There are many worship and magazine type programmes such as “the heaven and earth show” and “songs of praise”. In such programmes I would expect to see a normal worship as seen in many churches and have hymns sung, prayers made and preaching read or the equivalent of this in other religions. There are then religious programmes like “everyman” and “whitness”. There would be a wider audience to these programmes because they are informative and interesting and I’d expect to be taught about worship and religion in these programmes. Perhaps all ages would watch this.
On Sundays “songs of praise” is on the TV. It is on at tea time as it is expected that families would be watching then, unfortunately it is likely that the children have other things to do for school so that attempt at getting children interested failed.
On “songs of praise” the hymns sung were quite dull and the ways in which the verses were presented was dull too. Also the personalities on this programme weren’t young ones and were only recognisable to the older generation. I don’t think this programme is popular because the majority of TV watchers are young and middle aged persons and this programme is specifically aimed at the older generation.
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Part Aii
On Eastenders there was an issue of euthanasia. It was between 2 characters, there was an ill woman, who had a terminal condition, cancer. Her name was Ethel Skinner, she moved in with Dot Cotton, an elderly roman catholic Christian. Ethel's state worsened and she eventually had to tell Dot and ask her to help her to die with dignity, but Dot being a strong Roman Catholic, believed this to be wrong. Once put in this situation she helped Ethel commit suicide and gave her a lethal amount of painkillers. Dot was upset she had done this and gone against her religion and tried many times to confess, and she shoplifted and gave herself in as she saw this was a suitable punishment for what she had done.
Soap operas are always dealing with issues of every day life, which gives their appeal. The Ethel Skinner story was a sensitive way of dealing with this issue and I wouldn’t change anything within this storyline. This is because it was done between two elderly women and we give sympathy to them due to stereotypical views. It also wasn’t just forgotten about after she died the story continued and showed that this was an important issue.
I think Ethel wanted to die because of the suffering she was feeling. It was no humane way to die if Dot hadn’t have helped her to die. Dot didn’t feel able to help her due to her strong religious beliefs.
Dot wouldn’t do this at first as her religion teaches in the 10 commandments “thou shall not kill” and dot believed she was a total moralist but she wasn’t.
The conflict between Dots feelings and her religion was her feelings said do it but her religion held her back telling her not to, eventually she gave in to her feelings.
Dots character is still a good Christian perhaps to me a better one but many may disagree with me. I think that compassion is more important than teachings because if we had no compassion the world would be an evil and sad place to live.
Euthanasia is a difficult issue to deal for many religious believers because its ok to say its wrong when your nit involved but put in the same position as Dot many would do the same.
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Part aiii
Four weddings and a funeral is a film discussing contemporary views to weddings. It asks such question as “does marriage have to be in church?” and if you don’t get married are you still as much of a couple as a married one.
This film shows how marriage has changed from a religious event to a social event and how it has less significance now as it had a few years ago.
The fact that so many marriages brake up in modern society is included in the film and the main character ‘Charles’ never marries ‘Carrie’ as they see marriage as a jinx, as many marriages around them were shambles before, during and after the wedding.
This film also addresses the gay issue and how they cant be married, but being a couple is just as significant in modern times.
The services in the film were varied. Some were very casual. The funeral of the older male of the group was sad but not highly religious. Yes it was n a church but it was reflections of his life not how religion can help you cope with his death.
Carries first wedding was themed and Scottish it was all very showy and not much thought went into the religious meaning of it, this is symbolic of the modern day wedding whereas Charles’ not wedding was very traditional such like one of a few years ago. The vows made him stop as they meant something to him but for others now the vows have no meaning and are just words which have no meaning.
Unfortunately weddings are now seen as social occasions and religion is quickly being forgotten.
Many films express their views on religion and today’s society but I feel strongly that this film pulls on heartstrings and makes us remember our religion.
When I watched this film I wondered if I would ever get married and if so would it be in a church? All together this film wasn’t really respectful of religious views, and made a mockery of weddings and funerals today, and how they no longer have any meaning.
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Section B
Over this coarsework I have realised that there are many more religious programmes on than I thaught. On the programmes I realised that they are mainly aimed at the older generation with the exceptions of films and soap operas.
Most of the characters in the tv programmes are older and theyre more mature whereas in films theyare aimed at younger people with younger people involved.
I have drawn up a list of religious characters in programmes today and weather theyre out oftouch or in touch with modern society:-
- Dot Cotton- older and doesn’t relate to the younger generation her moral issue had a more mature look and was dealt with in a dignified way. Evan though her actions didn’t agree with religion I believe she is a good role model.
- Charles- in touch with the younger generation although he is middle aged. Not a good role model as he chooses not to marry in the film.
- Carrie- young sees marrige as a show but is in touch with themodern society because she is young and made mistakes we may well make. Not a good role model.