Aquinas on Art and Contemporary Film | Prof.Thomas Hibbs
Dec 31, 2024
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Thomas Hibbs, a renowned philosophy professor and author, explores profound themes in contemporary film. He critiques the representation of death and suffering in media, using clips from movies like 'Gravity.' Hibbs contrasts philosophical perspectives on mortality and discusses violence, morality, and courage in films such as 'The Hunger Games.' He examines love, sacrifice, and storytelling, emphasizing emotional depth through children's eyes. Additionally, he highlights the healing power of friendship in grief, showing how true companionship eases the burden of loss.
The decline in funeral practices and emotional expression around grief highlights the cultural disconnection with death in contemporary society.
Mainstream cinema's portrayals of mortality encourage deeper reflection on death, emphasizing the importance of relationships and emotional support during grief.
Deep dives
Cultural Disconnect with Death
There is a growing cultural disconnect in Americans' understanding and handling of death, which has led to a significant decline in funeral practices and a lack of emotional vocabulary surrounding grief. Many people feel lost when faced with the death of a loved one, stemming from a limited language to express their feelings and a detachment from established rituals. Immigrants, with their rich cultural practices for mourning, provide valuable lessons in how to honor the dead, showcasing the importance of storytelling and a full range of emotions in the grieving process. The loss of this expressiveness contributes to a superficial engagement with death, while at the same time, graphic portrayals in media increase desensitization to the reality of mortality.
Confronting Mortality Through Cinema
Mainstream cinema often portrays death in a way that can spark deeper reflections on mortality, as seen in the film *Gravity*, where the character grapples with the isolation of impending death. This scene highlights how characters in films are typically more focused on survival than on the emotional and spiritual aspects of dying, which can illustrate society's broader avoidance of the subject. The film also emphasizes the pivotal moment of realizing one's mortality and the need for connection, raising the question of whether anyone will mourn for us when we are gone. Such representations encourage viewers to confront their fear of death and articulate their needs for connection and understanding as they face this inevitable reality.
The Value of Friendship in Grief
Friendship plays a critical role in navigating the challenges of grief, as illustrated in a poignant scene from *Harry Potter*, where support is given in silence rather than through attempts to solve the pain. The bonds formed during difficult moments help to redistribute the emotional weight of sorrow, allowing individuals to feel loved and supported. Hermione's silent presence and thoughtful gesture of placing flowers on the grave signify that mere companionship can offer comfort amidst profound loss. This dynamic underscores the significance of relationships in assuaging the heaviness of grief, reflecting the notion that true friendship entails empathy and understanding without the necessity of words.
Thomas Hibbs is currently J. Newton Rayzor Sr. Professor of Philosophy at Baylor where he is also Dean Emeritus, having served for 16 years as the inaugural Dean of the Honors College. At Baylor he was also the inaugural director of Baylor in Washington, D.C. where he currently runs a summer program on Religion and Social Life. He has served as department chair at Boston College and as president of the University of Dallas.
Hibbs has published more than thirty scholarly articles, the most recent of which is “Aquinas and Black Natural Law.” He has published eight books, the most recent of which is Theology of Creation: Ecology, Art, and Laudato Si’ (University of Notre Dame Press, 2023). He has also published two books on film and philosophy and one book on art. He has published more than 100 reviews and discussion articles on film, theater, art, and higher education in a variety of venues including First Things, The Chronicle of Higher Education, The Wall Street Journal, and National Review. He writes regularly for The Dallas Morning News.
Hibbs’ lectures have been protested by nihilists at Boston University and by communists in Palermo, Sicily.
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