In the beginning...

Welcome to Praxis-oscope! This is a web-log (or "blog" in popular parlance) dedicated to examining popular contemporary cinema from a Christian intellectual angle. These are not exactly reviews. You would probably not want to read our essays before you see a movie. We aren't going to try to convince you to see or not see a movie. Rather, our hope is that once you've seen a film, whether at home or in the theater, you'll have the desire to discuss its themes, execution and elements in depth. Some of what you find here will be critique and theory. Other times, it may border on ruminations and mystical witticisms. Whatever the case may be, we hope you'll engage the narrative art of Film with us as a meaning-full medium of cultural, intellectual and spiritual expression and self-examination.

Our name comes from an early piece of cinema technology called the praxinoscope, a Greek word which translates to something like "action viewer." Our creative spelling of the word is meant to emphasize the way in which film, as a visual medium, allows us to take a look at how we live our lives. Film gives us a chance to examine our ways of being. Film is, in this way, an existential medium. As Christians, the narrative nature of cinema is in continuity with not only the story-based form much of Holy Scripture takes, but also Jesus' proclivity for utilizing the rich (though sometimes frustratingly indeterminate) rhetoric of parables. In a human microcosm of how the Church ought to be a living contemplation of the Truth shared in Christ's parables, so we feel passionate about contemplating, in the written word, the truths we share in our celluloid parables.

A (perhaps wise) caveat: Praxis-oscope will feature films that some Christians might find objectionable. Indeed, part of our motivation in launching this endeavor was a hope that we could engage in a Christian discussion of films while using a vocabulary of critique that is more substantive than the common Christian objection to secular culture: "Its just so dirty!" It is worth remembering that the Bible itself is a violent and sexual text if we define it based on atomized instances of content. However, we don't find that text objectionable for a myriad of reasons, not least of which is that the meaning of its narrative is one congruent with the heart of God.

If, however, you are looking for a laundry list of the swears, bare body parts and violent actions in a film, so as to avoid what one might find too "worldly," there are ample resources for that on the internet. You just won't find them here. That being said, we are unafraid to condemn the message, themes or execution of a film on moral, artistic or philosophical grounds. Vacuous inclusiveness is beneficial to no one. Films are entertaining and sometimes light-hearted, but the narratives we share are no small matter for shaping our lives, our societies and our selves.

Thank you for visiting our 'blog! We hope you enjoy our words and we look forward to your comments!