This past semester we added a new Theology course which the seniors were able to experience: Theology in Media. This engaging class focused on how media shapes our worldview, both positively and negatively, and how we can be discerning viewers of it. As one would expect, we primarily watched movies and TV shows, but we did a bit more than this, and I’d like to take a moment to briefly overview what we did.
We began the semester by watching The Truman Show, and discussed reality, how it’s presented to us, and our innate desire to learn what is true. Tied to this, we enjoyed the Disney movie Coco and considered how the afterlife is bleakly presented to children in a movie which promotes family values; that bright colors and a grim outlook can go hand in hand.
We also considered how morality and “The Great Good” is also presented, such as in the Disney show The Mandalorian, about a bounty hunter that followed two distinct ethical systems and what he did when they came into conflict with each other. But we did more than watch movies and shows. The Mandalorian was followed up with a writing prompt where students had to consider what they did when faced with a tough decision, which of course happens frequently as Christians who live in the world.
Similarly we had the opportunity to watch the movie Hacksaw Ridge, which prompted a discussion over religious convictions and how to hold them in the face of opposition. The students then were able to reflect upon convictions that they hold that they can expect to be pushed back against.
Of course we watched a handful of other movies and clips of shows throughout the semester, but one of the most engaging aspects of the class, at least for me, was that students were able to select their favorite film (movie or TV show) and examine it from various aspects throughout the semester. They considered the worldview of the film, studied the morality presented both by the movie as a story and held by the characters in it, and analyzed the redemption arc, as well as other angles. At the end of the semester they put all this work together and created a theological discussion guide for their selected film, complete with Scriptural references to prompt further hypothetical discussion.
Aaron Buchholz,
Theology Teacher