 [Monday]
Saturday, January 12
Reading: Cobb [Popular]
Kelton Cobb takes a wonderful angle in the introduction and first chapter of The Blackwell Guide to Theology and Popular Culture. Within the book, Cobb observes culture through the artists, thinkers and writers of our time. From Chuck Palahniuk's Fight Club to M. Night Shyamalan's Signs, Cobb beautifully blends current cultural phenomenons in poignant and critical analysis.
What is interesting is that each creative piece being observed, whether it be film or literature, is examining life, faith and the soul. Each is attempting to finding the "Why?" behind our human existence. If you have ever taken care of a adolescent child you have experience the seemingly echoing "Why?" questions about everything from why dogs can't talk to why the sky is blue. After reading the beginning of Cobb, I am reminded we apparently never stop questioning.
