New Ethos

Tree of Life: New Ethos Award for Excellence in Entertainment

2011-07-11T10:30:00.000-07:00

Not Your Ordinary Hollywood Film - It’s Magnificently Extraordinary

If you are looking for that ordinary Hollywood screen experience, you know, grabbing a bag of popcorn, a pop (I am from Chicago) and venturing into a dark theater to escape from your cares and worries, with Tree of Life, you will have an extraordinary experience. You might find yourself at film’s end still with that full bag of popcorn/pop, sitting in awe, because you just encountered something (or should I say, someone) extraordinary – that which is much more fulfilling and thirst quenching. In the words of St. Ambrose, "That than which nothing greater can be thought." Director Terrence Malick gets us close to thinking about and feeling “That” which in fact accompanies, consoles, and strengthens us through our cares, worries, and grief.

Tree of Life is not your ordinary escapist form of Hollywood entertainment; rather as part of our earthly journey, it is a meditation and an encounter with Divine Love. Nor is Tree of Life your ordinary propaganda “Christian” film. Flannery O’Connor wrote, “You tell a story because a statement would be inadequate.” Tree of Life communicates to us a metaphysical experience because a story with conventional plots and characters arcs would be inadequate. Tree of Life’s dialogue is essentially prayer, its soundtrack is a soaring and triumphal celestial symphony, and its silent sequences (if you are patient enough to listen) speak volumes to the depths of the human heart.

The movie opens with a quotation from the book of Job: “where were you when I founded the earth…while the morning stars sang in chorus and all the sons of God shouted for joy” (Job 38). Malick’s film opens with a couple, the O’Briens (played by Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain), who have been informed that their 19 year old son has died. They begin to experience a Job-like confusion and crisis: It begs the question, “Why God have you done this to them?”

How does Malick seem to answer that and a few other other transcendent questions that haunt every human soul? He presents to us a glimpse into the grandeur of the cosmos. He also gives us a view into the human lives of the O’Brien’s, years before the tragic news, a family of 5 (3 boys), living in 1950s Waco, Texas, and how those lives interrelate within the universal drama of creation. The father, Mr. O’Brien (played exceptional well by Brad Pitt, a father too) is represented as the human response through nature: strong, conflictual, hard-edged, and violent. The mother, Mrs. O’Brien (also an exceptional performance by Jessica Chastain), represents the response through grace: gentle, loving, and forgiving. And young Jack (Hunter McCracken)/Adult Jack (Sean Penn) represents the struggle, not to choose one way over the other, but to reconcile the two with each other – as young Jack says in this most profound line from the film, “Father, Mother, always you wrestle inside me.” Is that not a reality of the personal drama of every human person - namely, how we reconcile nature and grace?

Some early reviewers have criticized Mailck for basically not getting to the point with his long nature scenes (one is at least 15 minutes long). But when one browses through an art gallery and stumbles upon something profoundly magnificent, do they quickly want to move on, or sit in its truth, beauty, and goodness? Do not our souls thirst for savoring that which penetrates to the depth of our souls, rather than just fast “soul-food service” which just selfishly fattens one’s belly of fleeting sensual pleasure? Does not God give us a lengthy Psalm on his creative majesty in scriptures, for one, Ps. 145? I recommend meditating on this passage from Romans in response to the criticisms of Malick’s lengthy “Discovery Channel” sequences [Rom. 1:20] – “Ever since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity have been able to be understood and perceived in what he has made.” Maybe in Malick’s view, there are just too many excuses today dismissing God’s loving Providential Design above all things.

NEW ETHOS EXCELLENCE AWARD

Overall, a New Ethos branding on quality entertainment weds beauty and grace, strength and sublimity to perfection of technique. Tree of life has done that.

The New Ethos Perspective on quality entertainment is not just awarding entertainment because it’s “great Catholic” or even “Christian” content while sacrificing the artistic value, because then it’s essentially propaganda and where is the truth, beauty, and goodness in that? St. Thomas Aquinas wrote, “A work of art is good in itself (not in its utilitarian value).” The New Ethos award criteria accounts for a sense of mystery, characterized by faith, hope, and love, combined with a sense of manner. In other words, New Ethos looks for films that do not sacrifice “technique” for the sake of the message.

The New Ethos ”perspective of faith” is more an expression of man’s ultimate concern rather than identifying it with Judaism, Christianity, or with “going to church.” It is a perspective of film that is always reaching for the universal transcendent value of things inside, outside, above and beyond the world of the seen and unseen.

The New Ethos “perspective of hope” is always fresh, innovative, and open to the depths of reality and the possibilities of the mystery of all being. It is a perspective that is always new in any age.

The New Ethos “perspective of love” views a successful journey or story as one that exemplifies serving and sacrificing oneself for the good of another. It is a love that suffers for the sake of the good of another and desires that they be touched by the immutable and eternal transcendent values of truth, beauty, and goodness.

“We have not discovered the true beauty of any work of art until we have brought to light its eternal implications, which may be present even apart from the intentions of the work's creator."

-Flannery O’Connor

Tree of Life meets all New Ethos criteria with magnificence and it is why it is awarded the New Ethos Logo of excellence for truth, beauty, and goodness in entertainment. Hurray for Hollywood! Hurray for Terrence Malick! And Hurray for “That than which nothing greater can be thought!”

In 1987, The late Pope John Paul II, speaking to the entertainment industry in Los Angeles said entertainment media can be a principal agent for uniting the human race through truth, beauty, and goodness. Well, I look forward to seeing this film with my friends from other faith traditions. When was the last time you heard of a priest, rabbi, and eman going to the movies together (other than in a joke)? In the Tree of Life, there is something profoundly common we can share and rejoice in. St. Bonaventure wrote, “Not simply to be a knower but a lover of truth, beauty, and goodness.”

Lastly, sometimes music says it all more eloquently and succinctly – so I leave you with this video from 3 Doors Down- It’s Not My Time. God is at work behind it all, and not only is His Majesty shining out through the glory of created and evolving nature, but especially through His created “Spiritual Beings” he sends our way, such as angels and indeed through our loving interactions with each other. Something more powerful than the creation of the universe happens there! – As Jessica Chastain (Mrs. O’Brien) says in the film, “Unless you have loved, your life will flash by.”

-Fr. Don Woznicki, Founder, New Ethos

Linkin Park Catalyzes Thought Over the Tree of Good and Evil

2010-08-30T20:00:00.000-07:00

There are not a few pessimists and critics of Hollywood (the music industry in particular), that just can't find anything good that comes from this industry. Sometimes, just the fact that certain films or movies don't have a cross or smiling happy people on the cover is reason to say it's from "Satan."

In the spirit of Jesus in the healing parables, especially the blind, I say to those with such attitudes of the entertainment industry to "open your eyes (and your ears)" and see how God really can speak to us through artists like Linkin Park. Ok, so maybe not too many old testament prophets had black discs embedded in their earlobes, but then again, many prophets were known to do "silly" things like Ezekiel who would lay on his side for over 300 days or cut up his beard and throw it in fire to make a point - namely, that the people of God need wake up and follow HIs ways else face destruction.

Linkin Park deserve much praise for this current work that is not afraid to lead humanity into the depths of the tough transcendental questions that enrich our state of being.

Mike Shinoda had this to say in the making of their "Catalyst" music video which set out to convey often-contradictory themes: power and grace, destruction and salvation, ugliness and beauty.

"The concept to the video: It kind of comes from the idea of, like, if you could imagine when nuclear fission was invented, or a moment in time when something can be used for positive or negative," Shinoda said. "Something can be beautiful or it can be destructive. Or even, you know, if you've ever seen a dangerous fire from far away, it's devastating up close, but from far away, it can be beautiful. Those are the kind of themes that run throughout the album, and they're also themes that you see in the video."

In essence, Linkin Park's music video "Catalyst", consciously or not, is a most profound and artistic expression of the Tree of Knowledge (Good and Evil) found in the Book of Genesis (chapter 2). God has given humanity the most wonderful gift to share in His creativity. The Tree (Which becomes an occasion for man to turn away from God) represents man's ability to know and choose between the good or the bad use of those wonderful God given things. Our free will ultimately becomes our grace or detriment in choosing to love God or not - its our choice that will lead personally and in some cases, collectively, to salvation or destruction.

New Ethos applauds artists who reach for an overarching spirit of truth, beauty, and goodness in their work. We believe one need not necessarily go to "religious" music genre to find it - Linkin Park is a testament to that in a most profound and powerful way - AND GOD BLESS US EVERYONE! - Fr. Don Woznicki +

What's Up With Mel? and LiLo? and HeMo?: Requiem For a Dream

2010-07-28T21:36:00.000-07:00

There has been many looks of bewilderment, head scratching, and disappointment within the world of the “Passion of the Christ” pilgrims over the recent behavior of Mel Gibson – many saw him as the “next coming” of a Hollywood Savior, and now are left with “grinding and gnashing of teeth.” Given my past encounter with Mel during the promotion of “The Film”, not a few have asked me “What’s up with Mel?”

Well, for one, he is an ADDICT and also a CELEBRITY, which are almost synonymous terms – This contributes to Mel, and many celebrities, being vulnerable to what I call, The "REQUIEM FOR A DREAM" Effect - a chilling reality that can hit everyone, not just celebrities, who are spiritually sick in some way. Additionally, for Mel, he is also suffering from being the MAIN INSTRUMENT for one of the most powerful films in entertainment history that has brought (and will continue to bring) many to (or back to) Jesus Christ.

THE "REQUIEM FOR A DREAM" EFFECT

I cannot help but think about Darren Aronofsky’s film “Requiem For a Dream” (2000) in how addiction is playing out in the lives of Mel, (alcoholism, and who knows what else); LiLo (cocaine, and who knows what else); and Heidi Montag (HeMo) [Plastic Surgery]. One of the best films ever done on addiction RFD is one the the most true, artistic, yet shocking and nightmarish films I had ever seen back in 2000 and still remains that way today. That is why it is so good. After the credits began to roll with that erie score, most of the audience didn't move from their seats. If they experienced what I did, I felt like I had just been through one of the worst nightmares of my life and when the lights came up, I was just glad not to really be part of it. RFD stars Ellen Burstyn in her Academy Award Nomination for Best Actress (Sara); Jared Leto (Harry); Jennifer Connelly (Marion); and Marion Wayans (Tyrone). Each is obsessed with a dream that feeds off narcissistic tendencies, stemming from a past trauma or childhood deficiency. For Harry and Tyrone, it’s a plan to get off “hards knocks” and form a get rich quick business through drug dealing. For Marion, her dream is to be respected for her beauty and dignity as a woman of the fashion industry and who desires to be loved and cherished by a loving husband. For Sara, who has lost her husband and lives a lonely life, her dream is to be able to fit into a beautiful red dress to appear on a popular game show that will gain her attention and show her friends that she and her family have become something. In each case, heroine or diet pills (in Marion's case) feed the dream only to enslave them in a nightmare of addiction, destroying themselves to achieve the dream. Anybody caught in an addiction must see RFD (Trailer below).

THE NARCISSISM FACTOR

Dr. Drew Pinsky recently teamed with other researchers to conduct the first-ever study of narcissism among celebrities. In the process, they discovered that a high proportion of stars suffer from traits associated with clinical narcissism—including vanity, exhibitionism, entitlement, exploitativeness, self-sufficiency, authority, and superiority. These personality disorders stem from trying to compensate for something that is missing in their lives. They want to feel grand on the outside, to be famous, but instead feel small on the inside. These traits have their roots in self-hatred and ultimately in childhood disconnection or trauma. Many celebrities are actually narcissists before becoming celebs, and in fact, need to become a celebrity – and if they are not well grounded spiritually to do battle, it is uncontrolled narcissism that will eventually consume them in their own "Requiem For A Dream." So it should be no surprise we see and hear many celebs falling into self-destructuve behavior. I believe the worse thing we can do is ridicule them when actually they are really sick inside - Maybe a wake up call is in order, like watching RFD!

THE ADDICTION & CELEBRITY FACTOR

This factor is something that really needs our respect in order to understand why we keep reading about the likes of Britney Spears, Nicole Richie, and recently LiLo (Lindsay Lohan) and "HeMo" (Heidi Montag). Let’s face it, celebrities are just more vulnerable to addiction. Your not going to see much interest in a reality TV show called “Hairdresser Rehab” as you do “Celebrity Rehab” if it wasn’t for the reality that celebrities are just more prone. And God bless Dr. Drew Pinsky (Vh1 Celebrity Rehab; SoberHouse; Sex Rehab) for putting together shows that actually could do something meaningful, not only in a celebrity’s life, but for all who struggle with addictions.

It’s easy for the vast majority of the public to look in on celebrities and envy them, and then be quick to judge and “Dutch pile” on them when they fall. It is as if "celebrityness" (which they can’t have) must go punished for them to feel better in their mundane world. I believe we must better understand why celebrities are more prone to addictions and then we will be less quick to judge and more ready to pray for those who one could argue are given the gift of “celebrityness” (if offered for Gods greater Glory). So why is it that celebrities are more prone to addiction? Dr. Drew Pinsky ( Dr. Drew website) is of the opinion that Hollywood has a higher percentage of drug addiction per capita than the rest of the population. He has examined the root causes of celebrity addiction and offers the following reasons behind its rise and why Hollywood is one of the toughest places to get clean.

1st - ACCESSS. "It’s everywhere", says Dr. Drew. "When you’re rich and famous you don’t have to look for drugs or alcohol. You turn around and people are handing you things, whether or not you want it. Whether they think you want it or not, they want to get next to you and the only way they know how to do that is by offering you something you may not have. In most cases, it’s a line of coke, a pill, a drink or two."

2nd - ENABLING ENTOURAGE. "Celebrities travel with a buffer of friends and hangers on", says Dr. Drew. "Supposedly it’s to make their lives easier, but it also serves to make addiction easier to maintain. Unlike the rest of us whose friends ditch when we start acting like idiots and self destructing or at least turn to us and tell us that we’re messing up, an entourage groupie enjoys his or her proximity to the spotlight and if the celebrity isn’t partying, then nobody’s partying."

3rd - (A reason why we need to give celebrities a break, for they are just like us - human) - THE SAME PROBLEMS AS THE REST OF US - Breakups with lovers and spouses, pressures at work, bad behavior, not enough attention at home, problems with parents, family histories of addiction, mental and psychological problem, the death of people close to them. "There really isn’t a reason that a celebrity picks up or maintains an addiction that someone without his or her fame hasn’t also experienced", says Dr. Drew. Given this information, is Mel much different than any other addict whose disease hurls all kinds of vile at its victim?

4th - WHAT THEY HAVE THAT WE DON’T, namely THE SPOTLIGHT. Dr. Drew says that sometimes it takes a really embarrassing moment, a video taken at the wrong time that goes viral online, some photos courtesy of the paparazzi, a career threat to get a celebrity to not only recognize that they have a problem but that this problem is serious enough to need treatment. "Think about some of the situations you’ve been in the last six months. Would you want a camera to have caught the details of any of those little episodes? Imagine if it had been in everyone’s inbox the next day when you went into work. Would that be enough to convince you that you needed to get some help?" Dr. Drew, we can only hope and pray that the general public recognizes that Mel needs serious help with his addiction(s) rather than more TMZ.com and Radar Online "therapy."

BACK TO MEL: "GOD'S INSTRUMENT' FACTOR

Are we really surprised of the recent news? From the time of “The Film’s” release, it is basic Christianity 101 that Mel would be (church lady please) "Satan's target", given this scripture [Eph. 6:12]: “For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with principalities, with the powers, with the rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens." So are we surprised that Mel has become victim, even more so than the pope, to (church lady again please) “Satan” who lashed out in a full out counter attack, a blitzkrieg?! And Satan is trying his best to strike up a symphony of his destructive work that will eventually play off the narcissistic lives of the likes of Mel, Lilo, and HeMo – this symphony is called, "Requiem For a Dream.”

FOR OUR CELEBRITIES: THE PRAYER FACTOR

All in all, I say, hang in there with Mel (LiLo and HeMo). What we are seeing played out before our very eyes (“and ears”) is Mel and scores of other celebrities in the throes of a spiritual battle - a battle for their life. Massive chaos has taken nest in their world and is inflicting severe damage and maybe some heavy causalities (such as in Mel's case with Oksana and the baby, his family, the Jewish and some ethnic communities). Granted, we can’t just "play off" all the damage, that Mel or other celebrity addicts have done, as “the devil made me do it” (for Mel, LiLo, and even HeMO will need to take responsibility for their actions for justice sake). What they do need more than anything though, rather than our judgment, is prayerful support. The very least, these celebrities are a cross section of addicted America and just remind us of those we love who are in the same boat. However, to be a celebrity, if truly given as a gift from God rather than sought out for some narcissistic desire, will come with a responsibility to spread truth, beauty, and goodness in our culture in a most powerful way - And here is where we don't envy but pray for them and support them where we can. They are human beings caught in a spiritual ambush from none other than (church lady please) “Satan.” It is very likely celebrities are a prime target to spiritual attacks, because of their high potential to have a positive impact on our culture. The devil, whose word in Latin is diabolos, means “to scatter, divide.” Ultimately, the devil, who is a liar and a murderer, is trying to create chaos in people's lives and eventually kill the soul - A Requiem For A Dream. Mel, Lilo and HeMo are just more vulnerable to this "death" because of their narcissistic tendencies combined with the "celebrity factor."

Given all this, our prayers should include a thanksgiving for celebrities, especially those who are willing not to hide their problems and addictions, for they give us a glimpse of the greater human struggle that goes on within all of us – We are all addicts (in some degree of another), for we are all addicts to sin. We all have issues of narcissism that need to be addressed. Thank you to some of those celebrities and Dr. Drew’s Celebrity Rehab for helping wake us up from our "requiems to a dream" - to take responsibility for our lives with the gifts God has given us to bring truth, beauty, and goodness into our world where ever we can, and getting the help we need when (church lady please) "Satan" has gotten his tail into things.

The Beauty of Entertainment: MJ and Farrah, "Air For Life"

2009-07-03T20:16:00.000-07:00

One of the Great Spiritual Doctors of the Middle Ages, St. Bonaventure, referred to God as the Divine Artist of which created things are vestiges of His Essence, and of which the human soul is in His image. Without making any judgments, one cannot deny that both Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett have given us not just an echo of God's Divine Mystery, but also have brought us close enough to the Eternal Creative Fire as to not just warm, but HEAT UP our souls with truth, beauty, and goodness.

It is no coincidence that Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett, products of the Entertainment Industry, died on the same day. Something quite profound happened and is proof that the Entertainment Industry is not just good for tabloids, excesses, and "I am a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here." God LOVES entertainment! A bit of Him was manifested in The talented lives of Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson. We may never see the likes of such musical and dancing talent that Michael Jackson exhibited since age 10. But what is true and amazing and makes one stop in awe is that such talent is just a flicker from the Divine FIRE of God. The beauty and impact of Farrah as a cultural Icon of beauty, may only be matched or surpased by a few, but is only a small taste of Divine BEAUTY. With the deaths of these two Hollywood Icons, a global phenomenon has taken place - a God moment - GOD TRULY HAS SPOKEN THROUGH THEIR DEATHS!

What has He spoken? Two Hollywood Icons - two lives that reveal that wealth, fame, and power are not the answer to eternal happiness and joy.

If one stops to reflect on these two deaths (as the world has), one can't deny who is in charge - the One, Immutable, all Loving God - I call him God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (One God - three Persons) - But I realize, if your not a Christian, you may call God something else.

In the end though, we all can agree that God is our "air For life" and He alone has control over life. AMEN! And Farrah gave a strong witness to this in her last months as she held onto her rosary more than her fame. God Bless you Farrah!

["Air For Life" - Andy Moor]

Farrah - what a courageous and strong woman. MJ, we love you and your innocent like love for the world. And though your personal life dealt you some rough blows leading you to find refuge in entertainment, we trust in the image of Divine LOVE - THE CROSS that says I know your heart and you are still mine if you so choose to be.

I close with this excerpt of a letter I sent to Farrah 1 month before she died:

Farrah, my Mother, whom I lost to pancreatic cancer back in 2001, would surely be following your story today and pulling for you and I am sure she still is today. She was strong like you, but human. In those difficult times, she knew of God’s love for her through the people (“angels”) He would send into her life to console her. May you, if not already, know of this divine care for you (of which Ryan I am sure is one). I hope this letter finds you comfortable and peaceful and very much embraced by the love of your family during these difficult times for you. And most of all, O Daughter of Corpus Christi, Texas (“Body of Christ), know that God loves you and always “Trust in His Merciful Love” for you.

Sincerely with the Love of Jesus Christ.... Fr. Don

Kings of Leon or Princes of Darkness?

2009-04-06T19:28:00.000-07:00

New Ethos has made it our mission to showcase artists whose work embodies an overarching spirit of truth, beauty, and goodness. One hot band that has caught the world's attention for their mysterious and not so straight forward lyrics are Kings of Leon, a rock band from Tennessee. KOL consists of three sons of pentecostal preacher --- Caleb (lead singer, rythm guitar), Nathan (drums), and Jared (bass) Followill --plus first cousin, Matthew Followill (lead guitar). KOL, who recently released the hit song, "Sex on Fire", are becoming quite an intriguing story.

Many of the "bluenoses" out there might be fanning themselves in disgust (or maybe guilty pleasure) over the fact that a faith based organization like New Ethos would even consider a story on a band like Kings of Leon - unless, of course, we are to scold and boycott such a band that seeks to stir human concupiscence. Surely they must be the Price of Darkness, right? Ok, so maybe "Sex on Fire" is not a song I would play at a Catholic youth prayer service. But there is something much deeper to reflect upon when considering ones evaluation of this undeniable cultural phenomenon in the music world called the The Kings of Leon - namely, what (or who) is behind their music?

When I first heard "Sex on Fire", I was quick to dismiss KOL as some out of control sex

abberant punks. But later I stubbled on a few more of their songs ("Closer", "Use Somebody", "Crawl"), read some of their interviews, and realized this band could not be reduced to a KC and The Sunshine Band trying to evoke hormonal fever. There was something else going with these sons of a preacher man (Leon). Their music is quite good and unique and their lyrics do invoke some reflection. In "Crawl" - "As the rat, and the fly - They're searching for an alibi - As we await the wrath - They never went to Sunday Mass." [A political overture on America]. Or, in "Closer" - "She took my heart - Think she took my soul... Two thousand years of chasing, taking its toll." [Presumably written by Caleb while coming off an addition to pain killers].

Combine these lyrics (of which bloggers interpret to be anything from about vampires to Christ) with their pentecostal upbringing [Check out interview that reveals a more "Christian" KOL ( Kevchino Interview )] and what is one to think about their "who" or "what" is behind

their music?

As one continues to probe around their videos and interviews, you can also see a not so "Christian" KOL talking about getting drunk, using profanity, getting high and the like. So "who" or "what" is behind their music?

New Ethos makes no judgments on KOL but recognizes their talents and the potential such a band can and will have on a culture if indeed they remain faithful to their roots while as artists, not being afraid to "go outside the box" and create true, beautiful, and good music as God has gifted them for.

Though KOL may have some rough edges right now (remember, God is patient with us as He sees us not as we are but how we will be if we cooperate with his grace - I am a perfect example of that work in progress), I cannot help but hold faith and hope for what God may have in store for this band, especially with comments such as this from Nathan: "We didn't give up that music (pentecostal, gospel) for rock and roll; we had the music in us all along. Understand Aretha Franklin, she was a Pentecostal girl. AL Green. We don't want to come off as a church band, but we're not scared of the fact that a lot of our influences musically come from our past."

KOL, are prayers are with you for your success (as God would want it) and we will be patient with your private "over indulgences" at times - but could you please, if you have the chance, and we are no prigs, rename that song to "Spirit on Fire" instead?

Fr. Don