Courageous

BY G. P. Galle

In 2003 a few Baptists ministers in the tiny town of Albany, Georgia decided to make a movie.  There was no budget. All the actors were volunteer. The cameras weren’t fancy. Excellent lighting and sound? Forget it. This movie was called Flywheel. Their Church got it released in one theater. 

And it sold out for 6 weeks.  

Two movies would follow. The first, produced with all church volunteers save a cinematographer, would shock the box office with $10 million in ticket sales. The second film, Fireproof, would also blow people away making $33 million. Both have sold hundreds of millions in DVDs. 

But the biggest part of these films is not the box office. 

The biggest thing are the lives being changed. These films are not merely entertainment. They are ministry. They are evangelism. They bring people to Christ. They have been proven to rejuvenate lives...and on September 30th, the biggest film yet, Courageous, comes to theaters. 

Courageous centers around one of the most important and lacking components to our culture: fathers. The film is a call to action: Where are you men?! Alex Kendrick, the lead actor of the film cries in one film scene. Apparently they are answering. In droves. Churches are buying out theaters all over the country. I know, as I went on behalf of my mens group Men of St. Joseph, to sponsor a theater. We couldn’t get the time we wanted, as both theaters were already bought out by other church groups. We were actually number 6 of churches that bought theaters. Awesome.

Some Hollywood executives would ask: what in the heck? Why is this working? 

It’s a simple answer, though business people have a hard time understanding. It is the prayer. These films have no major actors. No big producers. And none of the smut everyone says you have to have. Nope. They have prayer. They have Jesus. And Jesus is showing up for this once little church out of Albany, Georgia.

Coming September 30th, Courageous will go to wide release. Don’t miss it. 

About GP Galle G.P. Galle, Jr. has spent over 10 years studying the intersection of faith, politics, and pop culture. He is a writer and producer, previous works including A Dream Worth Living a culture of live musical, and vivace, a Christian Art extravaganza. He has a law degree from the University of Alabama Law School, and graduate magna cum laude from Auburn University.

Christopher Nolan, Batman, and Authentic Masculinity for Catholic Men

BY G. P. GALLE

In 2012, a movie called The Dark Knight Rises will be released. It is the third in the Batman trilogy, written and directed by the media giant Christopher Nolan. The first two films grossed billions of dollars. The third will probably do the same. These films did more than just box office success. They have ignited a blitz of comic book movies. But for a Catholic man, they do even more.

Nolan tends to keep his religious and political beliefs to himself, but his films speak to universal truths that diverge almost forcefully (but elegantly) from Hollywood. For instance, Batman Begins, the first in the film series, features a wealthy philanthropist in Bruce Wayneʼs Dad. Further, and most outside the boundary of traditional Hollywood, the Senior Wayne is a good Father. A mentor. His words, even as he lies dying in the street, allow Bruce Wayne to come to grips with fear, and for this reason to save Gotham City.

There is enough to write on simply through the noble father of Bruce Wayne in Batman Begins, but the focus of this article is actually about the second film in the series, The Dark Knight. The Dark Knight, a movie of incredible foresight and genius, is perhaps the strongest tale in the Batman legend.

I have watched The Dark Knight several times, and as with most Christopher and Jonathan Nolan scripts, there is far more to the story than is apparent on the first watch. The first time through, one will see the Joker tear through the city destroying everything. His reasoning seems arbitrary, insane. And in this insanity, one has trouble keeping up. In the fever pitch madness, Bruce Wayne (Batman) does not know what to do. His butler, Alfred, provides him advice.

Alfred:...some men aren't looking for anything logical, like money. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn.

Bruce Wayne: People are dying, Alfred. What would you have me do?

Alfred: Endure, Master Wayne. Take it. They'll hate you for it, but that's the point of Batman. He can be the outcast. He can make the choice that no one else can make — the right choice.

And so Bruce Wayne does. Though in the end, the Joker is thwarted for different reasons. His final death trap, meant to play on the fear and judgmental attitude of mankind, fails because of all the men acting courageously. Indeed it is not just Batman that saves Gotham, but Gothamʼs goodness that saves Gotham.

This is what I got on the first watch. On the second, third, fourth, and fifth time through I started seeing something new: the Jokerʼs manipulation of everyone in the film. The Joker is not arbitrary, but in fact enormously calculated. Ironically, he is the superman Nietzsche touted. He is also the terrorist showing how fallen man is. He is a brutal, cruel, man-hating nihilist. In a nutshell, he is Satan.

In turn, throughout the film, Batman struggles to do the right thing, and makes many mistakes. He needs his friends, who also fail many times in the film, though they too are attempting good. It seems many times that they are fighting a battle that cannot be won. They cannot predict the Joker, because they are so unlike him. He is destruction for destructionʼs sake. It is only through blind but noble decisions can does he lose.

We as Catholic Men are in the same boat. Sin and evil can hit us in ways we do not expect, and hit quickly. We have pressure - pressure hitting us on all sides. And this pressure comes from a force desiring to show our weaknesses, our unworthiness of redemption. This evil force is real and far more intelligent than us. Our only choice is the same as Batmanʼs - we must endure. We endure as Christians, as outcasts, making the hard choices and being hated for it. And must we do so by continuously choosing good, despite the appearance that something else might be the better choice. The mask that we put on is Christʼs, for it is Him that lets us make the hard decisions.

Again, I am not sure that Nolan meant to have any Christian metaphors in his film. What he did have was a lot of truth. The result was that Jesus appeared, though hidden. This film is not meant for the faint of heart. It is, as its title suggests, dark. But it portrays serious truths about humanity, and how good does triumph over seemingly impossible odds.

About GP Galle G.P. Galle, Jr. has spent over 10 years studying the intersection of faith, politics, and pop culture. He is a writer and producer, previous works including A Dream Worth Living a culture of live musical, and vivace, a Christian Art extravaganza. He has a law degree from the University of Alabama Law School, and graduate magna cum laude from Auburn University.

Dawning

BY G. P. GALLE

This is a short story written in 2007 about the Culture of Life and Southern Culture, written while in UA Law School. The story is meant to show the Culture of Life on the Tuscaloosa River.

When the night died, the southern landscape yawned a breeze across the treetops and a great big eye of light slowly opened, so that a spectator could see the hint of a million shades combining. These shades are called dawn. This morning dawn draped the shore on the Tuscaloosa Lake in glitter and light, bestowing the River her proper crown, kindred with the steady shimmer of her morning decor. And her untouched surface glistened.

She had visitors. Joggers used her breeze, groups in convertibles went on joyrides on the asphalt beyond. Others paid her no heed, too busy with school and other social events.

One person watched. His name was Bill. And Bill loved the event. His favorite place was not the walkway or the road. Or even the river’s crown.

This morning he (as he had every summer Saturday for five years now) rolled his khakis to his ankles, left his padded shoes behind, felt her crown beneath his toes, and finally, when he breached her surface, watched the slow ripples radiate into her. Her chill woke him up, and he grinned, the creases of his aged skin arching looked like living stone.

The Church’s Needed Response to the Modern Media

BY G.P. GALLE

In my last article, it was requested by a few people that I followup discussing how the Catholic Church might respond to the modern media/entertainment industry’s agenda. How might the Church, and for that matter Christianity at large, respond to a narrative that is largely adverse to Her teachings? The answer is as frustrating as it is simple: be proactive. First, why it is frustrating.

Christianity, if it is true (and it is), must hold the keys to all that is true. It claims to, does it not? And if it claims to, and in fact does hold all that is true, then She the Church must have the ability to attract people to Her. She claims that God is beauty, and that God is the key to human happiness, and I believe her. She also claims that man reaches his pinnacle when fully given over to Her. Well said. Then why, one might ask, do we not see new and attractive Churches?

Our Church is rightfully focused on feeding and clothing people, that is providing sustenance to their body. Our Church is also rightfully quick to provide sustenance to the mind, as the intellectual texts the Church contains are fathomless. What the people of Our Church have, as of late forgot, is the sustenance of the soul: splendor. Think about it: when you are down, does not a sunset give you peace? Can you not feel a breeze...or for that matter watch a happy movie and feel better? What about an old familiar song? A great story?

Our Christ was the greatest artist in the History of the world (makes sense doesn’t it?). He knew the power of the story - most of his teachings were memorable parables. He knew the power of Creation: He made the universe. And He knew the power of irony and creativity when He brought forth the most unsuspected artform forever in this world: The Eucharist. It is here that He achieved what every artist’ dreams: to capture truth in it’s purest form. And Christ did this in literally a heartbeat. So what are we doing?

Have we forgotten the excellence of the Gregorian Chants? The power of Order? The splendor and genius of truly good art? How many people would rather download Summa Theologica than go see the pieta in Italy (answer: not many)? We have settled to respond to multi-million dollar productions with things that are second rate. So what do we do? It’s simple: be proactive.

Repeat. The answer is simple: be proactive. Do not settle. And support the arts within the Church. Entertainment can instruct, and the highest of art forms do both says Horace, and I agree with him. It is not enough to feed and clothe people and give them heavy books. Their soul needs splendor, needs to find creativity. People thrive with movies, music, video games, anything that will provide the human soul delight. Even if the Church does not respond, that void will be filled negatively and it currently is.  God is the one, true, good, and beautiful. If we ignore any of these qualities, we create a vacuum by which perversion and problems seep in.

Here is a component to being proactive: be forward thinking. Truly forward thinking. Not the progressive definition (which is actually regressive), but actually be on the cutting edge of discovery in craft. Stained glass is important, but we must also portray through new forms. What does the new stained glass look like? Digitally? Think about it.

And another thought: we need a place for our creative minds. The world’s creative industry is full of money, venues, and ability. But Christians need not apply. If you refuse to compromise, count on being marginalized in academia, count on being scrutinized and having your art torn apart (especially if it is good), count on being accused and looked at suspiciously. Count on carrying a cross. But a cross that is unnecessary. Instead of the marginalization, let us give the creative minds what Thomas Aquinas called all of us to do: to be Christ in their vocation. There is enough brutality in the creative process itself to be a full cross. Let people thrive carrying this Cross. Let the burden be the struggle for artistic perfection for Christ.

It was the de Medici’s, even in their scandal, that enabled some of the greatest innovations in history simply by enabling people like Michelangelo. It was Mozart who was funded by the royal court and the Church. Something else cool: given some of the scandals of old, we have an amazing opportunity: we can move to even greater heights.

There were many scandals in these times during the church. What would a more holy age look like? One that has the discoveries with less scandal? An age with religious fervor, the support of creativity, and the creative minds dedicated to serving the Lord. What a miraculous sight this would be!

So how are we going to go about this? By doing what is above (within all of it prayer), and finally, developing, proactively, new theories on the creative process that reflect the awesomeness of the Church. We must create based on these theories. What of deconstructionism? What of queer theory? These theories are funded with tons of grants and cush academic jobs. We must do more than criticize. Let us show how great the theories of truth are. Let us create a place for our academic minds...and reflect the natural law in modern, marketplace terms. Aristotle is vastly important to the entire western world, but our Church allows us to respond with Her laws to each generation differently. Let us move to grasp the new philosophers as much as the old. Let us embrace what is true progress, what is true response, what is true intellectualism.

So again, the simple but frustrating answer: be proactive. Let’s build.

Straight forward article? Just remember, I was asked.

About GP Galle G.P. Galle, Jr. has spent over 10 years studying the intersection of faith, politics, and pop culture. He is a writer and producer, previous works including A Dream Worth Living a culture of live musical, and vivace, a Christian Art extravaganza. He has a law degree from the University of Alabama Law School, and graduate magna cum laude from Auburn University.

Cars 2: a Telling Film on Hollywood's Agenda

BY G.P. GALLE

In 2006, the animated feature film Cars hit the box office and scored big, nearing a half billion dollars in the box office alone. The much anticipated sequel hit theaters this year, and is testament to the agenda push by powerful Hollywood players against Big Oil...in a kids movie.

Cars 2 director John Lasseter is very forward about the agenda in Cars 2:

"I kept thinking about, "OK. A spy movie in the world where cars are alive. What would be a really good kind of über bad guy? Who is an über bad guy?" I kept going to big oil. This is before what happened in the Gulf of Mexico. Why isn't alternative fuel more... Why isn't everybody jumping on that bandwagon? It makes so much sense: Electricity, solar, whatever. There's ethanol. There's all this stuff you could be doing. And so I thought, well, that could be really cool in that you could have big oil versus alternative fuel. That's when we kind of crafted the bad guy's story."

Whether or not your political leanings are for or against the Oil industry, Cars 2 begs a larger question: What is Hollywood teaching our children, and how does this effect families? The question can be answered by looking to a perhaps seemingly odd pair of constituents: stained glass and super bowl commercials.

For the larger part of history, people have been largely illiterate. As a result, people learned visually and orally. In the middle ages and after, Christianity was able to educate through the beauty of the Church. A Blacksmith, hard at work in his shop, would stop at noon and go to receive Communion. While he was probably not allowed into royal houses, he was allowed in a Church. Here this man could feel safe, could know that there was an eternal place for him. He could also be educated on the teachings of the church. This Stained Glass was only the starting point: Gregorian chants, large icons, incense (which was probably a lot more pleasing to an audience without deodorant), and morality plays were just a few things that would help this man find peace in a very tough world. He could know those dedicated Christians. He could aspire to their lives.

Compare this to an explicit commercials during the SuperBowl, ones provocative and overtly sensual. These commercials air during a family event. A very different message certainly...but a similar type of education. People pay millions for a minute of SuperBowl air time. Why? Because they can convince people to buy their product....and it is proven to work. Sales go up with Super Bowl marketing. A great ad can make a product sell.

So what is a compelling television show selling? Think about it: if people will spend so much on an ad for the Super Bowl, because 1 minute will influence buying power, what does an hour and a half message in a movie do to a person? It is a simple connection, and one that Hollywood knows well. They have used it continuously, and Cars 2 is just one example. That is a political agenda on big oil. What about agendas against the Church? Movies like The Da Vinci Code? The Order? Doubt? The list goes on.

We are not using today’s stained glass called modern media. We have the truth, but it has got to get beyond dissertations. We need to speak in current Marketplace terms. Otherwise we will fail to reach a large part of the population. Why not have a Tom Clancy novel with a Christian hero? Why not have Tom Cruise in constant prayer in a Church when he plays a devout Christian World War II hero (a great example of a downplayed faith is Valkyrie).

And at heart, the most important place that we present this new stained glass is to our children. But because we have yet to take a proactive approach, to create new forms of media, we must, Fathers in particular, guard the family and the eyes of the children. They need not be swayed by a false but emotionally stirring presentation of sexuality, or gratuitous violence, or flawed arguments against the Church.

It is our job within Christianity to show people the splendor of the Holy Church, and reach people through the God-given mediums He has bestowed. It is our job as Father’s to protect our children and promote the Culture of Life in new and creative ways.

About G.P. Galle G.P. Galle, Jr. has spent over 10 years studying the intersection of faith, politics, and pop culture. He is a writer and producer, previous works including A Dream Worth Living a culture of live musical, and vivace, a Christian Art extravaganza. He has a law degree from the University of Alabama Law School, and graduated magna cum laude from Auburn University.