catapult magazine

catapult magazine
 

discussion

american beauty

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grant
May 09 2003
06:40 am

eventhough the title might be meant to say that you can find beauty right where you’re at if you know how and where to look, I don’t think this is nearly the kind of beauty that one is supposed to find as a Christian in a materialistic culture (and perhaps Christians shouldn’t strive for beauty at all). Instead, the movie seems to suggest that it’s all relative. So, when you’re dead, then you’ll see like the narrator sees things. What a ridiculously unhelpful notion! I liked this movie, but it makes me mad.

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cvk
Sep 11 2008
12:38 pm

Awe and wonder are from Greek and German influence? We should questions them? Am I understanding what you are saying?
Didn’t most of us memorize this already as children?

O Lord, our lord,how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory above the heavens
Frm the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise.

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?

I just quoted select verses from Psalm 8. But I think looking for wonder in the world is a huge part of our calling.
Romans 8 states that all people may know God through the creation. Verse 19, 20.: “since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plaing to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understtod from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”

How we define beauty may be culturally biased but that we seek beauty is part of our longing for wholeness. God has put eternity in our hearts and I think most cultures would think that an apple blossom or a dew coated spider’s web is beautiful. But through grace, we can also find awe and wonder, beauty in the works of man-liturature, paintings, film . Like a plastic bag floating in the breeze. That was one of the most breath taking pieces of film I have ever seen! How beautiful the mundane can be.
I loved/hated American Beauty. The overwhelming sinfulness made me shudder but the small pieces of beauty shown here and there to me were hints of salvation. I know that the film makers did not have that intent but that is what I took from it.