Adán's blog

"Who Makes The News" is a site that documents the structural media gender bias that is so often talked about. This information can be useful in raising awareness and shedding more light on gender bias. Full of resources and contacts, the site explains the global effort that involves grassroots communities in watching, reflecting and documenting. This is a real awareness raising project.

On February 15th research results will be released and I can imagine them being used in classrooms, churches, community organizations.

The US contact is Sheila George. Dr. Glory Dharmaraj has been a real strong proponent and activist in the project.

AM

Posted by at 9:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The mood of our country, Christian hate, fuels this type of atrocity. No outcries from Catholic hierarchy who instead are ferreting out gays from their seminaries. Shame.

am

Posted by at 12:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A friend recommended I visit this site which offers info about the Catholic faith for young adults. Busted Halo says it is geared to "seekers" and is another example of information packaged in attractive ways.

There's a section where you can ask a question and the site says that everybody will get a response. I would think that this section would get a lot of hits. Here's one of the answers to the question about hopelessness as a sin.
"We rarely speak of demons in our time, but maybe in our world the demon involved would be egotistical selfishness, and the blasphemy would be maintaining that there is not generosity or kindness present or possible in the world--everyone must look out for his or herself at the expense of others. Or it could be power or wealth or anything that consumes a person and leads him or her 100% away from God."

I think that's nicely stated. To my liking, the next step would be to link this idea to the happenings in Iraq and that over 50% of the electorate chose Bush to continue leading us down this path. ......Can't lose hope I keep telling myself.

Adán

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ReligionLink features a basic text/links that journalists can use in reporting about Catholics and politics. It was updated in May, before the nomination, but the resources it lists are helpful in understanding the complex and differing views of Catholics about this political race. ReligionLink is produced by the Religion Newswriters Foundation, the educational arm of the Religion Newswriters Asssociation.

Adán

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It is interesting that the two Signis Prizes at the San Sebastian Film Festival are both awarded to stories about children who are defenseless in a hostile world. In both films the best in people is evoked by the children.

The Grand Prize was awarded to "Midwinter Night's Dream" about an autistic girl in post-war Serbia. The Future Talent Award, for work by a new director, was awarded to "El Cielito" about an Argentinian baby who is protected by a wandering young man in search of work. In both films, the endings are not rosy, but the future of the child is nevertheless hopeful without being naive.
It is hopeful that the community of filmmakers worldwide is making such beautiful films that actually propose solutions for our world.

Adán

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Blogging is tough because connecting from my laptop is not easy here in San Sebastian. also, watching so many films keeps me running from one theatre to another.
I'm at the airport on the way to Dusseldorf and thankful that there is wireless here and there. Somehow, i am connecting without having to pay access fee. The connecton appeared on my laptop as a "wireless available" and I just logged on!

if you get a chance to see these films:
"El Cielito" is from Argentina and a first work. tears, tears, tears. but lots of smiles too. It explores machismo from a tender point of view, proposing alternative images of male heroism.

"Midwinter Night's Dream" stole my heart and had me crying and crying and hoping against hope that in a world full of violence and ignorance we place our life hopes in the strength of simply being a child of God, loving. This film is from Serbia-montenegro. Wonderful!

Both are outstanding and will be great for use in seminary courses that deal theology of hope. try them for different parish groups and in schools and universities, for they are an entry point to discussing options of action when facing unemployment, global poverty, ethnic strife.

'til later.
Adán

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These days at the 4th Conference on Media, Religion and Culture have been full of exciting people from all over the world. Every minute of the day is full of either interesting workshops, papers and panels--or coffee/beers with friends and new acquaintances doing interesting research and making videos.

Yesterday afternoon I attended a panel on media and justice where Macky Alston screened a part of "Questioning Faith". I'm sorry I missed it when it showed on Canadian TV or when it won the freedom of expression award at the Sundance Festival because the only way i can even dream of seeing it is to be at one of the small screenings (the next one in NYC) or buy a video for -----US$ 350!!!

What is the problem here with wonderful films that we lowly folks who do not live in big cities will never be able to see? why can't we get them for, say, 25 bucks?
Something is very wrong here.

Also, met Jason who presented a well-reasoned and insightful paper about cyber weddings. Fun.
Adán

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I've just returned from a fantastic holiday in Provincetown, MA.
There is an interesting report on the ninth European Christian Internet Conference, ECIC IX, Cluj, Romania By Sean Hawkey As churches are finding it increasingly difficult to get 'bums on pews', an emerging new breed of church leader is bringing millions to church. They administer pastoral care on a one-to-one basis and in group sessions, provide religious and educational information and services, run diaspora and administrative services. Best of all, from the point of view of the Churches, they are engaging with ever-increasing numbers of the most elusive and high-potential group - youngsters. The unlikely heroes for the Churches are webmasters.???

Adán

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Did anyone else catch the HBO America Undercover documentary by Antony Thomas, "Celibacy?" Wow!
The review on Beliefnet reports the outcry from the institutional Catholic Church. But the article in the Rocky Mountain News is more balanced, I think, and is an example of the benefits of discussing these things. I think that the Catholic institutional church would do well to heed good PR advice and face these points of view that are out in the marketplace, because they are being discussed seriously. Leadership from the institutional church, giving fuller and more nuanced versions to this topic, would be well received, I think.

Of course this documentary is one person's point of view. That's the whole point of making films. Institutional leadership works best when it engages rather than confronts. It is interesting that all of the negative squawking about the film comes from older men. This is the case at least with the limited references I found on the Internet.

The ending of the piece is great: dramatic and poignantly staged, and, of course interpretative.
Here's an excerpt from the Rocky Moutain News that deals also with the idea that due to the church's influence, this type of film would never be released on TV networks.
"The program ends with terse comments in Rome by Archbishop John Patrick Foley, a Vatican spokesman and president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications.
In offering unbending comments, Archbishop Foley fully backs the church's celibacy stance without providing much of a logical argument.
Conservative Catholics might ask how much of his interview was left on the cutting room floor.
Celibacy is the type of documentary that would never show up on ABC, NBC or CBS. Its content is too controversial and, probably in the minds of some, too one-sided.
The networks would have trouble with sponsors, something HBO doesn't have to worry about."

Adán

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When I visited the National Council of Churches communications officer in NYC, I saw the ad that will be aired in Arab countries and was blown away by it. The efforts of the NCC to bring religious leadership to bear on Iraq and torture is wonderful and renews faith. Go see it here and then sign up at the end of the clip, to endorse the ad.

let's collaborate in every we can.

Adán

Posted by at 3:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Congratulations to Moore for winning Palm d'Or at Cannes!
Can't wait to see "Farhenheit 911."

Adán

Posted by at 8:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I've just read the best review of Gibson's film about the torture of Jesus in "Mensaje". It is in Spanish, and very complex. It takes Gibson seriously as a firlm director and rips him to shreds. It takes his theology seriously and elegantly underscores its irrelevance to global poverty and solidarity. Written by Carlos Ignacio Casale Rolle, the lengthy essay begs to be translated into English and circulated among theology students eager to debate/study theological ideas.
Adán

Posted by at 8:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In January the UCLA issued the first findings about Internet use in 14 countries. It is called the UCLA World Internet Project and confirms that there is a gender gap. Aspects concerning religion and politics are discussed.
Adán

Posted by at 9:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Spiritual Cinema Circle is a site sells videos that do not see wide distribution and are categorized as "spiritual." Good idea I hope flies, as religious ed directors, church study groups and others start using film and video in their classes.
adan

Posted by at 7:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A Day Without A Mexican" is causing a stir that perplexes me and is enlightening. How could it be a surprise to anyone that the economy of California depends on Mexican laborers, documented and undocumented? CBS news ran a story about this feature length movie.
Anti-Latino and Latina discrimination is strong in California, even though Latinas make up 1/3 of the state population. Perhaps this movie brings up a subject people would rather not see.

The trailer is funny!
Adán

Posted by at 6:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Jim McDonnel from London writes that the next meeting of the European Christian Internet Conference will be held in Bethlen Kata Diaconical Centre, hosted by the Transylvania Reformed Church. Date is May 22 - 28 in Cluj, Romania. More info is available by contacting the Pres of the ECIC: Mr. Juha Kinanan.

Adán

Posted by at 9:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Having previously seen only 20 minutes of the Gibson film and become bored with it, I finally, saw the entire, 2-DVD,Gibson film about the Christ. It is remarkably like Latin American telenovelas in its use of melodrama and exagerrated character types. I think the deft application of melodrama techniques is what gives this film the dramatic strength when it cannot rely on development of plot, character depth nor incisive dialog. I've heard the Colombian author,Germán Rey, talk about the international success of the Latin America telenovela format, mythologizing as it does, the large themes of good and evil. The telenovela manages to subsume the quotidian struggles of a societal group and narrate them in a cohesive story of identity.

Of interest to media-makers: In regards to innovative, ever new and intersting ways of depicting blood and violence, this film is a prolonged version, almost identical in makeup and lighting, to the torture scenes in "Payback" in which Mel Gibson is beaten bloody, including having his toes bludgeoned with a hammer.

The only reason I saw the whole bloody thing is that it's so popular, so many people find it deeply touching, and I wanted to see what all the fuss is about. I would not see it again.

Adán

Posted by at 8:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

How do we distinguish and make choices as we live through "wheat and chaff" situations all the time? Degree zero blogs about the Nina Simone protest song, "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to be Free" as it is used to sell Coca Cola. As I saw this commercial, I was perhaps not terrified, maybe horrified, certainly deeply saddened. It is like watching a book being burned or beautiful music destroyed.

I ask myself if I am over-reacting to the necessary commodification that goes on all the times with various aspects of our lives, much of which is fun and enjoyable, even enriching. I think in this case it is obscene. I don't know how you react when you watch it. It's the second commercial, "I Wish."
Adán

Posted by at 6:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Stewart Hoover posts an essay on the Revealer.org about the Passion at South Park. Great!
AM

Posted by at 8:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

My friends, Alan and Dermot, bloggin in Ireland, link to a flash movie about the passion, "Ecce Homo." It is nicely open-ended.

The site that Alan and Dermot point to, New Pollution, features a lab with intriguing digital art.

For info about the Catholic Church in Ireland, of all kinds, go to their website. It is a reliable place for in-depth analysis of issues, but also fun and useful items like, monastic Ireland which is a great touring guide, and retreat centers, mass times and jobs! Catholic Ireland.Net also features helpful resources for grieving, and a wonderfully simple and interactive prayer site for children. But I'm not a parent. Tell them if u like it.

Adán

Posted by at 7:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It was energizing to be with church media leaders during the workshop, "When is Hispanic Universal." These are resources that I mentioned:
1. Interactive CD-ROM, "Ministry in A Multicultural World: Beyond Borders"
2. "The Mediated Spirit," a CD-ROM authored by Dr. Peter Horsfield, an in-depth, extensive research presentation about how the Christian Church, from its early days, was embedded in media.
3. Dr. Mary Hess writes about The Religious imagination and Relious Education.
4. The five assumptions about media can be found in this paper that I wrote some time ago.
5. A dvd about latinos and latinas in film, "The Bronze Screen," can be purchased from Amazon.com
If any of the workshop participants need more info, write to me or comment here.

It was a good time together, with nice percussion at the end!
Adán

Posted by at 6:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Heads up: A group of Latin American catechetical leaders is to announce soon the first "Laboratory: Faith in Media Cultures." This one-week lab will take place in San José, Costa Rica in March 2005. It will examine current projects in catechesis and religious education as they attempt to "shift paradigms" to face the opportunities and difficulties of the new media cultures. This project is so new, their website will be up only in mid-April. Contact person is: Irene Nesi from Caracas, Venezuela.

The lab is for 20 persons and is by invitation. There are two slots for USA participants.

A call for projects will be announced next month. Persons wishing to attend will submit their current project and the questions they wish to address during the lab. I'll post info here later.

This laboratory is designed, in part, on a model developed by Mary Hess several years ago when she organized a similar lab at Boston College.

Adán

Posted by at 4:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Houston is energized about the upcoming super bowl. The Baptists are praying over seat cushions so that when the fans sit on them, God will watch over them: "Volunteers will say a brief "SOS" prayer over each seat asking for salvation, obedience to God and safety for each fan, said Roy Guel, a Sagemont (Baptist) Church staff member who is coordinating volunteers. "

Now there's an interesting prayer ministry.

Adán

Posted by at 8:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Today I've finished editing the video/dvd production, "Portraits of Faith: The Church in America" so I'll be writing here again regularly.

Happy St. Jude, the saint of the Catholic calendar for today. St. Jude is the name of my home parish in San Antonio. The Franciscans have a nice website for saints, with an audio explanation of the background of the daily saint. They also have greeting cards....for free.......I wonder how they use the names they collect on this website?

By the way, the dvd will be released in February 2004 by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Posted by at 3:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Am at MACC in San Antonio, and we are considering whether to use the on-line teaching resource of nicenet.org.

It's great to see a national pastoral training center taking strong steps to enter the digital age of religion.
Adan

Posted by at 10:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A resource mentioned during the MACC Seminar yesterday on media and church ministry is the CD-ROM by Peter Horsfield. (scroll down the page 'til you get to his name)The Mediated Spirit. This is such an excellent basic framework from which to reflect on media and church issues today.

Adán

Posted by at 10:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)