We R A Fever

Three words that describe The Kills: Confident, Visceral, Explosive
Three songs you have to hear: Kissy, No Wow, Tape Song

I'd have to say my biggest complaint with live music has been that at best, you get a retread of the studio album, with a few covers. Whatever stage shenanigans, video displays, or lighting add to the equation, if the performers lack passion, energy, and confidence the result is disappointing.

The Kills (guy & gal duet aliasing as Hotel and VV respectively) love their music and love playing it. The amount I enjoy their music (more than the average audiophile surely) is dwarfed by the zest for performing the two display on stage.

Still got it...

Haven't played the piano in forever...


Untitled from Andrew Prewitt on Vimeo.

The Violent

Our pastor raised the question about the morality of violent imagery in media, here's what how I'm responding so far...

Violent imagery, like any other imagery, can be shocking to the uninitiated.

Violence in media is a medium. Like any medium, it is neither good nor evil, it carries the message of the mediator.

In the example of Saw, when Jigsaw orchestrates a horrific situation where a man has to consider sawing off his own leg, what is his (and the writer/director's) intent?

Most importantly, what can/will we take from that?

If we enjoy the idea of someone toying with the life of another, we need to search our heart, because somewhere in there is an unhealthy fixation on power, and probably a weakness of will in our self that requires some voyeuristic exercise of authority.

Another example, this is a little more gray, when we watch an action movie, where good is battling evil in whatever form of hyper-stylized combat, why do we find these sequences exhilarating?

Searching my own heart, it would seem that the artful beauty of whatever martial art (be it kung fu, stylized gun battle, sword play, giant robots, aliens...) is being portrayed displays both excellence and the unpredictability of conflict. Will good triumph? Usually yes, but at what cost?

Even in the depravity of something like Saw there are lessons to be learned, God does not hold his hand over our eyes that we might not be corrupted by the violence of the Old Testament (tent peg hammered through skull stands out in my memory).

Ultimately I think the unredeemed heart will rejoice in the evil of violence. The redeemed heart may be sobered by the depravity, enriched by the victory, or convicted by the humanity.

However, I'm not saying all of you who find R-rated violent imagery and gore unwatchable are inferior for your inability to appreciate something.

I think that this is exactly the type of freedom to be given up for the weaker brother.

For example, I suggested some guys at church getting together to watch Pulp Fiction (it's a theological/philosophical goldmine), one guy wasn't too excited by the idea because he doesn't like it's violent content, I'm not going to insist on watching Pulp Fiction, we'll watch The Princess Bride if needs be, because I value his fellowship more than that or any movie.