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A Sacred Look: Becoming Cultural Mystics: Theology of Popular Culture
How should a follower of Christ engage the popular media culture? By becoming a mystic! Sr. Nancy challenges Christians today to delve deep into the rich theological tradition of the church as the root and foundation for recognizing the beauty of God present in all that is truly human. The artists of popular culture sometimes unwittingly seek transcendence while grappling with some of humanity's most profound existential longings. The cultural mystics of today point out those needs of humanity in the culture's artifacts in order to enter into dialogue with those who seek something beyond what this world satisfies. The anthropological-sacramental-incarnational paradigm presented gives us this ability to take a sacred look of the culture and offer the joy of the Gospel, Christ who is the answer of all humanity's yearnings!
"When you see words and phrases like 'cultural mysticism,' 'transcendence,' and 'TV as art' on the contents page, there is an urge to look further. Sister Nancy continues a fine US Christian tradition, both Catholic and the quest for meaning in movies. She extends this search in this social media age to a wide range of communications and popular arts."
--Peter Malone, Cinema Desk, SIGNIS, World Catholic Association for Communication
"Sister Nancy's unique approach to popular culture and spirituality is a revelation. We so seldom think that we can all be theologians and mystics, but Nancy leads us to wonder about God's self-communication and presence in storytelling, and introduces ways of seeing our world that lead to contemplation, reflection, prayer, and action."
--Rose Pacatte, film critic, National Catholic Reporter
"Sister Nancy, in A Sacred Becoming Cultural Mystics, offers a monumental contribution to the literature of spiritual formation and theology of film. . . . This masterful examination of entertainment art as theological source in the service of mysticism deserves wide circulation and a long shelf life."
--Scott Young, President, Culture Connection
Sr. Nancy Usselmann is a Daughter of St. Paul and the Director of the Pauline Center for Media Studies in Los Angeles, California. She is a media literacy education specialist and theologian, a national speaker, blogger, and reviewer of films on bemediamindful.org.
"When you see words and phrases like 'cultural mysticism,' 'transcendence,' and 'TV as art' on the contents page, there is an urge to look further. Sister Nancy continues a fine US Christian tradition, both Catholic and the quest for meaning in movies. She extends this search in this social media age to a wide range of communications and popular arts."
--Peter Malone, Cinema Desk, SIGNIS, World Catholic Association for Communication
"Sister Nancy's unique approach to popular culture and spirituality is a revelation. We so seldom think that we can all be theologians and mystics, but Nancy leads us to wonder about God's self-communication and presence in storytelling, and introduces ways of seeing our world that lead to contemplation, reflection, prayer, and action."
--Rose Pacatte, film critic, National Catholic Reporter
"Sister Nancy, in A Sacred Becoming Cultural Mystics, offers a monumental contribution to the literature of spiritual formation and theology of film. . . . This masterful examination of entertainment art as theological source in the service of mysticism deserves wide circulation and a long shelf life."
--Scott Young, President, Culture Connection
Sr. Nancy Usselmann is a Daughter of St. Paul and the Director of the Pauline Center for Media Studies in Los Angeles, California. She is a media literacy education specialist and theologian, a national speaker, blogger, and reviewer of films on bemediamindful.org.
Kindle Edition
Published April 24, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 19, 2023
A must read for every media fan and critic
So many gems of thoughts, spiritual reflections, and observations of pop culture movies, music, and media. Every point and chapter is thick with examples of stories, vignettes and illustrations to bring the point home. Sr Nancy cultivates her insistent insight that the human hunger for hope and goodness is never far off. It gets muddled and soured, but always comes back, because Christ is forever. When we cultivate the sacred look of the cultural mystic, we begin to discern how truth, beauty, and/or goodness is present in pop culture. As dappled as things are, we gain nothing by decrying all the evil. We must be even more attuned to the goodness within these stories. Sometimes, these good elements are present in spite of the creators' intent. That's because the Holy Spirit is irrepressible. A phenomenal manual for every critic to turn aside from a myopia for flaws, and instead celebrate the noble, beautiful, and excellent.
So many gems of thoughts, spiritual reflections, and observations of pop culture movies, music, and media. Every point and chapter is thick with examples of stories, vignettes and illustrations to bring the point home. Sr Nancy cultivates her insistent insight that the human hunger for hope and goodness is never far off. It gets muddled and soured, but always comes back, because Christ is forever. When we cultivate the sacred look of the cultural mystic, we begin to discern how truth, beauty, and/or goodness is present in pop culture. As dappled as things are, we gain nothing by decrying all the evil. We must be even more attuned to the goodness within these stories. Sometimes, these good elements are present in spite of the creators' intent. That's because the Holy Spirit is irrepressible. A phenomenal manual for every critic to turn aside from a myopia for flaws, and instead celebrate the noble, beautiful, and excellent.
July 25, 2020
Pretty interesting and easy to digest.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews