TV & Film: Angels everywhere

But some of these media angels are a lot lower than others | Pamela Johnson

"We are merely reflecting the culture"--that is the most commonly heard comeback of television and film executives charged with the promotion of tasteless productions. Networks and studios often have ignored the significant part of our culture that still respects religion, but they are finally making good on their claim to follow their audiences: Screens of the mid-1990s are showing productions that aspire to "faith and values."

But Hollywood faces two obstacles here: First, spiritual concepts are difficult to portray in a medium that is primarily visual/physical. Second, the entertainment industry has so effectively separated itself from faith and values for so many years that few writers, directors, and producers know anything about such matters.