food, the meal & the life of the world

the fruit of the evening: the next 12 pages will take less time than the intro and thesis...

Everyone eats but only within the last century has food choice become such an overwhelming yet quotidial reality for so many people. Whereas, historically and still in some parts of the world, people ate traditional recipes prepared with local ingredients we now experience the hyper accessibility of diverse cuisines and ranges of food quality that creates a double consumption: we are marketed to as consumers before we consume anything into our bodies. To avoid complete paralysis in the grocery store, we become passive in our food “choices” by eating essentially what we have been conditioned to crave. After half a century of processing the life right out of our food, society is slowly waking up to the physical and emotional health issues that now plague us because of our eating habits. More recently we are beginning to consider the disastrous implication of our meals upon our planet. Increasingly, we are becoming aware of the connection between our diet and the life of the world.
In this paper I will examine Orthodox Eucharistic theology, which extends beyond the liturgical practice of communion to a sacramental presence of the church in the world. To the extent that this is true, meal-times become an extension of the Table of the Lord and are the space for the practice of eating habits that engage the life of the world. The practical movement out of this work is a call to theologically informed eating that brings life and health to our bodies and souls, families and communities, systems and planet. We are what we eat.

Amy Stein- "Domesticated" series

This is cool: Domesticated

from her website: "My photographs serve as modern dioramas of our new natural history. Within these scenes I explore our paradoxical relationship with the "wild" and how our conflicting impulses continue to evolve and alter the behavior of both humans and animals. We at once seek connection with the mystery and freedom of the natural world, yet we continually strive to tame the wild around us and compulsively control the wild within our own nature. Within my work I examine the primal issues of comfort and fear, dependence and determination, submission and dominance that play out in the physical and psychological encounters between man and the natural world. Increasingly, these encounters take place within the artificial ecotones we have constructed that act as both passage and barrier between domestic space and the wild."

"death and biology" by phillip fivel

stumbled upon this piece and i've been thinking about it all day. brilliant. brilliant. brilliant. wanted to share it. bye.

fruit of the spirit series up...

the "fruit of the spirit" series is finally up on el nellis dot com. i think this is my favorite.

prophetic art

"Rather than reinforcing the teachings, stories, or values of the church, the [prophetic] artist may challenge the church and confront the viewer with disturbing images which raise profound moral questions that religion cannot ignore... Calling this kind of work ‘prophetic’ doesn’t mean it isn’t edifying or even pious, however. Indeed, some would say that ‘prophetic’ art is the most edifying or pious- even the most devotional- kind of art. Some would even say it is the most authentically ‘beautiful’ because it is the most manifestly ‘true.’” (p. 97)

Jensen, Robin Margaret. "Beyond the Decorative and Didactic: The Uses of Art in the Church." In The Substance of Things Seen: Art, Faith, and the Christian Community, 75-100. Grand Rapids, Mich.: William B. Eerdmans Pub., 2004.

Dark Knight: analysis of the "face of evil"

My friend Todd just posted a great analysis of portrayal of evil in The Dark Knight. I found it helpful amidst the hum of praise for the film. I saw it too, thought it was amazing as well, but was also left wanting more. Todd is able to speak to that.

"the fruit of the spirit"

the fruit of the spirit
india ink on paper
images copyright: phil nellis, 2008.

here's the new stuff i was talking about last week. (thanks mackenzie for the photos!) for individual shots, check my art site soon.

psalters

worship music in general, either on cd or in church, has always been confusing to me in many ways. i have some baggage there i guess... as well as some thoughtful critique. that is a conversation for another time.
i stumbled across a nomadic group of thundering, chanting, medatative liturgists recently: psalters. via enjoyment of the sheer musical brilliance and originality, i have found myself swept into an unfamiliar and quite worshipful space while listening to them. they sound like "the percussive clank of chain links attached to dozens of defiant stomping feet across the marbled business floor desert, fists raised high, open mouthed screaming brittle sirens over the hum of computers, air filtration systems and the muddy thud of a thousand apathetic hearts. . ." and their lyrics are mostly psalms, creeds and ancient prayers.

Romulus, My Father (2007)

an eastern european family has emigrated to australia. a good, simple and morally concrete father. a borderline mother who is torn between her desire for her family and her addiction to sexually acting out. a tragically triangulated 9 year old boy who bears the lion's-share of the emotional havoc in the family. based on a true story and book, a memoir written by the adult son about his father and childhood, tells the tale of the levels of violence and pathology a family can be driven to... great film. i want to move to australia- the open sky, the gnarled old trees, the general color palate.