J.R.R. Tolkien once told C.S. Lewis, "Christianity works on us like any other myth, with the difference that it is actually true."
What Tolkien didn't tell Lewis was that myths also make the best movies . . . whether the myths are true or not. There is a better, even a best, way to make a film, and it starts with a great myth -- and not with an agenda.
I just read a wonderful essay by Dwight Longenecker (posted at Spero News) on this very topic, reiterating the things many of us already know to be true . . . but it's good to read the occasional reminder:
Story. Is. Everything.
Agenda is always secondary at best. Telling a great story matters most.
As Longenecker notes, "Titillation, pyrotechnics and gore only entertain [audiences] so long. If the film isn't driven by a powerful and compelling story line, even the most immature audience will yawn."
The essay notes that Hollywood story consultant Christopher Vogler has "outlined the formula for a good story . . . [b]asing his ideas on the work of the mythologist Joseph Campbell . . . a model which is as old as human communication itself. It is a structure which is woven through all the great myths, fairy tales, sagas and folk tales of humanity in every culture and every age."
He illustrates how this pattern is evident in Scripture, where "the spiritual journey requires a departure from our comfort zone to step out into a world of unknown realities. . . . This story line is reflected in all the Old Testament sagas. Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Joseph, and Joshua all have to step out in faith and leave their old world to follow God's promise."
Even Jesus had to step out of the comforts of heaven to walk among us, arguably the most powerful mythic story of all time -- a true myth.
Author Longenecker says that a prime example of myth-telling comes in Disney's animated The Jungle Book , which he recently watched with his young children. At the climax, Baloo the Bear sacrifices his life to save Mowgli, and as he lies seemingly dead, Bagheera the panther quotes Scripture: "No greater love has any man than he lay down his life for his friends." Of course, Baloo was faking his death, and then winks and wakes up.
Writes Longenecker, "Professional theologians and high brow Christians may throw up their hands in horror at such a trivialisation of theology, but when Baloo woke up my four-year-old said, 'That's what Jesus did.'"
Myth as truth. Truth as myth. A formula for great stories, and great movies.
For the latest coverage on films, check out Christianity Today Movies.
Posted by Mark Moring on November 11, 2008 1:29PM
Comments
I have always agreed with the idea that the true message will reveal itself through how a story is told. And to that, C.S. Lewis is a prime example. When it comes to relaying religious messages to a wide audience, Lewis is able to do just that. His Narnia books were a childhood favorite of mine, yet it was not until later, when I picked up the tattered bindings to read them yet another time, did I fully understand the genius behind his writing.
Through the medium of texts or movies, an author is able to portray any message he chooses through his mode of story-telling, and those who do it best are those who can draw the diverse crowd, such as Lewis and Disney are able to do.
Take for example Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia. The main character is the lion Aslan, the character who is meant to represent God on earth. Through these ‘children’s stories,’ Lewis is able to portray a particular image and message of such a being:
“He knew none of the true stories about Aslan, the great Lion, the son of the Emperor-over-sea, the King above all High Kings of Narnia. But after one glance at the Lion’s face he slipped out of the saddle and fell at his feet…The High King above all Kings stooped towards him…He lifted his face and their eyes met. That instant the pale brightness of the mist and the fiery brightness of the Lion rolled themselves together into a swirling glory and gathered themselves up and disappeared.” (The Horse and His Boy, chapter 11)
Or how about in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe when Aslan sacrifices himself to save Edward - "'When a willing victim who had committed no treachery was killed in a traitor's stead, the table would crack and Death itself would start working backwards.'"
If this does not scream Christian messages and Biblical stories, I do not know what would. And this is all done behind the cover of a children’s ‘novel.’
Posted by: Amory at November 12, 2008
A definition of the word "myth" is "sacred story!"
Posted by: Pastor Zippy at November 14, 2008
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