Unplanned and Some Wrong Ways to Right Wrongs

| April 14, 2019 | Reviews | 4 comments

In its first poorly recorded voice-over, Unplanned’s unnecessary narrator directly warns her audience concerning the film: this will not be easy to watch. This proves to be correct, in all the ways the filmmakers expected and perhaps in other ways that they didn’t.

Unplanned tells the true story of Abby Johnson (Ashley Bratcher), the youngest clinic director in Planned Parenthood history—and herself a two-time abortion “customer”—who has a change of heart regarding abortion and leaves the organization to become a pro-life advocate. The film also highlights Abby’s interactions with Coalition for Life volunteers (Jared Lotz, Emma Elle Roberts) and an antagonistic Planned Parenthood regional director (Robia Scott).

By tackling this admittedly difficult and risky subject matter, Unplanned represents a step forward for “Christian cinema” to some degree, but its few laudable elements are greatly overshadowed by shoddy craftsmanship and ineffective—perhaps even harmful—messaging.

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Where to Start with Civilized Creature

| March 5, 2019 | Features | 0 comments

Ryan Lane is the most prolific songwriter that Renew the Arts has had the pleasure of working with. In the past four years of making music under the Civilized Creature name, Lane has released six full-length albums, the last two in partnership with Renew the Arts. Later this year, Civilized Creature will release his seventh record, The Way Back Home. In case you haven’t heard any of Lane’s work or just need a refresher course, here are some highlights from his discography so far.

But First, Who and What Is Civilized Creature?

Civilized Creature is the recording alias of Ryan Lane, a singer-songwriter based in Gig Harbor, Washington. Though Lane previously wrote, recorded, and performed music under his own name, his shift to the Civilized Creature moniker marks a stylistic and thematic focus in his work.

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Every Power Wide Awake by John Van Deusen, One Year Later

| December 27, 2018 | Reviews | 0 comments

For a year now, I’ve told myself that I would write about John Van Deusen’s record Every Power Wide Awake. I began writing this post a month ago, and then it sat in the editing bay untouched since then. In that time, a lot of life has gone by, for better and worse. I’ve since seen John perform twice, and I’ve also interviewed him twice for my blog, We Are Mirrors. I’ve also endured a not-insignificant deal of hardship and general unpleasantness in life.

This record has only become more relevant and powerful in this latest tumultuous season of my life. Every Power Wide Awake is an important and essential release, one of this decade’s most noteworthy and exceptional “worship” albums. (more…)

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Renew the Arts Roundtable: Ambient Church

| June 12, 2018 | Commentary | 0 comments

Renew the Arts Roundtable is a continuing series of discussions between members and friends of Renew the Arts concerning (mostly) recent happenings in the intersecting worlds of faith, art, and popular culture. In this first installment, three staff members talk about Ambient Church, the implications this movement has for the relationship between the Church and the Arts, and how Christian art can be liberated by analyzing this issue.

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From Quality Strangers to Make Sure, Joshua Jackson Walks Home Instead

| November 16, 2017 | Features | 0 comments

Joshua Jackson in his hometown of Opelika, Alabama. Photo by Rusty Hein.

The sun has set in Opelika, Alabama, and Joshua Jackson rolls through town with a car full of his close friends. They’ve spent the day shooting for a short film to be published on Jackson’s YouTube comedy channel. Hungry, they decide to go to Wendy’s for a quick bite. As they drive along, one of the friends starts to slap a beat on his lap. Another starts beatboxing, and the rest join in the impromptu percussion session. At the request of one of his friends, Jackson starts to sing a song about driving to Wendy’s in a free-wheeling, pseudo-rap as the crew laughs and continues the beat.

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