Taking a look around

In Bevans’ discussion of the Synthetic model, I was finally satisfied. Up until this point, I was frustrated with the holes that were left with the exclusive usage of individual models. This model uses the best features of all the other models, with special emphasis on the translation model, which to me was the most significant individual approach. As Bevans says, this approach is a “middle-of-the-road model”. That may be why I like it, it is balanced. This method may also be the most applicable and realistic, since few people use theology in exclusive ways, there will usually be a certain degree of blending.

“People are weary of words” This statement in class made me think. Words can only begin to paint a picture, action really finishes and illuminates a canvas. When words are not backed up or acted out, they begin to lose their meaning. People have heard many words about God, many theories, and calls to help the poor, but may not even know what these things look like. In our day and age, action will give meaning to words, and not vice-versa.

I enjoyed doing the “Western” exercise in class today. I’ve often thought about how most movies of similar genres have the same basic structure or “langue” as we learned in class. However, the “parole” or the specific details depend on the individual movie. When a genre departs from the standard structure, it often gains critical acclaim for going against popular expectations. We looked at movies to better understand our language, we are saying many of the same things, but in different ways.

“The sentiment that a person is the brand-named commodities they cocoon themselves within is more widespread that most would willingly admit, at least about themselves” p. 184

Cobb’s discussion of “accessorized identities” was fascinating since we all fall into this. Our primary way of constructing identity is like we are “shopping for a self”. We are defining ourselves by what products we consume and are subscribing to a certain lifestyle as a way to set ourselves apart from others.

Especially interesting was the discussion of people who seek to resist the enticements of advertising and brands. These people reject shopping at Starbucks, McDonalds and having an SUV, and instead will go to independent coffee shops, drive Vespas and old Volvos, watch art-house films and eat whole foods.

These anti-brand and anti-logo people actually end up where they started, using consumption as the primary way to define self. As Cobb says, “even non-brands have become a brand”.
Funny thing is, I see myself in Cobb’s description sometimes.

“How often do we live in pursuit of the simulacra. In pursuit of that which is not real.”

Mark had some great things to say this week.
http://chasepoetic.wordpress.com/

I recently heard the story about how Charlie Chaplin once entered a Charlie Chaplin look-a-like contest and came in third place. This is the ultimate picture of hyperreality. We are fed the image of what something should look like (happiness, love, sex, beauty) and rely on that image to guide our lives and desires. We become so convinced that this projected image of reality is real that we become dissatisfied with all else. This is perhaps why our society, though we have great wealth, is one of the most depressed and medicated in the world.

“Praxis thinking”, however, insists that real theory emerges out of action and evokes more responsible, more real activity. Pg. 81