videography – G.O.S.P.E.L.

How do you re-explain something that a lot of people would claim to know, in a way that is relevant to culture?

“The greatest story never told.”

You have to watch it. Be impressed.

Excellent motion graphics, an intriguing approach, awesome sound design, a good camera presence and tightly edited. A depth to the story that is often told too simply.

Does it work?

What are the best GOSPEL presentations you’ve seen on video?

research methods – interviews

One of the research methods I’m using to gain a more in-depth picture of church leaders’ understanding of design is through interviews.

As a research technique, interviews provide a great way to get interesting perspectives, andproduce qualitative data that may help describe the experience rather than simply quantify it.

There are, however, downsides.

1. You should have clearly defined questions for the interview, or have enough caffeine in your system to be able to respond to different directions the interview takes.
2. People are sometimes weird about recordings. Taking notes can be more accessible, but often can still impede interaction – you’re writing, they’re talking, it takes a moment for you to finish your note for the note-taking to be worthwhile; you have to respond or follow up with a question… and so on.
3. Transcribing is useful in noticing things you didn’t before, and in keeping good records. It will also drive you insane, and play back to you the flaws in your own interview technique (see #1).
   1. Transcribing will cause flare-ups with existing conditions, such as RSI. Typing for long periods of time and the back and forth nature of transcribing is death to hands.
   2. I think A directs the research project negatively by colouring your experience and taking away all the good thoughts you had in the interview and experience of interacting.
   3. Logistically, you will be transcribing for at least double the amount of time you were interviewing for. This takes up your time, which is precious if your research period is 3 weeks.

On the other hand, my interviewee had some very interesting insights into how churches perceive design, a ‘biblical ethic of simplicity’ and the need for reflection and serious consideration before adopting any form of technology, design or culture into church.

the perils of literature reviews

According to my university, when undertaking research, I MUST:

Complete a proper literature review, where appropriate, to enhance the validity of the research; (UTS 2010, para 4)

To enhance the validity of the research. Interesting. I thought it was to poke me in the eye, and say “HAH HAH! Turns out your research subject isn’t as original as you thought it was!” then push you over so you trip and all the papers you carefully photocopied at the library scatter all over the dark, wet pavement, and you feel the hard grit in your knees.

On my research subject, much of my literature review fits into the following categories:

• thesis and other academic research documents, which are quite dry;
• trade journals on the topic of particular projects or trends;
• general marketing or other discussions which use church or religion as a side example; and
• news articles that write from a human interest point of view.

The peril of literature reviews is finding more information than you possibly could need; wanting to read it all and yet not having the time to absorb and reflect on the information. Without reflection, literature reviews are just a human Google search and index, with the most relevant first and pages and pages of more on the reference list.

One of the few theses that are actually interesting to read is original research into Visual Electronic Media Use & Worship Satisfaction. It suggests that while the rate of adoption of this technology (PowerPoint, video projection and so on) has been rapid across America (and I would suggest, Australia), there has been little systematic effort by researchers to document the growth of this technology and its effects – namely, whether or not the use of such media affects worshipers’ satisfaction with worship (Gilbert 2010, p. 16).

As useful as it might be for a research project to measure and record via a survey, how satisfied worshipers are with the worship experience afforded by visual media, I cannot get past the idea that in fact, it is built on a slightly, if not completely, flawed premise: That worship is about us, and our satisfaction.

Surely, if worship (in the olde English, worth-ship) is about ascribing value and honour to something, then despite the trappings that it finds in the modern church, it cannot be about us, except as we respond to God, and give him ‘worth’ and glory and praise. As someone said to me tonight at church, the question we should be asking is, is God satisfied with our worship? Does using visual electronic media help us to worship him better, or does it bring more focus onto ourselves and less on thinking of the Creator of the universe?

What’s your opinion?

Gilbert, R. 2010, ‘From icons to iPods: Visual electronic media use and worship satisfaction’, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses;  ProQuest

The Theological Basis

A church leader and theological lecturer I spoke to recently told me:

‘Yes, I do have an opinion on design in church… but my reasons are mostly theological!’

Well, what would you expect? Surely if you ask people in the church, about why they do things, even things related to business or administration or food or whatever, at least part of their reason should be ‘theological’.

Definitions (Part 1 of many)

Theological: “discourse on God” (Plato); from the greek roots of the word: words and discussions about God.

Gospel: either – ‘good news‘ or specifically ‘a written account of the life of Jesus‘. As Paul explains it in 1 Corinthians, a letter to the church at Corinth,

‘…that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, ⁵ and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. ⁶ After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. ⁷ Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, ⁸ and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.’

One of the research methods I will be using for this project is interviews and recording of informal conversations with stakeholders (designers, church members, and church leaders). What I hope to achieve by interviewing church leaders and members is to find out more about these reasons for or against using design as a way to communicate the good news about Jesus. I’m interested to also see if people are more or less open about their opinions (particularly negative ones) in a formal interview setting. Possibly this could be a barrier to getting good information.

Have any comments? Want to suggest a church with great design or someone I should talk to? Leave a note below 🙂