The Academy Awards are presented at month’s end so we are going to focus a little on movies. And here we go again, not unlike with Moneyball, we are offering another movie metaphor for the field.
The Artist is getting a lot of buzz during movie award season having already won the Golden Globe as Best Motion Picture – Comedy Or Musical. It is a different movie- both black and white and silent but a beautiful movie and, as with all good movies, demands that you actually pay attention.
It starts with silent movie star George Valentin and a chance encounter with the young and effervescent Peppy Miller. She transforms her moment within his limelight into a film career not unlike that of her mentor. Yet, there is a difference. Times change and with then comes the talkies.
The technology, the culture, the audiences desire change. Valentin can’t make the transition and Peppy does. "Out with the old, in with the new," Peppy suggests. At a key point, Valentin actually makes the gesture (it is a silent film) of ‘making way’ for Peppy and dramatically takes
There are certainly a few “finding your voice” puns peppered throughout the movie. And Valentin’s career and life are going down in flames. Throughout, however, Peppy has been able to honor the past and the crux of the movie depends if she will be able to return the voiceless legend into significance within Hollywoodland.
Here’s the connection. Welcome to the “talkies generation” of youth culture. Yet, will the Church help this generation find a voice in the spiritual areas/ theater of the lives? Youth ministry needs to be the Peppy connection between generations, honoring all, giving voice and offering hope.
And… “With pleasure” has to our punchline as well. We do ministry, we do life, we do Church not out of expectation, obligation or guilt but because we have discovered it is the source of our happiness… and, of any change, suggested above… that might be the most significant of all.