Well, a lot of Catholics were (understandably) also pretty mad at Gerwig for that comment about worshiping Mary. And yet I low-key think Catholics do kinda worship Mary. :)
Do you just mean that the Catholic attitude toward Mary is one that falls under the definition of “worship” as used in contemporary English, or also that it involves treating Mary in a way that is only proper to God?
“This has captured Gerwig’s imagination, because she sees herself as a co-creator with the divine”. The problem with artists is when they consider themselves co-creators and not sub-creators. Perhaps she also sees herself as Lewis’ co-creator, which has given herself license to rewrite his story. Unlike your sentiments, I find it hard to sympathize with her if it flops. It will be hard to unsee this version of Aslan. Try reading the books after seeing this movie and still seeing the Aslan you saw before gifted to you from Lewis’ imagination. It would be different if she gave a strong effort to align with Lewis; then she would merit sympathy. See the painstaking detail Mel Gibson takes to make some of his films reflect the true story. She’s making this seem so much more difficult than it actually is. A rock opera in the 1940’s? Someone didn’t read the assignment question. A female actress voicing Aslan? Oh, but the voice has been altered so that it sounds male. Gotta love the incessant subtleties that anger you then make you feel like you’re the crazy one.
It’s clear she prized her own vision more than Lewis. I respect your tender heart, but why should we sympathize? She’s surely not sympathetic to my feelings. In the image culture we live in, her image of Aslan will carry. Changing Aslan’s image has strong religious parallels, and I wish we considered it blasphemous. Susan and Lucy were grieved when Aslan’s mane was sheared. Having Aslan covered in all the accoutrements should bother us. It’s exhausting the subtle subversions.
I wish Christians would boycott this film so that it would experience embarrassment and maybe we’d get a better version in the future. At the very least they would know that it flopped among Christians, who also tanked Netflix revenue in the process by canceling their subscriptions. The message to filmmakers would be to not be irreverent to Christian art, especially art by one of their beloved saints making a story that represents our beloved Savior. Alas, Christians rarely boycott anything. I wish this would be one of the exceptions.
I still don't know concretely what "rock opera" means in the final product. People are saying it's not a musical (thank goodness!) so perhaps the soundtrack just features some electric guitar riffs? Maybe? Idk.
Also extremely silly how she said she just couldn't think of anyone, anyone able to voice Aslan that ticked all her boxes, with an emphasis on "actors over 70." The list of "actors over 70" includes Jeremy Irons, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Morgan Freeman...a long, long list, even if we accept that the actor has to be over 70 which is silly anyway.
I'm curious to see if there's a mainstream audience for the movie or if it'll fall between stools and please no one. Lots of views on the trailer, which could just mean flash in the pan controversy. A February release date is unpropitious. Time will tell...
Thanks for the reply. Time will tell. I just wish we prized imitation over originality. That was the classical ideal. Imitate first until you grasp the master, then perhaps make something original. Think Boethius. Nowadays it’s all about originality and no reverence and imitation of the masters first.
FWIW I’m kind of curious what the Catholic rabbit hole you didn’t want to go down is …
Well, a lot of Catholics were (understandably) also pretty mad at Gerwig for that comment about worshiping Mary. And yet I low-key think Catholics do kinda worship Mary. :)
Do you just mean that the Catholic attitude toward Mary is one that falls under the definition of “worship” as used in contemporary English, or also that it involves treating Mary in a way that is only proper to God?
Both.
Obviously Catholics and Protestants have debated this extensively, but I’d be curious to hear a bit more about why you think this.
I liked your article but I’m about to rant.
“This has captured Gerwig’s imagination, because she sees herself as a co-creator with the divine”. The problem with artists is when they consider themselves co-creators and not sub-creators. Perhaps she also sees herself as Lewis’ co-creator, which has given herself license to rewrite his story. Unlike your sentiments, I find it hard to sympathize with her if it flops. It will be hard to unsee this version of Aslan. Try reading the books after seeing this movie and still seeing the Aslan you saw before gifted to you from Lewis’ imagination. It would be different if she gave a strong effort to align with Lewis; then she would merit sympathy. See the painstaking detail Mel Gibson takes to make some of his films reflect the true story. She’s making this seem so much more difficult than it actually is. A rock opera in the 1940’s? Someone didn’t read the assignment question. A female actress voicing Aslan? Oh, but the voice has been altered so that it sounds male. Gotta love the incessant subtleties that anger you then make you feel like you’re the crazy one.
It’s clear she prized her own vision more than Lewis. I respect your tender heart, but why should we sympathize? She’s surely not sympathetic to my feelings. In the image culture we live in, her image of Aslan will carry. Changing Aslan’s image has strong religious parallels, and I wish we considered it blasphemous. Susan and Lucy were grieved when Aslan’s mane was sheared. Having Aslan covered in all the accoutrements should bother us. It’s exhausting the subtle subversions.
I wish Christians would boycott this film so that it would experience embarrassment and maybe we’d get a better version in the future. At the very least they would know that it flopped among Christians, who also tanked Netflix revenue in the process by canceling their subscriptions. The message to filmmakers would be to not be irreverent to Christian art, especially art by one of their beloved saints making a story that represents our beloved Savior. Alas, Christians rarely boycott anything. I wish this would be one of the exceptions.
I still don't know concretely what "rock opera" means in the final product. People are saying it's not a musical (thank goodness!) so perhaps the soundtrack just features some electric guitar riffs? Maybe? Idk.
Also extremely silly how she said she just couldn't think of anyone, anyone able to voice Aslan that ticked all her boxes, with an emphasis on "actors over 70." The list of "actors over 70" includes Jeremy Irons, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Morgan Freeman...a long, long list, even if we accept that the actor has to be over 70 which is silly anyway.
I'm curious to see if there's a mainstream audience for the movie or if it'll fall between stools and please no one. Lots of views on the trailer, which could just mean flash in the pan controversy. A February release date is unpropitious. Time will tell...
Thanks for the reply. Time will tell. I just wish we prized imitation over originality. That was the classical ideal. Imitate first until you grasp the master, then perhaps make something original. Think Boethius. Nowadays it’s all about originality and no reverence and imitation of the masters first.