Infinite Bandwidth: Encountering Christ in the Media

by Eugene Gan

Franciscan University of Steubenville Professor Eugene Gan authors this first-of-its-kind Catholic roadmap for the digital Infinite Encountering Christ in the Media . He navigates you faithfully through the digital world, encouraging frustrated parents not to throw out cell phones, ban the Internet, chuck computers, or pitch portable media devices. That would be a mistake and believe it or not would be going against more than seven decades of Catholic teaching. From Church documents on social communications, Gan extracts seven principles or media keys of how to approach and use media. The Church and Gan say that we must enter into the modern day Areopagus, the social and intellectual hub of ancient Athens where Paul preached to pagans, and use the media tools God has given us to make truth known and serve mankind. Cardinal John Patrick Foley says, Frankly, I wish that such a book had existed when I was president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications as a text which I could have recommended. The important thing, however, is that it exists now to provide a text, context, and challenge for those who wish to bring both Christian principles and professional excellence to their work in the media. Gan offers chapter after chapter of real-life experience of how to assess movies, games, and gadgets for you and your teens. Of how to judge the merits of a film like Saving Private Ryan , and what sets it apart from Nightmare on Elm Street . Can the one be acceptable viewing and the other not? Definitely. And Gan details why. Infinite Encountering Christ in the Media is way out front of the newest gizmo and will stay there thanks to its timeless principles that can be applied in all digital terrain, now and the future. Parents, educators, and students will put this book down with an entirely different attitude about the relationship between faith and media use.

Genres: Nonfiction

144 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2010

Reviews

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Through the use of 7 media keys, we are given a guide for discernment and use of the media to discover, use and make known the truth. "In the eyes of John Paul II, media is the areopagus of today, the place where Catholics are called to go and engage the culture so that it might come to know and be transformed by Christ." The Church has given us 7 media keys to educate us and equip us to use media in the right ways and for the right ends. This book tells us how to judge the media. An excellent guide in helping one to judge all means of communications. It should direct us to all that is good, true and beautiful.

[Alicia Bernal · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compendium of incalculable value for all "Netizens", a book laying out the essential and most basic power of well-informed and enlightened choices we make in a highly secular and digitally advanced world.

[Abi Mello · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Infinite Bandwidth” not only provides step-by-step instruction on how to approach the media from a Catholic perspective, it also provides modern examples and thought-provoking questions that allow readers to become engaged with the text while applying the media keys and concepts to their own lives. The seven media keys are spelled out individually with real examples from movies, television, and news stories. Bringing the media keys to life in these examples is what drives home Gan’s explanations and packs a punch that reaches the audience.



Each chapter concludes with steps that can be easily implemented in household life, public forums, and even personal life. The questions proposed at the end of the chapter allowed me, personally, to look inward and analyze the media that I have allowed myself to view or be exposed to. I was able to look back on opportunities that I had to allow Christ into my media consumption and usage, recognizing times where perhaps I could have gone an extra step further and helped evangelize to others through media platforms.



“Infinite Bandwidth: Encountering Christ in the Media” should be every Catholic family’s guide to media and internet usage. With the rise of apps like Tik Tok and Snapchat, that provide little to no filter or parental censoring, encouraging today’s youth to imitate Christ and hold themselves accountable to moral standards is more important than ever.

[Sarah]

Doctor Eugene Gan’s book, Infinite Bandwidth presents the teachings of the Catholic Church in a new and modern way. It is taking the old teaching and showing people how the Catholic Church is still relevant in today's digital age. Doctor Eugene highlights seven media keys and explains how to evangelizes and engage with media as well as, how to use media and not have media use you.
I enjoyed this book and it is teaching. This book despite it being Catholic teaching can be used and applied to all people despite your faith. It has tools that will help guide you in the ways of using media and how to be a better person. It gives your explanations and real examples that we are all familiar with or can relate with.
To conclude, I think that anyone who uses media every day should read this book. Too many times a day, I see myself looking at my phone to pass the time when I could be doing something more productive. I know that I am not the only one who does this. If you feel like you spend too much time on technology or just are wanting a change of pace. I highly recommend that you read this book.

[Thomas Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Infinite Bandwidth: Encountering Christ in the Media, by Dr. Eugene Gan, is a must-have book for anyone who is living in this media saturated day of age. Gan explains the 7 Media Keys in such depth, with great explanation in ways that the keys are applicable to our own use of media. Through Gan’s work, it is conveyed how we are to use and view the media for the betterment of not only our lives but also the spread of the Gospel. One of Dr. Gan’s points that stuck with me the most is, that we have control over the media and if we lose that control, that means the media will then control us. Dr. Gan conveys extremely well, that the Catholic Church gives a precise understanding of the role we have as Christians in the media and how we are to use it to its full potential as a gift from God. Media can and should be used as a tool of evangelization. Media is the language of today, and we need to speak that language to do as we are instructed to do as Christians, and that is to make disciples of all men.

[Cameron Cashiola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Infinite Bandwidth, written by Dr. Eugene Gan, gives an excellent look on two things: our use of media as Christians, but also our use of media as humans. The book outlines seven media keys in which we are encouraged and challenged to implement, or at least reflect on in our future use of the media. This book is not one driven out of mere opinion, but by research. Between documents from the Catholic Church and secular research, each chapter provides a well rounded study of faith and reason, giving us readers a challenge to take back to our own use of media. For Catholic readers, this book challenges us to reflect on how we are glorifying God through media, rather than falling to either pride or potentially immoral acts through what we have been given. For non-Catholics, this book still gives reason for reflection of proper use of all forms of media, using the seven keys of media as a guide. Infinite Bandwidth is one of great research, reflection, witness, and application as it proclaims the Gospel from the traditions of the Church.

[Daniel K · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 7 media keys are a guideline on how to spread truth and goodness in this new era of online media. It is clearly laid out what these keys mean, how to use them, and their origins in scripture. Thus, if someone asks you why you follow them, you can clearly explain each and every one. I learned a lot while reading this book and would recommend for others to check it out. We could all use these keys a bit more in this day and age, since with internet anonymity it is easy to lose sight of the person or people on the other side of what we post. Check it out!

[Luke Maloney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Today, people spend a lot of time in front of a screen, often times compromising their priorities and morals. In Dr. Gan’s book Infinite Bandwidth: Encountering Christ in the Media, Dr. Gan lays out 7 Keys, or points, that help us discern the way that we use this media: in order to form ourselves, instead of being broken down by it. In today’s culture, we are flooded with all sorts of media, harmful and good. It is critical to discern how media is affecting us, or else we will be taken over by it. Not only can we be subjected to this media, but our relationships and those we are with can also be harmed by this tool, unless used correctly. This book is very needed in today’s world and is a one-of-a-kind book. It is also vital for every family across the map. I liked how at the end of explaining each key to discerning the media, Dr. Gan asks impactful questions that give you an easy guide to discern how you are being affected by the media, how you are not following that specific key, or how a certain media was helping you to grow in virtue. Some examples of these impactful questions are “Has media brought me closer to others?” “Does this media inspire me to hope or to despair?” Simply taking a minute or two and answering these questions is so powerful, and quickly showed me the areas in which I need to improve. Asking and answering these questions is crucial to the well-being of all, to the stop of addictions to the media, and to the forming of every person.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really loved this book! Very informative and had a lot of information