Intentional films

By Lexie V. Owen

Forget sitting through a film in your 8 a.m. class. Settle down on a couch instead and enjoy an international film with faculty. Three Taylor professors, Josh Welker, Dan Bowman and Suzie Dittenber, are hosting film showings in their homes during the course of the semester. They hope to increase students' appreciation for films and the many art forms they often present. They have each chosen a film which explores aspects of humanity.

"(We) have collaborated in organizing this series based on a shared interest in how the visual and literary arts intersect in film," said Dittenber, assistant professor of art. The hosts hail from the Art and English departments, unified by their common appreciation for film.

The first film showed last month in assistant professor of art Josh Welker's home. He hosted a showing of "The Sacrifice," a Russian film directed by Andrei Tarkovsky, whose work is often characterized by spiritual and metaphysical themes. "The Sacrifice" is Tarkovsky's final film, and it presents a philosopher's struggle to understand human spirituality as he endures the third world war. Welker was surprised by the mixed responses of students who viewed the film. He said many didn't know how to digest it.

"I'm not sure that everyone knew what to make of it," Welker said. "Most films produced today are like drinking a coke. This film, by contrast to drinking coke, is like eating a steak dinner. There are all sorts of bizarre textures and flavors."

Each film chosen for this series references or discusses human spirituality. Bowman, associate professor of English, referred to Enuma Okoro's essay "Faith Imitates Art," which discusses the link between art and the spiritual realm. According to Okoro, the art created by human beings can remind a person that he or she is also a creation, which often sparks deep theological thought.

Bowman will host the film "Wings of Desire" on April 20. The 1987 film is a Franco-German romantic fantasy directed by Wim Wenders. The story follows an angel who, after observing humanity, desires to become a human.

Bowman said he chose to show it because, through informal discussions, he discovered that many Taylor students have not seen it.

"It's a beautiful, poetic and profound look at what it means to be human," Bowman said. "I selected it because the film is a great work of art."

Dittenber will host "Pina" on May 2. The 2011 German documentary, also written and directed by Wenders, is dedicated to the late German choreographer Pina Bausch. The documentary discusses Bausch's life and work and watches as her company performs her most memorable choreography.

"Students who attend will gain exposure to a visually arresting film," Dittenber said. "I chose this film because it captures the beauty and power of dance so well."

Any students interested in the collaborative artistry of film are welcome to attend these screenings. The showings are especially recommended to students involved in art, media, literature and creative writing.

However, all students are welcome. Bowman said engagement in the arts can be beneficial and relevant to anyone. Film, he continued, as one of the most dominant forms of storytelling in our culture, has become so common that many modern movie-goers have forgotten the power of the visual image. The hosts' goal is that the chosen films will inspire students to emotion, thought and appreciation for the art forms that surround them.