Steve's on

On Watching Theology, Joe, Duke, and Melissa take a single film and examine it closely, looking at the assumptions and ideas in the story. Every episode considers the theological, philosophical and thematic elements of a film, listening closely to what the author has to say, and interacting with those ideas. (It's more fun than it sounds).

Joe watches too many movies. He grew up in central Washington, earned his B.A. in Education and Fine Art, an M.A. in Theology and is currently completing an M.A. in English Literature. He's smuggled film classes into each degree. He is interested in writing, theology and hopes to one day compose the ultimate Joe Versus the Volcano commentary track.

Melissa has a B.A. in History and an M.A. in English with an emphasis on Film Studies. She has taken classes on everything from silent to romance to post-colonial films and much in between. Her research and interests lie mainly in feminist film theory, women in film, Hitchcock and the studio era. At the end of the day, however, she just loves films; from Notorious to Die Hard!
Duke enjoys the way movies can tell stories like no other medium. He is an amatuer critic that loves the atmosphere of the theater and the taste of overpriced popcorn. He loves a good story and appreciates the effort and skill of good story tellers. He is a nerd at heart and a sucker for heist movies. He hopes to see every good movie and lampoon every bad movie ever made before he dies.

Contact the hosts at mail@watchingtheology.com for more information.

Show DescriptionWatching Theology

The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus (2009)

Watching Theology December 22nd, 2010

wt_406_parnassus_e.jpgIt seems like everything connected with Terry Gilliam is cursed. This edition of Watching Theology is no exception. Five months in planning, viewing, and construction, the Doctor Parnassus program finally emerges for public listening. On this show, you'll hear Duke and Joe discuss whether they're just a bunch of miserable movie haters, whether Terry Gilliam is really that interesting a director, and how Gilliam's The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus might just be a beautiful mess (Joe also rambles on about how 80s movies might make great future episodes). Is the movie a traditional western "deal with the devil" story or something entirely new and inventive? There's only one way to find out: listen to this, the final episode of season 4. [04.06]

NOW AVAILABLE: Watching, a film book by Joe and Melissa Johnson (Free pdf. Print version also available through Amazon)

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The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Watching Theology July 21st, 2010

wt_405_wizard.jpgLoved by millions, generation after generation, The Wizard of Oz remains a symbol of the wonder film can inspire. It is the magical tale of a poor farm girl brought to a Technicolor land of munchkins, witches, and flying monkeys. The story has the power to likewise transport the viewer "over the rainbow" into a land of possibility. And now, all that's over. In this episode Joe and Duke conclude their "Cave" series by looking at how The Wizard of Oz is just another tale of illusion and deception and that Oz and its wizard are part of a conspiracy to mock reality. Bah humbug! This episode is the fifth in "The Cave" series, an examinations of films that feature Utopias, Delusions, and Deceptions. [04.05]

NOW AVAILABLE: Watching, a film book by Joe and Melissa Johnson (also available through Amazon)

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WTG: The Lion King

Watching Theology June 27th, 2010

A G-rated Watching Theology. We're not saying that WT isn't for general audiences, but this version is designed for a younger listener. Join Watching Theology G with Joe and his daughter Elaina. Together, they look at the ideas in films from both an adult's and a child's world. What does The Lion King have to say about family, dying, and leadership?  [WTG01]

Note: the regular Watching Theology will return as soon as Joe and Duke quit messing around and record it.

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Gattaca (1997)

Watching Theology May 6th, 2010

Remember Y2K? In the 1990s, movies were obsessed with the future and what it was like to live at the end of time. Gattaca is no exception. Andrew Niccol's film imagines a near-future in which people's worth is determined by their genetic code and Ethan Hawke doesn't have the right DNA. But he has a dream, a little money, and a lot of determination. On this episode we look at the genetically-enhanced future as a new "cave" - just another way of forming another Eden. Will … (Read More)

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The Truman Show (1998)

Watching Theology March 8th, 2010

Call it satire, call it an allegory, but The Truman Show is about something. In this production-delayed episode Duke and Joe look over Peter Weir's oddly prophetic take on television. Join us as we examine how Jim Carey represents a helpless philosophical captive striving for enlightenment, a brave seeker battling demonic forces, or an innocent thinker tormented by a cruel deity. How does a satire on reality television turn into an adaptation of Plato's Republic? Step into our "ca … (Read More)

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The Village (2004)

Watching Theology January 19th, 2010

People respond to trauma in different ways. Some find religion. Others re-evaluate their priorities. Some people, like those in M. Night Shyamalan's The Village, put themselves into an isolated 19th century town hiding away from the world. In this edition, Duke and Joe look at Shyamalan's parable of fear through the Watching Theology lens and ask, "What's the difference between a mythology of monsters and the Amish?" This episode is the second in "The Cave" ser … (Read More)

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