Doing Catechesis in a Media Age

“The medium IS the message”-McLuhan

In this presentation…. The nature of learning and input To Teach as Jesus Did Using media to preach Some suggestions on the use of media in

the process of catechesis.

How we learn... Input from five senses…plus The retention factor The nature of students in this age The power of the story (even urban myths) Media serve the needs under multiple

intelligences theory: they serve all the intelligences.

Students Like Dislike

Aetatis Novae, 1992

“At the dawn of this new era, a vast expansionof human communications is profoundly influencingculture everywhere…Nowhere today are people untouched by the impact of media upon religiousand moral attitudes, political and social systems, and education.”

The Evolution of Media

Pre-literate:storytelling

Literate:Print material

Post-literate:Electronic media

Post-post literateThe nöosphere??

Scripture shows use of media: Old Testament:

• Burning Bush• Ten Plagues• Dreams

New Testament:• Parables• Coin of the realm• Fig Tree

Media teach: Issues such as sexuality, morality, violence,

consumerism, materialism. Values of life/death/the human condition A point of view, e.g. stereotypes Behavior Culture

Media have become the language through

which we interpret our lives and our

experiences.

We often use old wineskins to describe new wine:

Horseless carriage Iron horse Laptop computer Hard disk space Desktop

Media talk=everyday talk Beam me up, Scotty… Show me the money! Badabing! Talk to the hand; the

head is busy Can you hear me now?

What should media provide? Connectedness: in the shared experience Metaphor: in the shared meaning Sacramentality: in the sense of the

transcendence Understanding: in the lesson drawn.

Jesus: the Medium and the Message

Priest

• Cool Hand Luke Prophet

• The Dead Zone King

• High Noon

Using Media and New Technology

Television, movies, music provide a platform for metaphor and experience.

Electronic media provide a unique opportunity for connectedness

In this post-post-literate age, media need to be interpreted in light of our beliefs and seen to be sacramental in character.

Ways to use TV, Film and Music Stage situations from Gospel stories as if they

were part of a TV show or movie; Analyze commercials for stereotype;(e.g. portrayal

of fathers) Analyze beginnings and endings of sitcoms; Watch music videos first w/o sound; next w/o

video. Analyze the result. Use film characters to analyze moral questions;

(e.g. Green Mile)

More Ways.. Teach how color, lighting, camera angles convey a

message;(e.g.Psycho) Analyze cultural trends through the use of film

over the years; do the same with music.(e.g. any teen flick)

Analyze American consumerism through the use of commercials(e.g. product placement)

Look for how and when morality are portrayed(e.g. Spiderman)

Still more ways... Look for the effect of music on movies and

TV shows(e.g. Law and Order) Look for movies that are re-writing of

Scriptural stories(e.g. Close Encounters) Analyze music, movies and TV shows for

how they portray the use of alcohol and drugs.

Some caveats Pay attention to licensing and “fair use”

regulations; Don’t use media in such a way that it

obfuscates the message Remember: the lesson is utmost

Cyberspace and Church No longer do the teacher and the student

have to be in the same place at the same time.

Information is no longer limited to the “educated”.

Concepts such as space and time have new meaning.

Saint Blog’s Parish Represents a cyberparish Blogs exist on any topic ranging from

spirituality to theology to current Church practice.

Blogs give Catholics an opportunity to be heard on any topic.

This puts the entire concept of parish and Church on its head.

Some popular Catholic blogs

A Catholic Blog for LoversHttp://blogforlovers.blogspot.com

Care and Feeding of a Catholic Church ChoirHttp://catholicchoir.blogspot.com

Catholic and Enjoying ItHttp://markshea.blogspot.com

CLOG, a blog on canon lawHttp://canonlaw.blogspot.com