Lauren Schaaf- Les Miserables
It is interesting that in today's society, churches in Europe are thought to be some of the most beautiful architecture and contains some of the most famous art work. In one of the clips we watched, the pastor takes a homeless man into the church and provides him money and food. It appears this beauty is not meant to be taken for granted. In many ways, it appears the pastor is complying with the values in the bible of acceptance and caring for God's people.
Perhaps the act of the the pastor is the most beautiful part of the church. The only behavior that we've talked about in class as art is dance. All of human action is maybe not art but it may be beautiful in its own right. Church has a special appreciation for art with its use of paintings, stain glass, and hymns. In class we talked a little about music as a type of art and this is seen in hymns in church.
In the reading, he was a very generous man who gave back. He allowed Jean Valjean to avoid prison and expose him to God's mercy in love in hopes of turning his life around. In the pastor's eyes, he probably saw this man's action as hell-worthy, but also probably acted similar to God in the way he forgave him and gave him a chance to redeem himself.
The camera work in this movie is also art. In Jean Valjean's soliloquy, it starts out with his face taking up most of the scene as if to symbolize that he only thinks of himself and cares only about his needs and stealing for himself. However, at the end of the scene, he rips up a his parole paper and the camera zones out and shows the church on a mountain top. Jean Valjean looks small as if he has finally understood his place in the context of the world around him.
Perhaps the act of the the pastor is the most beautiful part of the church. The only behavior that we've talked about in class as art is dance. All of human action is maybe not art but it may be beautiful in its own right. Church has a special appreciation for art with its use of paintings, stain glass, and hymns. In class we talked a little about music as a type of art and this is seen in hymns in church.
In the reading, he was a very generous man who gave back. He allowed Jean Valjean to avoid prison and expose him to God's mercy in love in hopes of turning his life around. In the pastor's eyes, he probably saw this man's action as hell-worthy, but also probably acted similar to God in the way he forgave him and gave him a chance to redeem himself.
The camera work in this movie is also art. In Jean Valjean's soliloquy, it starts out with his face taking up most of the scene as if to symbolize that he only thinks of himself and cares only about his needs and stealing for himself. However, at the end of the scene, he rips up a his parole paper and the camera zones out and shows the church on a mountain top. Jean Valjean looks small as if he has finally understood his place in the context of the world around him.
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