#5) Is image distorting reality?

Movies...movies...movies. Who doesn't enjoy action, romantic, sci-fi, and comedy films? Movies have become one of the biggest forms of entertainment in our society. I love movies of all kinds and just get wrapped up in the stories that are so beautifully orchestrated by the directors. If you don't get entirely caught up and lost in Lord of the Rings, then I personally think there is something wrong with you. There are movies out there that are meant to challenge the mind on higher levels of thinking. Some are just created for comedic relief that help people escape the demanding and quick pace of life. Some are even based on true stories or on actual events. And there are definitely some that are completely fiction. A lot of times it's hard to determine the meaning of a certain film and to be able to pick out parts in which you can apply to your own life. Basically, the point I am trying to make is that media is so image-oriented and is consistently growing at a rapid pace.

I am not saying by any means that movies can't be influential or have a deep meaning that really challenge people. There are definitely a lot of movies out there that do just such a thing. However, there are also movies made just to entertain and not to inform and it is a very important thing to be able to pick out truth and what I would say reality. According to Jacques Ellul, Image is related to reality (sight, space), and word is what is related to truth (hearing, times). He says, "Image can be accurate or inaccurate but not true or false." This is a very unique concept that can actually challenge one's faith, which is why we need to be aware of this.

These are two quotes by Jacques Ellul:

…sight and language determine two different kinds of thinking. Language, which is written, involves a long, careful process. My eyes follow the words one after the other, and thus a sequence of understandings are connected to each other. Thought develops according to the axis of this sequence of words. I receive knowledge progressively as the elements of what I am trying to understand link up in succession. Ideas are gradually laid bare as I follow the sentence. The sentence unfolds within a given time span, so that my knowledge necessarily takes the form of step-by-step reasoning. My knowledge progresses by following the curves of this language, assuming a certain continuity in the sentence and rationality in the relationship between words.

…images link themselves up to each other in a manner that is neither logical nor reasonable. We proceed by association of images and their successive changes. The aspects of an image that change in this process have to do exclusively with the spectacle in its present moment. They are never a logical sequence. … it is not the characteristics of electronic signals which have made the difference, but the manner in which images follow each other. When we think by means of images … each image is a totality, and the sequence progresses by fits and starts.

Problems really start to occur when we begin to confuse the ideas of image with that of truth.

If we look at the film, The DaVinci Code, as truth, then we are going to greatly confuse non-believers with what is actually true. The movie is a great fiction film, but that's all it is... it doesn't in any way explain our beliefs as Christians.

Jacques asks two questions for us :

1) As media becomes more image oriented will it separate us further from truth, if so, what are the implications?

2) What challenges does this present to us as Christians if seeing is believing becomes the norm?

These questions are not easily answered by any means, but we need to think about them so when a time comes in our lives when we need to answer it, we will know how to. I would say, that if we have a strong faith, then we shouldn't need to worry about images seperating us further from truth. However, we need to make sure that non-believers, who it is our job to minister to, know that truth and how to look past the images and to the word. 'Seeing is believing' becoming the norm would propse many problems as for it would take away the very thing that defines faith. I don't think that it will ever become the norm but it is not one thing to just let go. We need to make sure we are constantly growing in our faith... a good idea is to find people to stay accountable with.

Media really can challenge one's faith and we just need to make sure that we are ready for the situations placed in front of us and have the ability to answer difficult questions about it asked.

John 20:29: Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe