tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272008603641292743.post4215526220626115618..comments2024-03-22T07:38:11.573+00:00Comments on Sitcom Geek: Characters and StoriesJames Caryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01315185952705396144noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272008603641292743.post-75098427568620961832010-09-07T13:45:44.134+01:002010-09-07T13:45:44.134+01:00Useful post Jam- it chimes with some stuff I'v...Useful post Jam- it chimes with some stuff I've been reading about narrative theology (so somewhat tangential, and potentially only interesting to me). NT is a reaction to a systematic theology that takes what is a narrative revelation and extrapolates lists and doctrines, presenting that as a purer truth. Character is action- a good story teller brings a character alive by narrating events well, in a way that no number of straightforward propositional statements could accomplish. We don’t infer character from story, character is known in and through the story “and recedes from cognitive grasp the more he is abstracted from story” (James Kelsey). Guys like Hand Frei are keen that we read Jesus in the context of his story, what he did and experienced as much as what he said and the 'truths' we can systematise from that. His life wasn't just a convenient background for a sermon, just like a great sitcom character cannot simply spout morals and lessons (or even jokes). The meaning is the story, the character is the action.<br /><br />I guess as a writer you need to know who they are in order to know what they will do, but the audience can only ever know who they are THROUGH what they do.<br /><br />Not a fully developed thesis there (clearly needs some clarifying!) but it's got me thinking, so thanks.girlandsteedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10485973764304458710noreply@blogger.com