Christ Figures

[Matt Pniewski]

I posted this topic in another guild, decided to bring it here. Just a discussion about Christ Figures in the media. I'm working on a study on that in my Computer art class. You'll see the pictures when done. It's a project mostly about social justice and Christianity, and I decided to create an image of Christ using parts of film characters meant to represent Christ in some sort of struggle for Justic.

A Christ figure is any fictional character Meant to represent Jesus in some way. Superman, Robocop, and Cool Hand Luke are all admitted (as in, the creators stated Christ paralells were the intention) Christ Figures. Otherwise, we have E.T., Harry Potter, and any number of icons.


Got any favorites, any ideas, ect?


Also, notice that Christ, in the theatrical film version of Godspell, wears the Superman emblem. That's how you know he's Jesus.  

[freelance lover]

It's been a million years since I've seen the Matrix, but my boyfriend and I were discussing it last night and he mentioned the whole movie is basically a big Christ allegory.

Of course, then you have the whole Chronicles of Narnia vs The Golden Compass thing.

Really, there are tons of Christ figures in movies and literature. It's a really common theme.  

[Matt Pniewski]

freelance lover

It's been a million years since I've seen the Matrix, but my boyfriend and I were discussing it last night and he mentioned the whole movie is basically a big Christ allegory.

Of course, then you have the whole Chronicles of Narnia vs The Golden Compass thing.

Really, there are tons of Christ figures in movies and literature. It's a really common theme.

Aslan isn't a Christ figure simply because he is Christ, if that makes sense. I appreciate the Golden Compass books for their bolder stance, and very visually inventive world. It's a shame the movie was as awful as it was.

Yes, the first Matrix was intended as a Christ Allegory. I somehow felt that to be missing in the sequels. Granted, in the case of the Matrix (and Robocop) the stories were not written by Christians. I know little about the Wachowski's, but I know Paul Verheoven is a big proponent of Christ imagery simply because it symbolizes the things that are right and just.


He also commented that Robocop was the American Christ. Being an American, instead of forgiving your sins he blows off your head. The whole idea is Ironic. Robocop is a satire on our culture (in the eighties, and still relevent today). While he is the hero, and what he represents is Christ, he is a somewhat maligned view of it.


The Wachowski's just seemed sort of pretentious with their metaphor. it seemed to be there for the sake of being there, rather than having any purpose. They thought it would be great, but never thought out the purpose. Also, Neo slaughters hundreds of innocent people in the course of the movie. Whereas Robocop and Superman use violence, they are just in their actions. Somethings Neo does sort of make me wonder if I want to think of him as a Christ Figure.  

[ferret658]

I think my favorite Christ figure would hafta be The Rock's character in Walking Tall. His little brother OD's and he walks into the casino and destroys it in righteous anger.

A bit more violent than the actual Christ was, but it gets the point across.