Comments on: Medium & Message http://hepburnmusings.wordpress.com/2005/07/25/medium-message/ Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:18:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: Jason "Muffin" Braun http://hepburnmusings.wordpress.com/2005/07/25/medium-message/#comment-12 Jason "Muffin" Braun Tue, 26 Jul 2005 04:28:44 +0000 http://hepburnmusings.wordpress.com/2005/07/25/medium-message/#comment-12 Hey Gil, i'm glad to see that you are now publishing your thoughts within the blogging world. now, i know i wasn't exactly alert all the time in Contemp Thought, but i really do enjoy pondering over these "deep" topics. <br/>i totally agree that the medium affects the message. for example,(Randy would love this) The Lord of the Rings; the books are wonderfuly descriptive, and paints an amazing picture of middle earth. however, the movies, as entertaining as they are, are not nearly as stimulating as the books and don't leave room for the mind to wander into the lives of the characters. the movie totally changes the "feel" and takes away the personal images. thanks for sharing your thoughts, i will be reading often. Hey Gil, i’m glad to see that you are now publishing your thoughts within the blogging world. now, i know i wasn’t exactly alert all the time in Contemp Thought, but i really do enjoy pondering over these “deep” topics.
i totally agree that the medium affects the message. for example,(Randy would love this) The Lord of the Rings; the books are wonderfuly descriptive, and paints an amazing picture of middle earth. however, the movies, as entertaining as they are, are not nearly as stimulating as the books and don’t leave room for the mind to wander into the lives of the characters. the movie totally changes the “feel” and takes away the personal images. thanks for sharing your thoughts, i will be reading often.

]]> By: Gil http://hepburnmusings.wordpress.com/2005/07/25/medium-message/#comment-11 Gil Mon, 25 Jul 2005 20:32:06 +0000 http://hepburnmusings.wordpress.com/2005/07/25/medium-message/#comment-11 Jessica, I think that one of the main values of blogging is for people (like yourself) who find it easier to write their thoughts that verbalize them. I would probably consider myself in the same category. I asked my friend who was selling me on the value of blogging if it would make me a social misfit who was unable to have a real conversation with an actual person. He said that hadn't been his experience. If it becomes my experience then I would stop blogging. My own opinion is that whatever technology we use should help us engage more faithfully with the 'real world' and not less. It's probably too early in the game to tell. I share your curiosity re: our church's love of technology and ambivalence toward the arts. I think technology has the aroma of efficiency to it and we're all about efficiency in the church. What's art good for anyways... The question becomes how the message of the gospel is affected and I think you're right on. Technology helps us manage our world and if we're using a 'manageable' technology to communicate the gospel I think it's inevitable that some of the mystery gets drained out in the process. Jessica, I think that one of the main values of blogging is for people (like yourself) who find it easier to write their thoughts that verbalize them. I would probably consider myself in the same category. I asked my friend who was selling me on the value of blogging if it would make me a social misfit who was unable to have a real conversation with an actual person. He said that hadn’t been his experience. If it becomes my experience then I would stop blogging. My own opinion is that whatever technology we use should help us engage more faithfully with the ‘real world’ and not less. It’s probably too early in the game to tell. I share your curiosity re: our church’s love of technology and ambivalence toward the arts. I think technology has the aroma of efficiency to it and we’re all about efficiency in the church. What’s art good for anyways… The question becomes how the message of the gospel is affected and I think you’re right on. Technology helps us manage our world and if we’re using a ‘manageable’ technology to communicate the gospel I think it’s inevitable that some of the mystery gets drained out in the process.

]]> By: Luke http://hepburnmusings.wordpress.com/2005/07/25/medium-message/#comment-10 Luke Mon, 25 Jul 2005 20:30:37 +0000 http://hepburnmusings.wordpress.com/2005/07/25/medium-message/#comment-10 Gil, Well among the many things that I do out here in the bush I also have some random encounters with very secular ideals. The whole idea of the medium and the message caught my attention because last night I was sharing a hotel room with two guys from my treeplanting crew. Now both are into a terrible little show called south park. Now they put on a episode called something like the passion of the Jew. I was kinda reading on the bed beside and trying to block it out but it started to interest me in a certain way. The episode although extremely crude and I do not wish anyone to watch it, showed me a secular view to how people have interpreted the Passion of the Christ. This concept of the medium and the message was brought up by the characters in the show in saying that Mel Gibson has forced Christianity on people and there were some very sarcastic comments made on how this movie was such a good way to help others come to Christ. All in all I did not catch the point of the show because it was rude and crude and pointless, but the idea of other's being able to misinterpret a message that is given through the visual medium is really intersting. It make's me think how much more the Bible is the foundation for communication through written word. It also struck me how sad it is to see these guys (the two room mates I am staying with) watch these shows and agree with their small idea of a moral message. Proper communication is so important when thinking about how to reach those who need to hear about Christ. Gil, Well among the many things that I do out here in the bush I also have some random encounters with very secular ideals. The whole idea of the medium and the message caught my attention because last night I was sharing a hotel room with two guys from my treeplanting crew. Now both are into a terrible little show called south park. Now they put on a episode called something like the passion of the Jew. I was kinda reading on the bed beside and trying to block it out but it started to interest me in a certain way. The episode although extremely crude and I do not wish anyone to watch it, showed me a secular view to how people have interpreted the Passion of the Christ. This concept of the medium and the message was brought up by the characters in the show in saying that Mel Gibson has forced Christianity on people and there were some very sarcastic comments made on how this movie was such a good way to help others come to Christ. All in all I did not catch the point of the show because it was rude and crude and pointless, but the idea of other’s being able to misinterpret a message that is given through the visual medium is really intersting. It make’s me think how much more the Bible is the foundation for communication through written word. It also struck me how sad it is to see these guys (the two room mates I am staying with) watch these shows and agree with their small idea of a moral message. Proper communication is so important when thinking about how to reach those who need to hear about Christ.

]]> By: Gil http://hepburnmusings.wordpress.com/2005/07/25/medium-message/#comment-9 Gil Mon, 25 Jul 2005 20:25:06 +0000 http://hepburnmusings.wordpress.com/2005/07/25/medium-message/#comment-9 Clayton your definition of 'silly' is just fine with me. I guess I just had in mind the assumption that every single detail of my life is fair game for the blog. Not everything about my life is interesting and if I posted every thought that popped into my head I would have a short career as a blogger. That's the main danger of the internet, there's no limit to what we as a culture can 'publish'. The result is that internet can become a garbage dump of useless information. Good thoughts here. I like your analysis of the distinction between visual and print media and how they, by definition, lead to greater and lesser depth. You'll make a fine Contemporary Thought student... Clayton your definition of ’silly’ is just fine with me. I guess I just had in mind the assumption that every single detail of my life is fair game for the blog. Not everything about my life is interesting and if I posted every thought that popped into my head I would have a short career as a blogger. That’s the main danger of the internet, there’s no limit to what we as a culture can ‘publish’. The result is that internet can become a garbage dump of useless information. Good thoughts here. I like your analysis of the distinction between visual and print media and how they, by definition, lead to greater and lesser depth. You’ll make a fine Contemporary Thought student…

]]> By: Jessica http://hepburnmusings.wordpress.com/2005/07/25/medium-message/#comment-8 Jessica Mon, 25 Jul 2005 19:59:22 +0000 http://hepburnmusings.wordpress.com/2005/07/25/medium-message/#comment-8 Blogging is the first thing I've really done on the internet (other than email and banking). Things like MSN messenger really tick me off - I find them annoying and kind of a time waster. <br/>Blogging fo me has been really fun and an outlet to express some of the ideas I'm mulling around in my head. Often during intense conversations with friends and family, I have trouble expressing what I really think about certain issues. With the Blog, I can spend time formulating intellegent answers and questions. Is this unhealthy? Am I just enabling myself in avoiding opputunities to actually speak?<br/><br/>Anyway, another beef with technology - Why is it that evangelical churches are so keen on introducing technologies like websites and powerpoint but so hesitent to use the visual arts in a meaningful way?<br/>We're so obsessed with using the technologies of the business world. Is the media we choose to put across our message cheapenning the power and mystery of the gospel? Blogging is the first thing I’ve really done on the internet (other than email and banking). Things like MSN messenger really tick me off - I find them annoying and kind of a time waster.
Blogging fo me has been really fun and an outlet to express some of the ideas I’m mulling around in my head. Often during intense conversations with friends and family, I have trouble expressing what I really think about certain issues. With the Blog, I can spend time formulating intellegent answers and questions. Is this unhealthy? Am I just enabling myself in avoiding opputunities to actually speak?

Anyway, another beef with technology - Why is it that evangelical churches are so keen on introducing technologies like websites and powerpoint but so hesitent to use the visual arts in a meaningful way?
We’re so obsessed with using the technologies of the business world. Is the media we choose to put across our message cheapenning the power and mystery of the gospel?

]]> By: claytonhttp://claytoon.angeltowns.net http://hepburnmusings.wordpress.com/2005/07/25/medium-message/#comment-7 claytonhttp://claytoon.angeltowns.net Mon, 25 Jul 2005 19:32:21 +0000 http://hepburnmusings.wordpress.com/2005/07/25/medium-message/#comment-7 Gil, I'm totally with you on this, the medium definately affects the message, and also how we process this message in some ways. Like, when we watch something on TV, I think we are more likely to associate the thoughts with images and sounds, which in turn restricts our thoughts to what we have experienced there. The writen word, however, tends to allow for a lot more free thought and interpretation. Visual media is great for getting the basic message or idea out there in one tiny package, where as the writen word definately allow for deeper explanation and can lead to further investigation I find.<br/><br/>This is definately something to think about for me too, I can definately respect your decision to restrict your entries to thoughts that you feel are worth discussing. So far, you've done a nice job of that.<br/><br/>Just for clarification, when you refered to 'silly' writings, I take that you meant frivolous, non-sensical, or lacking substance? Gil, I’m totally with you on this, the medium definately affects the message, and also how we process this message in some ways. Like, when we watch something on TV, I think we are more likely to associate the thoughts with images and sounds, which in turn restricts our thoughts to what we have experienced there. The writen word, however, tends to allow for a lot more free thought and interpretation. Visual media is great for getting the basic message or idea out there in one tiny package, where as the writen word definately allow for deeper explanation and can lead to further investigation I find.

This is definately something to think about for me too, I can definately respect your decision to restrict your entries to thoughts that you feel are worth discussing. So far, you’ve done a nice job of that.

Just for clarification, when you refered to ’silly’ writings, I take that you meant frivolous, non-sensical, or lacking substance?

]]> By: clayton http://hepburnmusings.wordpress.com/2005/07/25/medium-message/#comment-1601 clayton Mon, 25 Jul 2005 19:32:21 +0000 http://hepburnmusings.wordpress.com/2005/07/25/medium-message/#comment-1601 Gil, I'm totally with you on this, the medium definately affects the message, and also how we process this message in some ways. Like, when we watch something on TV, I think we are more likely to associate the thoughts with images and sounds, which in turn restricts our thoughts to what we have experienced there. The writen word, however, tends to allow for a lot more free thought and interpretation. Visual media is great for getting the basic message or idea out there in one tiny package, where as the writen word definately allow for deeper explanation and can lead to further investigation I find.<br/><br/>This is definately something to think about for me too, I can definately respect your decision to restrict your entries to thoughts that you feel are worth discussing. So far, you've done a nice job of that.<br/><br/>Just for clarification, when you refered to 'silly' writings, I take that you meant frivolous, non-sensical, or lacking substance? Gil, I’m totally with you on this, the medium definately affects the message, and also how we process this message in some ways. Like, when we watch something on TV, I think we are more likely to associate the thoughts with images and sounds, which in turn restricts our thoughts to what we have experienced there. The writen word, however, tends to allow for a lot more free thought and interpretation. Visual media is great for getting the basic message or idea out there in one tiny package, where as the writen word definately allow for deeper explanation and can lead to further investigation I find.

This is definately something to think about for me too, I can definately respect your decision to restrict your entries to thoughts that you feel are worth discussing. So far, you’ve done a nice job of that.

Just for clarification, when you refered to ’silly’ writings, I take that you meant frivolous, non-sensical, or lacking substance?

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