Thursday, May 7, 2009
Framing Faith: I Actually Like TV #1
Joan of Arcadia (2003–2004), Season 1
“Faith is believing when you have no rational reason to believe.” This line comes near the end of the season, and while it’s hardly a new concept to anyone with or interested in faith—its challenges and its blessings—it’s fairly unusual to see on TV. Joan is the middle child in a nuclear family that has just moved to the town of Arcadia. Dad is a cop (and a good one), Mom is an artist (a painter, actually), big brother is a former jock who has just been in an accident that left him a paraplegic (confined to a wheelchair), and little brother is super science nerd. Joan is a teenage girl who, simply put, speaks to God. Or more accurately, God speaks to her. In each episode of the first season, God appears with a different face, and each time, the stranger gives Joan a mission—he or she tells her to do something, and out of that something comes a realization, growth for Joan. Ultimately, Joan of Arcadia is a coming-of-age tale, but with a twist, this conceit. It does not preach, nor does its God. He or she insists that free will is the core, his or her greatest gift. God is everyone—black, white, Asian, man, woman, young, old—and God is in Joan. Or god is. She questions, she refuses, she grows. She may actually be delusional, but then faith—whether in something divine or in other people—is not logical. The producers nailed the dual-narrative nature of episodic television, neatly deepening themes by putting one or two other major characters into subplots that echo and resonate with Joan’s. Pop culture that makes you think, that addresses faith and hope and growth? Who says television is soulless? (Image ©2003 Sony Pictures Television)
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10 comments:
I really like this show. The summary that you wrote of the show pretty much sums it up. You made it sound really interesting and eye-catching. If I have never seem the show, I would seriously consider watching it.
This show seem very interesting. It looks like something that would appeal to me. The way you described the season was amazing. You really went into detail about how she was the odd one out in her family, by describing each member of her family. And I really like how she speaks to god, or how god speaks to her.
I really like this show, but it is hard to fallow.
I really like this show, but it is hard to fallow. God is not vary help full in what he wants her to due. And is there a devil element in the show?
Wow! This was an awesome read. I love the plot of the what seems to be a life long journey for Joan. I am completly in awe of the concept it gives, faith, God Understanding and without preaching that seems to be the perfect implication of freedom I love your words and how they spoke to me me. thank you.
I like this show. The summory makes me want to go watch it righ now. I love the detail you put in the summary about Joan and her family, you deffinatly showed that Joan is special and has a gift to talk to god. But it kind of makes it sound crazy because her family sounds normal but she isn't.
I agree with the others. i have never seem the show but it is definitly something I might want to check out. This is a very good show. I also agree with one of the other bloggers that she is crazy if she is the only one in her family who isn't normal. How can God appear with a different face each season? That just sounds kinda odd to me.
I have never heard or seen this show before but after reading what you have wrote about it, i will have to look it up and watch it some time.
Thanks for the information.
i have never seen this show but after reading the post i would watch the show. the striking point is that it tells about her family and the terrible accident that left her brother in a wheel chair for the rest of his life After her was a jock in school.
I have never seen the show myself. But it sounds very interesting, about the girls family. Is this still playing? I might want to watch it.
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