Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 35 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
Exclusive to OpEd News:
Life Arts    H1'ed 6/13/21

God's Kingdom is for Clowns, Comedians, Immigrants and Exiles

By       (Page 1 of 3 pages)   18 comments
Follow Me on Twitter     Message Mike Rivage-Seul
Become a Fan
  (54 fans)

Joaquin Pheonix's Joker Look + Set Photos Officially Revealed!
Joaquin Pheonix's Joker Look + Set Photos Officially Revealed!
(Image by AntMan3001 from flickr)
  Details   DMCA

Readings for the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Exodus 17:22-24; Psalm 92: 2-3, 13-16; 2nd Corinthians 5: 6-10; Mark 4: 26-34.

Today's readings put me in mind of two superb films I've recently watched, "Joker" and "In the Heights," both available on HBO.

Each film described a world inhabited by people our culture tends to despise and that empires like ours devalue and vilify. In that sense, both "Joker" and "In the Heights" focus on individuals very like the Hebrews liberated from Egyptian slavery and like Jesus himself and his friends who lived under impoverishing Roman occupation.

"Joker" showed the dark threatening side of life under an order structured to favor the rich. "In the Heights" was infinitely more positive. However, taken together, they illustrate a theme suggested in today's liturgical readings. It's that positively or negatively, the poor represent our future. They are the key factor that will either destroy or save us.

Joker


JOKER Official Trailer (2019) Joaquin Phoenix, DC Movie HD ? 2019 - WARNER BROS. ------------------------------ ------------------------------ ------------------- Our Social Media: ?facebook.com/Film TrailerZoneTV ...
(Image by YouTube, Channel: FTZ)
  Details   DMCA

Begin with "Joker." It points up the need for a new (divine) order in our collapsing world whose worship of the rich is leading to disaster.

"Joker" is the story of Arthur Fleck, a sign-spinning clown and aspiring comedian who, he admits, has never had a positive thought in his life.

And there's good reason for Arthur's depression (ironically underlined by uncontrollable laughing fits). As a child, he was abused by his adoptive mother's boyfriend. He's down and out and spends much of his life watching television with his now sick mother. Crucially, he has no other community.

The world in Arthur's Gotham City is also disintegrating. Garbage litters its streets. Rats are running wild. And rampant crime plagues city streets.

Meanwhile the rich hide within their gated estates, all the time blaming the poor characterizing them as lazy clowns who need sermonizing from above rather than the dignity of employment at a living wage. Tellingly, at one point the headline of the city's main paper reads "Kill the Rich!"

Little wonder then that after Arthur murders three Wall Streeters on the subway following their unprovoked attack on him, alienated poor people throughout the city adopt his clown mask as a sign of rebellion reminiscent of the Guy Fawkes mask in "V for Vendetta."

Arthur had unwittingly started a class war of poor against rich. He has his community at last, but it is completely hopeless, nihilist and destructive.

In the Heights


In the Heights Trailer #3 (2021) | Movieclips Trailers Want to be notified of all the latest movie trailers? Subscribe to the channel and click the bell icon to stay up to date. US Release Date: June 10, 2021 Starring: ...
(Image by YouTube, Channel: Movieclips Trailers)
  Details   DMCA

Next Page  1  |  2  |  3

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).

Well Said 3   Inspiring 2   Supported 1  
Rate It | View Ratings

Mike Rivage-Seul Social Media Pages: Facebook Page       Twitter Page       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in


Mike Rivage-Seul is a liberation theologian and former Roman Catholic priest. Retired in 2014, he taught at Berea College in Kentucky for 40 years where he directed Berea's Peace and Social Justice Studies Program. His latest book is (more...)
 

Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Follow Me on Twitter     Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

Sunday Homily: Pope Francis to Women: The Next Pope Should Be One of You!

The Case for and Intimate Relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene

"Cloud Atlas": A Film for the Ages (But perhaps not for ours)

Muhammad as Liberationist Prophet (Pt. 2 of 4 on Islam as Liberation Theology)

What You Don't Know About Cuba Tells You About YOUR Future

Sunday Homily: Pope Francis' New Song -- Seven Things You May Have Missed in 'The Joy of the Gospel'

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend