Author Paul Asay is a fellow pop culture crusader. He has a good sense of humor to go along with his faith, a combo that allows him to engage in all sorts of conversations in creative ways. Just my style.
His recent book is God on the Streets of Gotham: What the Big Screen Batman Can Teach Us About God and Ourselves [Tyndale]. He recently took a few minutes to chat with me about the Caped Crusader under Christopher Nolan’s direction and how pop culture can be a great tool in finding meaning. [Spoiler free!]
Part 1 of 4: God on the Streets of Gotham
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=225oS18wwY4
Part 2 of 4: What Makes Batman So Special?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDv6KFAG3oY
Part 3 of 4: Pop Culture Philosophy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnSS-Ce_8-k
Part 4 of 4: The Dark Knight Rises
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gx0ppWm8DbU
You can read Paul’s blog and get more information about his God and Gotham book by visiting PaulAsay.com.
Have you seen The Dark Knight Rises? What did you think [No spoilers!]
Note: I’m still working on the video production/Skype thing, so sorry for those tiny picture boxes.
3 replies on “God and Gotham: Paul Asay Interview”
Thanks Clay, I’m really enjoying the interviews. This was very interesting, and I added the book to my (long) wish list!
I’m “wired that way” too, and I sometimes feel that I’m more excited by books and movies than I should be – like the bursting out of me, or won’t shut up about it, or can’t find the words kind of excited. It’s just so wondrous to take in a story and be moved by it. I guess what I’m really referring to is a story that delves into what it means to be human. But there are some people who take no greater joy out of one story than the next. It’s just entertainment to them.
Ultimately, I think what we take away from an experience is in direct relation to what we bring to it. You and Paul and I are looking for the bigger message (the story within the story, God’s fingerprints) – and so we are better able to find it.
Or something like that.
Clay
and Paul, thanks for this.
As
a family we are reading the Big Book of Virtues and recently read about
rebellion.
When
we asked the kids if they knew what rebellion was my 12 year old used Star Wars
and the Rebel Alliance as his reference point.
It
was a GREAT teaching moment.
I
recently led the devotions at our Boy Scout summer camp and “taught” from The
Avengers, Finding Nemo, and then the Incredibles.
The
movie hook had their attention and really spoke to them.
Paul
and Clay, well done sirs. I have dreamed of doing something similar at http://www.reelparables.com and am encouraged
by both of your work.
Thanks
again.
Thanks for the encouragement! Always great to connect w/ someone else who sees these connections. Keep up the good work & keep me posted how it goes.