Well said! Thank you for this clear-headed and comprehensive take. No one can convince me that the film-makers were interested in the spiritual growth of the audience when they decided to graphically film "temptations." They've done the same thing to many other saints in various movies (which I haven't seen either, because I find the secular take on saints painfully short-sighted and earth-bound). Poor St. Francis of Assisi, poor St. Joan of Arc - they have been offended against so often. Hollywood only cares about making money, not making saints.
I'll have to think about that the issue of nudity in art! I read the article by David Clayton and he raises some good points, but as an artist, it is hard to imagine being able to construct convincing figures without having an understanding of anatomy. I have enough trouble doing so WITH an understanding of anatomy X)
That said, there is nudity and nudity. I have seen nudity in art that makes me smile in awe because of the sheer beauty of the figure, God's wonderful creation. But I've also seen a lot of "artistic" nudity that seems just an excuse to draw naked people. I'm open to a discussion of the subject, for sure. Certainly I believe that artists of all kinds (including film-makers, writers, song-writers, etc.) have a great responsibility to protect the dignity of the human person.
It is very sad that as a society we relate to the human figure in such an unhealthy way. The body is everything, the body is nothing, the body can be cut up and manipulated into our own internal image, the body can be killed at our discretion, "my body, my choice," anorexia and obesity, surrogacy, women chastised for breast-feeding babies...we are very, very confused about who we are and why we are made the way we are.
Thank you for your thoughtful reply! So much to reflect on in your words. Yes, there is nuance with the nudity discussion and an understanding of the dignity of the person. I liked Clayton's article because he opens the dialogue in a constructive way and directs the reader to the actual teachings of JPII, which are so often misconstrued. So many ToB supporters haven't actually read what he says and instead, just consume influencer interpretations. Whatever else may be said, JPII certainly did not support nudity in film.
Thank you! I definitely found Mr. Clayton's article to be thought-provoking - I'm glad you shared it.
Also, I think you are spot-on that many ToB supporters haven't actually read the source material. Honestly, I need to read it again myself! Interpretation can be a wonderful thing, but if we rely on it too much we miss out.
Melody, thank you!!! I appreciate the thoroughness. And feel slightly vindicated that I was right all along re: GoT. I had haters back when I called it out. 🤣
Thank you so much. And yes, you were right! The GoT defenders were also vicious with me back when I called it out. Mostly grown men calling me prude and ignorant for reminding that porn is off the table for Catholics.
Wow, this gave me a lot to think about in general (not a movie /tv person so the film was never a temptation for me) but just the idea that sometimes we think in our pride that we’re so “spiritually mature” that we can handle certain pitfalls without harm. Definitely coming to the conclusion that my phone/social media usage is not healthy & I can’t keep justifying it because I look at Catholic things.
Wow…what a bracing read and what a powerful and well-grounded argument! Melody brings a no-nonsense, bare-knuckled, faithful Mom’s perspective that cleanly cuts right through the cultural smokescreen in which so many of us are currently stumbling. Here’s the knockout punch: “Obviously, the problem is more with us adults who aren't content with that simple fidelity, and who seek habitually to justify our preferences and desires and restructure the moral universe accordingly.”
Well said! Thank you for this clear-headed and comprehensive take. No one can convince me that the film-makers were interested in the spiritual growth of the audience when they decided to graphically film "temptations." They've done the same thing to many other saints in various movies (which I haven't seen either, because I find the secular take on saints painfully short-sighted and earth-bound). Poor St. Francis of Assisi, poor St. Joan of Arc - they have been offended against so often. Hollywood only cares about making money, not making saints.
I'll have to think about that the issue of nudity in art! I read the article by David Clayton and he raises some good points, but as an artist, it is hard to imagine being able to construct convincing figures without having an understanding of anatomy. I have enough trouble doing so WITH an understanding of anatomy X)
That said, there is nudity and nudity. I have seen nudity in art that makes me smile in awe because of the sheer beauty of the figure, God's wonderful creation. But I've also seen a lot of "artistic" nudity that seems just an excuse to draw naked people. I'm open to a discussion of the subject, for sure. Certainly I believe that artists of all kinds (including film-makers, writers, song-writers, etc.) have a great responsibility to protect the dignity of the human person.
It is very sad that as a society we relate to the human figure in such an unhealthy way. The body is everything, the body is nothing, the body can be cut up and manipulated into our own internal image, the body can be killed at our discretion, "my body, my choice," anorexia and obesity, surrogacy, women chastised for breast-feeding babies...we are very, very confused about who we are and why we are made the way we are.
Thank you for your thoughtful reply! So much to reflect on in your words. Yes, there is nuance with the nudity discussion and an understanding of the dignity of the person. I liked Clayton's article because he opens the dialogue in a constructive way and directs the reader to the actual teachings of JPII, which are so often misconstrued. So many ToB supporters haven't actually read what he says and instead, just consume influencer interpretations. Whatever else may be said, JPII certainly did not support nudity in film.
Thank you! I definitely found Mr. Clayton's article to be thought-provoking - I'm glad you shared it.
Also, I think you are spot-on that many ToB supporters haven't actually read the source material. Honestly, I need to read it again myself! Interpretation can be a wonderful thing, but if we rely on it too much we miss out.
Melody, thank you!!! I appreciate the thoroughness. And feel slightly vindicated that I was right all along re: GoT. I had haters back when I called it out. 🤣
Thank you so much. And yes, you were right! The GoT defenders were also vicious with me back when I called it out. Mostly grown men calling me prude and ignorant for reminding that porn is off the table for Catholics.
Yeah, I disagreed with you initially, but now I’m convinced. I won’t be watching it either. Good takedown.
Thanks so much, Bryan. It's an important conversation and I'm grateful to you for being willing to engage.
Wow, this gave me a lot to think about in general (not a movie /tv person so the film was never a temptation for me) but just the idea that sometimes we think in our pride that we’re so “spiritually mature” that we can handle certain pitfalls without harm. Definitely coming to the conclusion that my phone/social media usage is not healthy & I can’t keep justifying it because I look at Catholic things.
Wow…what a bracing read and what a powerful and well-grounded argument! Melody brings a no-nonsense, bare-knuckled, faithful Mom’s perspective that cleanly cuts right through the cultural smokescreen in which so many of us are currently stumbling. Here’s the knockout punch: “Obviously, the problem is more with us adults who aren't content with that simple fidelity, and who seek habitually to justify our preferences and desires and restructure the moral universe accordingly.”
“Simple fidelity”…what a concept!