Film and Theology

Spirituality of PerceptioN
A Series of Workshops on Film and Theology

Date: 11-12 July 2009
Venue: Pennamma Bhavanam, Manjadi, Tiruvala


Main Resource Person: Mr. Joro Joseph (Film Studies Scholar)

The discussions and classes was based on the screening of the following films:
' Bicycle Thieves ', 'Modern Times', 'Dreams', & 'Spring, Winter, Summer and Again Spring'

Bible Study and Film Show

Reading the story of the Tower of Babel

with reference to

the Docu-Fiction, "THE LOST PYRAMID"

by

Saji P. George

Date: Saturday, 13.06.2009, 2.30 pm

Venue: Pennamma Bhavanam

The programme was a bible study based on the genesis story of the tower of babel. The text was discussed in an innovatove way: the docu-fiction, "THE LOST PYRAMID" (History Channel), a docu-film that informs the dynamics of the Egyptian society and the social hostory of their construction practices, was screened and the story of the tower of babel was discussed with the aid of the docu-fiction. It was a fruitful endeavour towards understanding both the film and the text. 25 people participated in the programme.

"The Lost Pyramid" is one of those rare documentaries with a revelation so stunning, it made headlines before anyone had seen it. The film, produced for the History Channel, follows a team of archeologists as they unearth Egypt's fourth Great Pyramid at Giza, which, as the title says, has been lost for years to the desert sands. Even more amazing, this new pyramid (built by the Fourth-dynasty Pharaoh Djedefre) is actually the highest one of all—27 feet higher than the Great Pyramid of Cheops. "I'm a pyramid man, and what I've seen now has made me change many things," says Zahi Hawass, the head of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities. "Every history book in every language is going to be rewritten."

Tower/ City (Genesis 11:1-9)

Saji P. George

The story of the tower of Babel narrates a human attempt to build aCITY/ TOWER to create a name for themselves and the divine eruptionthat dismantled the plan by confusing the language. The narrator says,"Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the Lord confusedthe language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered themabroad over the face of all the earth." The story seems to address the curiosity to understand the linguisticdiversity on earth and more perhaps the divergent discourses thatprevents mutual understanding amidst the slaveries, wars and pillagesthat shattered humanity, an experience shared very much by thenarrator's immediate audience.

The narrative took its final redactedshape in the post exilic Judaic community that passed through a tragicmilieu of war and scattering. Like every Genesis story, it is permeated with the eschatology andhope shared by the narrators. The narratives of "Origins" pointtowards the "Futures". In clear contrast to what we read in the story of Babel, Isaiah andMicah prophesized that - "in the last days it shall come to pass,that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in thetop of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; andpeople shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come, and say, Come,and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of theGod of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk inhis paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of theLORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among many people, and rebukestrong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords intoplowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not liftup a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more..."

In certain psalmist visions of Davidic dynasty, the nations of theworld were to come to Jerusalem and offer tribute symbolizingallegiance to Israel. But in the picture drawn by Isaiah as theassembly at Zion, Yahweh dwells as an alluring source of wisdom andjustice and nations are simply drawn by the attractive power of God.The role of the covenant people here, correlates well with thetradition that understand Israel's destiny as humble servants for theblessing of the nations and as a Kingdom of Priests in the covenantalscheme, from which they have deviated in arrogance and pride like thebuilders in the tower story. The 'scattered' are both the Villains(Israel by internal injustice) and Victims in Isaiah. Psalm 87 too shares the vision that even the most entrenched enemiesof Israel were their brethren born at Zion. In Joel the nations areto be judged after cosmic victory by God on account of the sufferingsof his people. In the gospel we read Jesus furthers this vision,where the nations are to be judged on account of what they did to theChrist embodied in those afflicted by the destitution caused byinjustices of worldly power, irrespective of racial/ nationalidentity. Again, in Paul, this day of the Lord is the one which everycreature (hard coded with a survival logic to be embedded in a chainof fear and violence and) bound to decay waits with eager longing -The day of bodily redemption and cosmic salvation. On that day a CITYthat is not a handiwork of men will come down from heaven. Not LikeBabel; it has the glory of God and radiance like a very rare jewel,like jasper, clear as crystal. The messengers of this great news spokein other tongues, signaling the arrival of the ultimate realization ofthe fall of Babel and the radical reversal of the confusion.The space-time of the Lord is out there, perching on the very edges of our world, so imminent and near, ready to break-in and change our lifeworld, say the visionaries. Jesus said it is already among you. Inhumble self-giving service, love and worship we embody this victorious(where death is overpowered) universe and beam its light for thenations and people to see and realize that the shadows cast by themarching of history were but deceptions. Except for those seeminglyunconnected moments when the "Future" broke-in flashing like alightening and we experienced freedom, love and liberation!

Programmes in JULY 2008

1. Ecumenical Forum
In the context of the controversy over the new SCERT textbooks, an ecumenical forum was launched to formulate a faith response to the same and so far three meetings were organised to discuss different aspects of the dispute. The forum will publish the papers presented on the issue as a booklet to reach a wider community.
2. Sister Mercy Kuttianil Remembrance Get-together
A get together was organised on 6 July 2008, 2 pm at the Pennamma Bhavanam, to commemorate late Sister Mercy Kuttianil, who was actively involved in the fish workers’ struggles in the 1980s and 90s. The memories of the peoples’ movements in the 1980s and 90s were shared by the participants and the need for collective action in the contemporary political context was affirmed.
3. Public Lecture: Demigods and Spirituality
With the intention of reaching out the wider public in Tiruvalla, we are organising public lectures on regular basis. The first public lecture was a faith response to the issue of demigods and the false spirituality that is rampant today. It was organised on 19 July 2008, 4pm, at the YMCA Hall, Tiruvalla. Bishop Thomas mar Athanasius delivered the lecture and the session was chaired by Rev. M.J. Joseph, the chairperson of the trust. More than sixty people attended the programme.
4. Film Viewers’ Collective
In association with the Literary Club of the Mar Thoma College, Tiruvalla, a collective of students who are interested in films was launched. The collective will meet on alternative weekends to watch and discuss films. The first meeting of the collective was on Saturday, 26 July 2008, and the Hindi feature film Tare Zameen Par was screened. 18 students are now members of the collective.
5. Pennamma Bhavanam goes Online

We have started a blog (http://www.pennammabhavanam.blogspot.com/) and an online discussion forum (pennammabhavanam@googlegroups.com) to be in constant touch with the global network of friends and well-wishers of Pennamma Bhavanam. We urge all of you to join the discussion forum and to visit the blog.