A New Podcast Takes on the Gangster Motif of Ridley Scott

A New C&PC Podcast takes a look at the blockbuster film American Gangster and asks some hard questions as well as assessing its aesthetic value. Hear what Rich and I thought of the movie and let us know you thoughts in response.

Christ and Pop Culture do the Art Scene

The new C&PC Podcast asks and attempts to answer the question: Is there Good Christian Art?

Check out the new website, listen to the podcast, and let us know your thoughts.

Christ and Pop Culture is Bigger and Better!

C&PC is branching out its short arms, and the project is taking on a new form: that is a research base for Christian engagement in the culture. Rich has developed a new website with regular writers and other contributers to the ministry. The Weekly Podcast will continue but it will be accompanied by blogs and discussions. Check it out!

C&PC: Video Game Evangelism

Christ and Pop Culture has a new episode up. This week Rich and I had special guest Owen Strachan on to talk about "Youth Groups, Halo 3, and the Evangelistic Imperative." When we received news that SBC Churches were encouraging their youth groups to use Halo 3 as an opportunity to share the gospel with young men Rich and I took advantage to again speak to the methodology of Christian engagement of the culture. Hear what Rich and Owen have to say as I ask them questions, and as we give our Top Five Countdown of Misguided Uses of Pop-Culture.

C & PC, and Fairy Potter

So it came as a news flash to the literary world, "Albus Dumbledore" is a homosexual! And your boys at Christ and Pop-Culture were hot on the trail of this news story...well maybe not. But it's an interesting development and it gives me a chance to poke some more fun at Rich's "Harry Potter as a Christ-Figure" Theory. So check it out and leave a comment.

A Halloween Treat from C & PC

If you spent time on Halloween night watching a scary movie then perhaps you'll enjoy a special Halloween treat from Christ and Pop-Culture. In the latest episode of C&PC Rich and I discuss the "Devolution of the Horror Film." Check it out and let us know your thoughts.

C&PC Talk Dumb

The latest edition of Christ & Pop-Culture has Rich and I talking about the strereotypical Dumb Guy of 21st Century pop-culture. Characters from television (like Ray Barone, and Jim Belushi) and from film (Will Ferrel and Seth Rogen), and the implications that they have on the men that watch and applaud them. We also list our top five favorite "stupid" movies. Check it out!

The Kingdom, on C&PC

The popular new film "The Kingdom" has sparked a number of conversations and Rich and I join in on the latest episode of Christ and Pop-Culture. But this isn't your average C&PC conversation, listen in as Rich and I express some genuine disagreement with each other...and I get the chance to poke fun at Rich a bit.

Are You on C & PC?

A new episode of Christ & Pop-Culture is up. In this episode we respond to some of our listener's comments. See if you're one of them! If you'd like to be on the next Listener Feedback episode you can leave a comment on our web page, or leave a voice mail (available at the web-page).

New Post at DECAPOLIS

For anyone interested I've just posted my review of The Kingdom at Decapolis.Com
Everyone but Rich can go and check it out, also look out for an upcoming episode of Christ & Pop-Culture in which Rich and I will be discussing this film.

C&PC Gameday!

Christ & Pop-Culture do football! That's what the latest episode of of our podcast is about. Rich and guest host Keith Goad talk sports, scandals, and theology in American Football. Check it out and let us know what your thoughts are.

The Black Crowe: Thoughts on 3:10 to Yuma (Part 2)

If Christian Bale's character in 3:10 to Yuma marks a pointedly different type of Western Hero, then Russell Crowe adds to the revolutionary status of this film by his portrayal of the complex villain.

As the movie begins we see a very sensitive, if somewhat dastardly Ben Wade (Crowe). He desires a female companion, for more than just physical pleasure, and he appreciates good cowboys (so he lets Peter Fonda's character live in the opening scene). But it is not long before we see just how evil he is. In the mere setting of a sun Ben Wade changes from nice guy, to sadistic murderer as he stabs a sleeping man to death with nothing but a kitchen fork. He is a dangerous man!

It is this interplay between pure evil and simply sweet guy down on his luck that makes Wade so compelling, and of course Russel Crowe pulls it off with ease. The end of the movie only reinvigorates this mixture and compels us as the viewers to both like Wade and hate him at the same time.

My co-host on Christ & Pop-Culture discussed this recently in a podcast we did, and came to the conclusion that what makes Wade so interesting as a character is the that he reminds us of another deceptive villain: Satan. The Bible teaches us that Satan can clothe himself like an angel of light and he can compel the unwitting person to trust him. We know Eve, even in a perfect state, fell for his ploys. Ben Wade not only disarms men and women, but he disarms us at points. He is a truly deceptive villain. Yet there is something more to this character.

For While Wade does throughout the movie show himself to be a "devil" of a man, there is real growth, development, and change. His character goes through several major turning points in the plot and comes out on the other side quite different than anyone could expect. This is what makes Wade so compelling of a character: the sheer spectrum of change that he goes through. Now there have been plenty of movies with good character dynamism and growth, even many where villains go through these changes, but none that are so seamless, and unexpected as 3:10 to Yuma, for in the end of this film we are still left with some elements of the unexpected, and ultimately with a question: Is Ben Wade a good guy or a bad guy? Few movies have that capacity to bring a character through such change and in the end leave us where we started...a man who is either really good, or has yet once again deceived us all.

C&PC Updates

The latest podcast for Christ & Pop-Culture is available now. Our topic is again the subject of Heroes, specifically related to the film 3:10 to Yuma. We discussed previously that Christ is the model for all heroes...see how that conversation relates now to Dan Evans, the hero of this film.

Also we are having a special "you tag us we'll tag you" week. If you link to C&PC this week then we will link to you at our site. So be sure and let us know if you are promoting our show on your blog or website.

Getting Better All the Time...I hope!

Christ & Pop-Culture has another new episode up (I was recently told that my co-host and I are podcast bunnies...I think it was a reference to the rate at which we are putting out shows). This time we tackle the Emmys and wrestle with the question: is there good art on television? We also give our top five most anticipated fall shows. You can give us your top five or just send general feedback to us at christandpopculture@gmail.com or leave a comment on the website.

Also let us know what you think about our new shorter show format, the new look and feel of the website, and the increasing accessibility. You can now listen to the show by phone or leave a message on our voice mail. So let us know...are we getting better?

C&PC: Gaming and the Glory of God

A New Christ & Pop-Culture episode is up. This episode Rich and I discuss Gaming and the Glory of God and asses the evolution of the video game and the Christian response to it.

Also, note that we are changing our format, again, so that we are regularly doing shorter shows (i.e. 20-30 minutes). As one listener has put it, it is the death of "toolongisodes" and the birth or "realisodes." Look for our upcoming episode on 3:10 to Yuma, also.

Christ & Pop-Culture Talk about Heroes

The newest edition of C&PC is up, and our subject is action heroes. What makes a good hero? And what are the problems inherent in the genre. We talk about Jason Bourne as a new kind of Action hero, and give our top five favorite action heroes. Check it out.

Christ and Pop-Culture Minisode!

A new C&PC minisode has been posted at the website. If you've given us some feedback on any of our shows you will want to check it out and see if we read yours on the air and comment. And if you haven't given us any feedback then be sure to check out Christ & Pop-Culture and shoot us an e-mail at christandpopculture@gmail.com

C & PC on Books

There's a new Christ & Pop-Culture episode up. Rich and I have started a new segment on Highlighting Books on Pop-Culture. This week we look at a book by Richard Leonard, a Jesuit priest who reviews films too. See what we think of Movies that Matter.

New Podcast Up

The new Christ & Pop-Culture podcast is up online. Our subject: Adult Cartoons is available for your listening pleasure. Just go to www.christandpopculture.libsyn.com

C&PC Mini-Sodes

Rich has been hard at work editing some Mini Episodes of Christ & Pop-Culture. He has two new mini-sodes up: "Seven, Seven, Oh Seven!" and "The Earth, Live (For Now)"

Check them out and be sure to give us feedback on our website or by e-mailing us at christandpopculture@gmail.com

Look for more episodes forthcoming on topics such as: Ratatouille, the iphone, and a larger episode on cartoons.