Hollywood dominates “the stories we live by,” while the church’s influence diminishes with each passing year.
Gary’s Theology in Film Introductory Video
Story Failure: Why We ‘Lose it’ in High-Stress Environments, Part 2
The stories, beliefs and strategies we develop to survive life’s most painful experiences inevitably fail us in high stress environments. Here’s why.
Guardians of Our Galaxy: Worldview and the Power of Story
“The shaping of our character is, to a great extent, the effect of stories that have captivated us, that have sunk into our bones.” -James K.A. Smith
Ideas Have Consequences: The Power and Limits of Existentialism, Dead Poets Society 2
Part 9 of series: Hollywood and Higher Education: Teaching Worldview Thru the Stories We Live By “No matter what anyone tells you, words and ideas can change the world.” -Mr. Keating (Robin Williams) by Gary David Stratton The main characters of…
Bungee-Jumping to Eternity: The Existential Angst of Dead Poets Society
Part of ongoing series: Hollywood and Higher Education: Teaching Worldview Thru the Stories We Live By “Carpe Diem! Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary.” -Mr. Keating (Robin Williams) by Gary David Stratton Dead Poets Society, 1989 Oscar winner…
Casablanca and the Four Levels of Worldview: Why Everyone Meets at Rick’s
By changing the foundational story of Rick’s life from that of a “self-centered love-betrayed” to the story of a “other-centered love renewed” Ilsa transforms Rick’s values and rule of life as well.
Screenwriting 101: Why the Story Structure Aerodynamics Matter, by Christopher Riley
The magic of flying isn’t the laws of aerodynamics any more than the magic of cinema is the principles of film structure. But those laws and those principles make the magic possible, enabling mere mortals to harness the power of flight.
The Intelligence of Emotions: Philosopher Martha Nussbaum on How Storytelling Rewires Us
The stories we tell ourselves about who we are and what we feel shape our emotional and ethical reality, which of course is the great psychological function of literature and the reason why art can function as a form of therapy.
Neil Gaiman on How Stories Last, by Maria Popova
Do stories grow? Pretty obviously — anybody who has ever heard a joke being passed on from one person to another knows that they can grow, they can change. Can stories reproduce? Well, yes.
The ‘Story Behind the Story’: Making Lit Matter, by Erick Sierra
As American society increasingly questions the importance of what we in the humanities do, in the classroom I’ve been able to depend less and less on the grand narratives that long ago motivated my own passion for literature and instead imagined an importance for literature—a story behind the story—sourced not in grand abstract metanarratives, but in what students themselves find viscerally and deeply important.
Inside Out Screenwriting: What’s My Final Image? by Jeremy Casper
A story is a narrative about a single character who must overcome some sort of conflict in order to solve a very specific problem.
Empathy, Neurochemistry, and the Dramatic Arc, by Paul J. Zak
Why do our palms sweat as we watch James Bond fight for his life? Paul Zak’s research is uncovering how stories shape our brains, tie strangers together, and move us to be more empathic, generous and connected. Part 1.