What has come to annoy me recently is that when casting a person as Jesus in a film they always pick a white, blue/green eyed man with an American accent.
Being as Jesus is Jewish I would like to see a Jewish person cast - but thats just me. I think that many people would have a serious issue with this due to the amount of anti-semetism in the world, so it isnt likely to happen.
Well, this was one of the reasons Jim Cavaziel was cast as Jesus in The Passion - he looked Jewish.
__________________ Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
Do not add to His words, or He will rebuke you and prove you a liar.
- Proverbs 30:5-6
In the original ten commandments written to the OT Jews more or less, we are told not to make any image that is supposed to represent God or any other gods.
God's name wasn't even intended to be spoken. People used "I am."
Jesus, on the other hand, put Himself in a position where he was visible, mixed into society, and subject to whatever picture-making people were capable of at the time.
Notice how people who see the Jesus pictures on their walls start claiming "Jesus looked like..." When we see depictions of God the Father, we start to think of Him as small and malleable, viewing ourselves as more full of life and strength than Him.
What has come to annoy me recently is that when casting a person as Jesus in a film they always pick a white, blue/green eyed man with an American accent.
I am laughing over you saying that. Many of the Christian films have shown Jesus and patriarchs with a British accent. It made sense when they were filmed in Europe, but when filmed in the US.... why? It is like reading a KJV Bible only for its "real Bible language." Nothing against the accent itself.
Jokes -- If you notice how the Simpsons handle it, they rarely mock God, but instead tease followers for very specific quirks. Like the cheerful idealism of the neighbor. The despair of the pastor. The odd motivations people have for going to church. These are commonalities that are addressed, and sometimes worked through.
Stand-up comedians, on the other hand, often use intimidation and flat-out insults to divide and conquer. They do not seem to notice that there can be Christians in their audience. If they said these things in an office workplace or school, they would be reprimanded for intolerant harassment, and possibly stuck in the middle of a lawsuit.
Or a black Jesus. We have a black President of the US, so why not a black Jesus? It's possible He was black.
if he did exist, it's pretty much certain he wasn't white.
__________________ "Just as every cop is a criminal, and all the sinners saints. As heads is tails, just call me Lucifer, cause I'm in need of some restraint. So when you meet me, have some courtesy, have some sympathy, and some taste. Use all your well-learned politesse, or I'll lay your soul to waste!"
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"Only love overcomes the fragmentation of human nature."
St Maximus the Confessor
"For one who loves transforms all that he loves into himself, while one who hates loses even what he has. One who loves belongs to the loved one while one who hates does not even belong to himself. "
Jesus was from the lineage of David-- the Middle East. He seems to have traveled through Ethiopia when his parents fled from Herod, but that wasn't a central place where Hebrews lived.
People in the Bible lived mostly in Egypt, Iraq/Iran, Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Israel, Saudi Arabia; and shuffled around in that area. Slightly into Africa. Later into Europe.
Jesus might not have looked like an Ethiopian I was just pointing out that Jews come in all colors. There isn't a Jewish race with a set of easily identifiable physical characteristics (like in the nazi propaganda cartoons) you can point to. Some Jews look "Nordic" some Jews look Ethiopian. To say "Jesus looked like a Jew" would be about as specific as saying "Jesus looked like a Catholic" or "Jesus looked like an American". Obviously Catholics and Americans come in every color of the rainbow. The Israelites always accepted converts they may have been organized as a tribe or nation but it wasn't some "racially separate group" or whatever. We are all "mixed race".
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.
"Only love overcomes the fragmentation of human nature."
St Maximus the Confessor
"For one who loves transforms all that he loves into himself, while one who hates loses even what he has. One who loves belongs to the loved one while one who hates does not even belong to himself. "
The Martyr Fr Paul Florensky
Last edited by Christos Anesti; 7th November 2009 at 02:37 PM.
I just need some clarifications on some things, to do with God and Jesus as shown in the media.
In many shows, like the Simpsons, you have visual depictions of God. Is this allowed in Christianity, or is it like one of those things that don't matter?
They also show Jesus, is this allowed/the same as above?
Finally, quite a lot of shows mock Jesus and God, specifically to do with Christianity. Do Christians accept this, or this ok, or do you resent it or what? Do you protest against it? I just need some background on these sort of issues.
Thank you!
Visual representations of Christianity in the popular media, especially the Simpsons, isn't meant to be reverent to God. It is usually meant in a mocking way. The Church does not see this as okay and people do protest against it. However, when you have a group of people who claim Christianity as a heritage over truly believing, they feel as if they have the right to mock no matter what those who hold to faith think or say about it. It is their prerogative I suppose- it isn't like Christians aren't told to expect that sort of disrespectfullness against our faith. We must forgive them for their ignorance and pray for them.
This is quite different from the concept of icons though.
The following is an excerpt from an article that gives an extremely brief general overview of icons. The last paragraph talks specifically about Christ in icons.
”So what is an icon? Webster defines an icon as an image (Webster, 1966). In the Orthodox Church an icon is a sacred image, a window into heaven. An image of another reality, of a person, time and place that is more real than here and now. More than art, icons have an important spiritual role. Michel Quenot says it well in his book, The Icon: Window on the Kingdom, an icon is
“theology in imagery, the icon expresses through color what the Gospel proclaims in words”.
For this reason the rules regarding the creation of an icon are rigorous. The iconographer must prepare himself for the task of painting an icon by following a strict discipline of fasting and prayer. He must quiet his spirit and submit himself to God. The icon he creates will not be signed. He will not expect accolades or applause when the icon is completed. The icon will be created to inspire and lead others into worship. Painting the icon is not a use of imagination. Instead, the icon will be painted using the prescribed regimen and style that has been passed down through the centuries. Everything from the facial expressions to the colors used is predetermined. The following is a prayer recited by an iconographer prior to starting to work:
O Divine Master of all that exists, enlighten and direct the soul, the heart and the mind of your servant: guide my hands so that I might portray worthily and perfectly Your Image, that of Your Holy Mother and of all the Saints, for the glory, the joy, and the beautification of Your Holy Church. ( Quenot, p.13)
The primary purpose of the icon is to aid in worship. Its design follows that purpose. Through lines and color the iconographer conveys the awesomeness of the invisible, divine reality(Evdokimov, 1990). The creation of an icon is defined by tradition. That is a 21 st century iconographer would not decide to change the shape of Christ’s face. It is understood that a person who saw them in the flesh painted the first icon of an individual. St. Luke is accredited with painting the first icons of Christ and Mary the Blessed Virgin. Each subsequent iconographer will use the original icon as a guide. There is room for a small amount of stylistic change but tradition limits the options for that change ( Forest, 1997).
Icons are not created to force an emotional response. When portraying historical scenes the faces don’t show emotions but instead portray virtues such as purity, patience in suffering, forgiveness, compassion and love. An example of this would be the portrayal of Christ on the cross. Neither is the icon a sentimental picture. Christ is always shown as God. Even the icons of Christ seated on His mother’s lap show Him with an adult face, revealing that even though Christ lived as a child among us He was also God ( Forest,1997).
Icons depict silence. There are no actions displayed, no open mouths. The icon invites the Christian to enter into contemplation,prayer, and silence (Ware,1979). Space is not defined as three-dimensional and time is insignificant. The story told by the icon precludes time and space. An example would be the icon of the Nativity, which shows the cave where Christ was born in the background with those who came to adore in small vignettes. Lighting proceeds from the character portrayed in the icon. There are never shadows in icons. This shows us that the saint portrayed is “glorified” having completed the race and entered into heaven (Quenot,1991).
Symbolism is used in icons and details are used minimally. For example, when showing John the Baptist baptizing in the river the grown man he baptizes is shown as an infant because the baptism is a rebirth. Colors are also symbolic. Blue reveals heaven and mystery. Green is youth, fertility and the earth’s vegetation. Red, the color of blood, suggests life, vitality and beauty. White is purity, the divine world and innocence. Gold indicates sanctity, splendor, and the glory of God and life in the heavenly kingdom. Purple reveals wealth, power and authority.
First and foremost, icons are a constant reminder of the incarnation of Christ, that is to say, they remind us that God “sent His only begotten Son”(Bible, John 3:16) to rescue us from our sin and death. We cannot see God the Father or God the Holy Spirit, but, because Christ chose to take on human flesh, we can see Him. His face can be portrayed on wood with paint. We can also paint His Mother and other saints who have finished the race and gone on to heaven. The Orthodox believe that surrounding themselves with icons help them to acknowledge the constant presence of Christ and the saints in their lives.”
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