Media and religion
Responsible imagination
Hess’ definition of ‘responsible imagination’ is based on the studies of leading policy shapers such as Laurent Daloz, James Keen, Cheryl Keen, and Sharon Parks. Their studies were targeted at establishing “what if anything people who had long committed their lives to the public good had in common. It is the opinion of the researchers and the belief of Hess that responsible imagination entails composing reality in such a manner that takes into account the calls to help, dream, catalyze, think hard, and love well. The imagination is one that resists any prejudice together with its distancing tendencies on one hand, and does well to avoid messianic ambitions coupled with their engulfing habits on the other (Hess). Such imaginations are said to be active and open, progressively striving for further comprehension of the whole self, the entire commons along with the language with which to communicate them.
Hess regards the above as ‘responsible imagination’ in a couple of ways. First, she cites that they strive to respect the very process of imagination not only in themselves but also in others. This is because much attention is paid to dissonance and contradiction, specifically those that show injustice and undiscovered potential.
Secondly, Hess attributes ‘responsible imagination’ as one that seeks out sources of worthy sources. It stems from the realization that finding and being found through fitting images both requires having access to them and maintaining discretion and responsible hospitality (Hess). This applies to both those that are attractive and the unfamiliar or initially unsettling.
Hess argues that the media education tools can be employed to shape a responsible imagination tools. The author first gives an example from the last chapter of the book of Luke that tells of the journey to Emmaus by two of Jesus’ disciples. Hess uses the story to underscore the point that the Media can use openness to experiencing God on a daily basis through engaging in interpretive dialogue among people with differences together with sharing hospitality to bring about a transformative framework in popular culture.
Secondly, Hess holds that the media should serve to help people re-encounter, and re-interpret, or introduce the scriptural database of society’s shared Christian heritage. This is because it is greatly liberating and energizing to work from popular culture texts into scripture and reverse again (Hess). This is something that the media can achieve through openness to critical engagement with difference.
Thirdly, Hess suggests that the Media needs to find ways in which to reclaim and rebuild aspects of spiritual culture with the aim of promoting insight and resonant realization of belonging in faith community. She regrets that we presently dwell in a media/electronic culture that is rich in music, bodily posture, image, and other systems of communication which has served to drive us to reason more in sympathetic identification as opposed to philosophical reasoning.
Religion/spirituality in selling things
Ad link: http://www.prlog.org/11904820-south-florida-company-designs-religious-shirts-that-spread-christian-teachings-in-subtle-way.html
Behold! Here comes high quality Christian t-shirts whose designs are not explicitly religious but harbor a deeper message. The t-shirts have been designed by Pi-e-t, a new Christian apparel company based in South Florida. The message is electronically encoded and integrated in the design requiring a person to use a smartphone to scan the t-shirt so as to access the whole biblical passage that inspired the design itself. The t-shirts are available for both men and women.
According to the vice president and designer, the intention is to raise curiosity and have people wonder what the t-shirt is all about. It would be a great way of spreading the teaching of Christ in a less pushy manner.
References:
Hess, E. Mary. Media literacy as a support for the development of a responsible imagination in religious community. July 1999, Retrieved from: http://mrcproject.org/english/hessrelima.htm
