"Ash Sunday" by Corrie Francis
Today in class, we watched an animated film called “Ash Sunday.” This was actually the second time I’ve seen it, but it meant as much to me this time as it did last time, if not more. This is a truly amazing animation.
I think what makes “Ash Sunday” so spectacular in my book is purely the fact that it is a conversion story -- now hold on, let me finish. I don’t mean conversion here in Christian terms alone. According to http://www.dictionary.com/, one meaning of conversion is a “change in character, form, or function.” As a Christian, my immediate instinct was to see the animation and relate it to the conversion of a lost and desperate soul to Christianity. As an individual, however, I am also able to relate the story presented to other aspects of my life. Seeing as how according to Word, I still have 300 or so words I’m allowed to ramble on for, I’ll touch on both aspects.
The first type of conversion I related to through watching the film was, as previously stated, that of converting to Christ. Growing up in a Christian home and being immersed in those values from a young age, I don’t really remember the exact moment of my conversion. I’ve learned to come to deal with this, though, seeing as how the moment itself is not as important as one’s life in Christ afterwards. I do miss out on recalling the exact feeling of arising after being dead and asleep. So for me, part of what’s so wonderful about this animated film is that it reawakens those feelings within me and grants me the opportunity to remember the feeling itself without actually remembering the incident. The feeling of being lost and trapped, but then seeing hope and life and freedom, and letting its fire consume your entire being until you reawaken, alive and whole and a new creation -- this is, by far, related to the feeling and joy that comes with converting to Christ.
Yet, what about other forms of conversion taken from a slightly more secular viewpoint? Could those relate to this story as well? Certainly, at least as far as I’m concerned. I don’t know the personal prisons of others, and I can’t pretend to, but I know that one I struggle constantly with is my shyness -- it’s an issue that I struggle with in the “real world,” and in a sense, it in itself is somewhat of a “box” that holds me back. I believe that most people have struggles that keep them trapped in their own boxes and prisons, and as a result, I think this is why this film is so wonderful: it can connect to virtually any person in a way that is completely unique to the individual.
At any rate, my 500 words is almost up, so I think I’ll end this now. Disagree or agree...just leave comments, please! Hehe.
posted by Caitlynn @ 11:39 AM
3 Comments:
These are great observations Caitlynn !
I'm curious where you had seen this before.
I especially liked your thoughts on how this film spoke directly to your own spiritual experiece as a believer and yet spoke just as profoundly to unbelievers because we all experience isolation,pain, conversion as part of a meaningful existence. This is a great example of how one can speak specifically to a personal experience in such a way that it can be broadly appreciated by those who don't share our exact experience. This is something as Christian art makers we need to take to heart.
Hmm...is it odd that I'm commenting on my own blog? lol
Actually, I just wanted to say that I had seen it before when I visited Huntington during a Communications Day, I think. All I remember is that after all the official schedule type stuff was over, a few of the people interested in DMA were walked over to your classroom and you treated us to a couple of short animations. This one was one of them, and the other was Hedgehog in the Fog.
If the video was meant to be serious, then it would show that Christian guys chase after girls the same ways that secular ones do. But in context, it was meant as a parody of the social ills found in society. It wasn't meant to be so over-analyzed to the point of having all humor sucked out of it.
I just think we're all taking ourselves a little too seriously, here.
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