An Unexpected Journal: Film & Music: Discovering the Hidden Messages in Movies and Songs from a Christian Perspective
About this ebook
Film and music are the language of modern culture. What messages are being conveyed in the movies and songs we love? An Unexpected Journal explores the truths embedded within popular media.
Contributors
"Serenity and the Theodicy of Joss Whedon" by C.M. Alvarez: An exploration of the themes of evil, free will, and the power of love in the 2005 film.
"On Judging Movies" by Daniel Asperheim: A guide on film criticism and judging true value in movies.
"A Sonnet to Music: The Language of the Soul" by Donald W. Catchings, Jr.: a poem on the beauty of music.
"The Function of Absolute Music for Religious and Non-religous Minds" by Will Daniels: a reflection of the value and purpose of music focusing on the work of Johann Sebastian Bach.
"Where are All the Great Christian Film?" by Joseph Holmes: A survey of the existing landcape in Christian filmmaking and suggestions for improvement.
"The Value of Smuggled Theology in Music" by Sheila Krygsheld: an examination of the way music conveys meaning and deeper truths.
"In Page and Film: Visions of Virtue in Harry Potter" by Roger Maxson: an analysis of the virtues illuminated in the Harry Potter series.
"Lewisvaldi" by Seth Myers: a poem celebrating the joy of summer reflecting the work of C.S. Lewis.
"Who Authors the Authority? A Discussion of Watchmen and Rightful Rule" by Jason Monroe: an examination of Watchmen's critique of authority.
" Twenty Øne Piløts: In the Trenches " by Annie Nardone: on finding significance and meaning in modern music.
"C.S. Lewis, Myth, and Filmmaking" by Timothy Nargi, Jr.: a reflection on the ability of C.S. Lewis to convey theological messages in his fiction and its implicatiaon for modern filmmaking.
"Bridging the Gap" and "A Series of Unfortunate Events and the Persistence of Hope" by Zak Schmoll
"The Witch and the Horror of Eternal Consequences" by Philip Tallon and Cameron McAllister: an examination of the way the portrayal of real evil in films provides real life lessons.
"Analyzing the Fact/Value Dichotomy in Ready Player One: The Movie" by Charlotte B. Thomason: an analysis of the movie as a social commentary and cautionary tale.
"Narnia Adapted to Film: the Triune Dance" by Kyoko Yuasa: a reflection of Lewis's search for the dance of the Triune in art.
"Comedy-Drama in Film: Caught Between Good Friday and Easter Sunday" by Hannah Zarr: a reflection on the way dramedy helps viewers better perceive a Christian view of reality.
Cover art by M.A. Listz
Volume 2, Issue 2, Summer 2019: 300 pages.
About the author
Carla Alvarez is a mother to three and a graduate of HBU's Masters in Apologetics program. Her philosophy in both business and apologetics is if what we think affects what we do, then the "how" is just as important as the "what." As actions have a lasting impact, it is of utmost importance to develop right thoughts. She creates effective communications for clients at Legacy Marketing (www.legacymarketingservices.
Daniel Asperheim is a novelist, researcher, and EFL teacher. He currently lives in Japan with wife and daughter.
Donald W. Catchings, Jr. is a father of three—two girls and a boy—and has been married to his wife Rachel since 2008. Donald is Founder and Board Chair of Street Light Inc. and Pastor of The True Light Church in Conroe, Texas since 2009. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Biblical and Educational Studies from Liberty University and is currently enrolled in Houston Baptist University’s Apologetics program. Academically and creatively, most of Donald’s writing experience has been theological in nature; however, it is his desire to produce creative apologetic work that displays the power of friendship as defined in the Christian faith.
He is currently working on a broad spectrum of creative apologetic materials ranging from Children’s Literature to Historical Fiction that will promote Christian friendship. It is Donald’s goal, after completing his MAA with HBU, to pursue a MLitt in Bible and the Contemporary World from the University of St. Andrews and, eventually, to enroll in a Doctoral Program.
Will Daniels recently completed his Master’s degree in piano performance at the University of Central Florida and received his Bachelor of Music in Music Theory and Composition at Florida State University. After teaching Music Theory and Ear Training courses at UCF as a Graduate Teaching Associate, he taught for another semester as an Adjunct faculty lecturer at Johnson University Florida. He currently teaches piano lessons, collaborates with students and faculty at UCF, and plays piano for his church where he is a member, Faith Baptist Church of Orlando. He has a wonderful wife and two young children who bless him greatly.
Joseph Holmes is an independent filmmaker, film blogger, and Development Associate at the National Association of Scholars living in Brooklyn, NY. He is the director of two award-nominated short films, writes a film and philosophy blog, Overthinking Films, and is published in Forbes online magazine.
Sheila Krygsheld has been married to her husband, Tim, for 27 years and they have four children and one granddaughter. She and Tim have a small homestead farm where they raise a few beef cows and lots of chickens on the south side of Chicago. She has a BA and MA in Biblical Studies and an MA in Cultural Apologetics from HBU. Sheila enjoys music, gardening, writing and any sort of connecting with people. You can see more of her work at www.believeyourbeliefs.com. She is also a board member of Daughters of Grace, a multi-cultural ministry, and writes regularly for their blog at www.daughtersofgrace.net.
Roger Maxson has served in Christian ministry as an assistant pastor and served his country as a United States Marine. While in the Marines, he served in the Presidential Helicopter Squadron, HMX-1, directly supporting the travel of the President of the United States. Though preparing to become a military chaplain, longstanding doubts caused him to falter in the Faith and consider Atheism, but a Christian apologist friend took the time to help him recover his faith, and show him why Christianity is rational. He then took a serious interest in Christian Apologetics, the art of defending and explaining the Faith. He is currently pursuing a Master of the Arts in Apologetics, with an emphasis in Cultural Apologetics, from Houston Baptist University. He has given multiple talks about why Faith makes sense in modern life, reasons to believe God exists, and why the resurrection of Christ changes everything. He lives in Virginia with his wife and two children. He spends most of his leisure time studying, hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and watching Star Trek.
Cameron McAllister is an Itinerant Speaker at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM), and is the host of the Vital Signs podcast. He holds an MA in Apologetics from Houston Baptist University.
Jason holds a B.A. from York College in York, NE, where he studied English and Psychology. He also recently completed his M.A. in Christian Apologetics from Houston Baptist University. He grew up in Pierre, SD and currently lives in Spearfish, SD. His primary research and writing interests are Inklings studies, philosophy of science, and Catholic theology. He volunteers at his local parish as a cantor, drummer, and RCIA teacher, and he likes to hike and snowboard in the beautiful Black Hills.
AUJ author Annie Nardone really does listen to her kid’s music and likes it. For more help in navigating lyrics by Twenty Øne Piløts, Panic! at the Disco, Fall Out Boy, Imagine Dragons, and other alternative bands, check out “The Pop Song Professor” on YouTube.
Timothy has a Masters in Church History and serves his local congregation as church librarian. When not recommending resources, he is reading them, especially all things Lewis and Tolkien. He lives and works in Williamsburg, VA as a photographer and video editor, and aspires to combine his art and scholarly passions to help people think deeply about Christ and His church.
Zak Schmoll is the founder of Entering the Public Square, a blog founded on the sincere belief that every Christian should understand the importance of discussing Christianity in the marketplace of ideas. He earned his MA in Apologetics at Houston Baptist University and is currently a PhD student in Humanities at Faulkner University. His work has been featured on several websites including The Federalist, the Public Discourse and the Fourth World Journal.
Philip Tallon teaches apologetics and great books at Houston Baptist University. He is the author of The Poetics of Evil.
Charlotte Thomason retired in 2015 after 35+ years as a social worker/agency administrator in foster care and adoption. Charlotte holds a Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin and will graduate with a Master of Arts in Cultural Apologetics in May 2019. Charlotte was recently featured on Michael Licona’s YouTube
Channel.You can find more of Charlotte’s writing at https://charlottethomason.com/
Kyoko Yuasa is a lecturer of English Literature at Fuji Women’s University, Japan. She is the author of “Table Narnia: Fugue to Evangelical Adventure” in An Unexpected Journal (2018), “C.S. Lewis and Christian Postmodernism: Jewish Laughter Reversed” in Inklings Forever (2017), C. S. Lewis and Christian Postmodernism: Word, Image and Beyond (2016), and a Japanese translator of Bruce L. Edwards’s A Rhetoric of Reading: C.S. Lewis’s Defense of Western Literacy (2007).
After graduating Summa Cum Laude and Highest Honors with her B.A. in Journalism and Classical Liberal Arts emphasis from Patrick Henry College, Hannah traveled, worked, and volunteered internationally for a year in the Middle East and Europe. Returning to America, she became a resident Fellow at the John Jay Institute in Philadelphia, where she was equipped with the best ideas of human civilization through engagement with theology, philosophy, politics, law, art, and culture. She then studied the foundations of liberty at a seminar in Germany and studied the integration of Christianity with culture and education at an Oxford University seminar. She recently completed her Master’s degree in Apologetics (Cultural Emphasis) at Houston Baptist University.
