Caleb
Film: Culture’s Mirror
We live in a society where art is now a form of communication between many different cultures. Living in America, we must realize that we are surrounded by a myriad of cultural expressions that are formed within the smaller families from whence they come. Andy Crouch recognizes this and has made it clear in his book, Culture Making, that we must be cultural creators in the cultures that we live amongst. I have been working in film for almost five years now, taking on many different positions in the production process. As I grow in my filmmaking career I have begun to see the impact that film can make on a culture.
The world likes to revolve around its art, and in some way the art begins to show the expressions of the culture, whether for good or for evil. Dr. Harvie Conn once said that film is ‘culture’s mirror.’ In some way we are able to see the things that are in culture manifested in film, but in the opposite sense we can see ideologies that are developed in film be adopted by culture. Culture is inescapable, and the renewal of culture is our responsibility as believers. We have to return the ultimate expression of culture back to its original purpose, namely Christ Jesus.
I began to see the need to be a cultural changer in the world of film almost as immediately as I had started working. It’s often an interesting dialog when working with a non-Christian that is started simply by the works I have done in the past. The work I do as a filmmaker may not often be considered explicitly Christian, but what I do wish to do is to open the conversation with non-believers. I believe this would be a way that we can see cultural impact being made to the same extent that Paul began to do it in the early churches. He knew and understood the context, and he also knew and understood their philosophies and practices, and many times used those very things to point to Christ.
There are some topics in the film world that bypass any small concept that can be presented. If we as Christians are able to make quality films that meet the criteria of those very basic human concepts that have been ingrained in our system by God himself, then we can begin to see culture shifting towards its original intent. No matter what career path God takes you in you need to be and are commanded by scripture to be constantly renewing your mind so that you may know Christ. In this way you talk through the conversation with culture.
My name is Caleb Childers, and I am a filmmaker. My part in changing culture is to start the chain of conversation or inflict values on the greater conversation in culture on human morality and God. These values can be placed in any film and can exist to start the conversation or to even challenge the church. Either way that it is done, my job as a filmmaker is only completed because my duty as a Christian is completed.
