Comments on: Quakers in the media http://27wishes.wordpress.com/2007/05/19/quakers-in-the-media/ Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:35:40 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Beyond print: Quakers and the media (revisited) « 27 Wishes http://27wishes.wordpress.com/2007/05/19/quakers-in-the-media/#comment-602 Beyond print: Quakers and the media (revisited) « 27 Wishes Sat, 28 Feb 2009 16:35:51 +0000 http://27wishes.wordpress.com/2007/05/19/quakers-in-the-media/#comment-602 [...] February 28, 2009 by 27wishes Well, it’s been a while since I last looked into the topic of Quakers and the media; mainly, I was looking at movies, television, radio and other basic forms (other than print) to [...] [...] February 28, 2009 by 27wishes Well, it’s been a while since I last looked into the topic of Quakers and the media; mainly, I was looking at movies, television, radio and other basic forms (other than print) to [...]

]]> By: cubbie http://27wishes.wordpress.com/2007/05/19/quakers-in-the-media/#comment-583 cubbie Thu, 23 Oct 2008 22:25:49 +0000 http://27wishes.wordpress.com/2007/05/19/quakers-in-the-media/#comment-583 i FINALLY saw the quaker episodes of "six feet under" (or 2 of them, if more are coming). it's funny because i've been watching since the beginning on library dvds, and really really loved season 3 and 4 especially. but the season finale of 4 felt like the "jumping the shark" moment for me with that show, and it still hasn't quite redeemed itself. but the quaker stuff is pretty right on in a lot of ways. and the singing got me choked up. but it's funny that it's happening right now because my frustration with the show is that in those 2 seasons, i felt like it was somewhat about redemption and healing and possibility and growing, and then it's lost hope again in a lot of ways... and then the quakers are in with that. i FINALLY saw the quaker episodes of “six feet under” (or 2 of them, if more are coming). it’s funny because i’ve been watching since the beginning on library dvds, and really really loved season 3 and 4 especially. but the season finale of 4 felt like the “jumping the shark” moment for me with that show, and it still hasn’t quite redeemed itself. but the quaker stuff is pretty right on in a lot of ways. and the singing got me choked up. but it’s funny that it’s happening right now because my frustration with the show is that in those 2 seasons, i felt like it was somewhat about redemption and healing and possibility and growing, and then it’s lost hope again in a lot of ways… and then the quakers are in with that.

]]> By: Angel and the Badman (and other Quaker movies) « 27 Wishes http://27wishes.wordpress.com/2007/05/19/quakers-in-the-media/#comment-559 Angel and the Badman (and other Quaker movies) « 27 Wishes Wed, 23 Apr 2008 02:27:09 +0000 http://27wishes.wordpress.com/2007/05/19/quakers-in-the-media/#comment-559 [...] (and other Quaker movies) Posted on April 22, 2008 by 27wishes A while ago, I wrote about Quakers in the media, a quest I went on for a few months while subscribing to GreenCine’s movie service and armed [...] [...] (and other Quaker movies) Posted on April 22, 2008 by 27wishes A while ago, I wrote about Quakers in the media, a quest I went on for a few months while subscribing to GreenCine’s movie service and armed [...]

]]> By: Robin M. http://27wishes.wordpress.com/2007/05/19/quakers-in-the-media/#comment-428 Robin M. Mon, 08 Oct 2007 04:40:41 +0000 http://27wishes.wordpress.com/2007/05/19/quakers-in-the-media/#comment-428 It's not in the media, but this morning, when I told the guy setting up his blanket next to mine that we were going to have a Quaker meeting for worship in a little bit, he blinked and said, "My mother was a Quaker." Later he elaborated and said she was an Iowa farmgirl, and that she was raised as a Quaker but he wasn't. Just a funny story I wanted to share. It’s not in the media, but this morning, when I told the guy setting up his blanket next to mine that we were going to have a Quaker meeting for worship in a little bit, he blinked and said, “My mother was a Quaker.” Later he elaborated and said she was an Iowa farmgirl, and that she was raised as a Quaker but he wasn’t. Just a funny story I wanted to share.

]]> By: 27wishes http://27wishes.wordpress.com/2007/05/19/quakers-in-the-media/#comment-416 27wishes Sat, 22 Sep 2007 18:12:02 +0000 http://27wishes.wordpress.com/2007/05/19/quakers-in-the-media/#comment-416 ...and now I notice that Nixon (movie, 1995) includes his past being raised as a Quaker affecting his future. I haven't fully watched the film yet, but it's noted on the sleeve of the DVD that directory Oliver Stone makes this connection. I'm curious. …and now I notice that Nixon (movie, 1995) includes his past being raised as a Quaker affecting his future. I haven’t fully watched the film yet, but it’s noted on the sleeve of the DVD that directory Oliver Stone makes this connection. I’m curious.

]]> By: 27wishes http://27wishes.wordpress.com/2007/05/19/quakers-in-the-media/#comment-192 27wishes Tue, 05 Jun 2007 02:31:27 +0000 http://27wishes.wordpress.com/2007/05/19/quakers-in-the-media/#comment-192 Anyone notice the cover of <a>Friends Bulletin</a> this month? "Jessamyn West and the making of the classic Quaker movie 'Friendly Persuasion.'" Anyone notice the cover of Friends Bulletin this month? “Jessamyn West and the making of the classic Quaker movie ‘Friendly Persuasion.’”

]]> By: Cat Chapin-Bishop http://27wishes.wordpress.com/2007/05/19/quakers-in-the-media/#comment-171 Cat Chapin-Bishop Wed, 23 May 2007 19:32:48 +0000 http://27wishes.wordpress.com/2007/05/19/quakers-in-the-media/#comment-171 You left out one of my favorites, the recurring character of Quaker Joey Lucas on <i>West Wing</i>. Her character is particulary in the spotlight in the episode where Jed Bartlett is trying to decide whether or not to commute a death sentence. (Guess what Joey's position is?) I think that this example is pretty typical of what I've seen of portrayals of Quakers in the media--the characters usually behave in ways that are pretty consistent with Quaker testimonies, and the depictions are usually quite positive. Unfortunately, I think that, to some degree, that probably contributes to the tendency to treat Quakers as symbols... I remember recently mentioning in passing, quite casually to a coworker, something I was going to do with my meeting over the weekend, and how it elicited a really fervent exclamation:"Quakers! I admire Quakers so much!" That threw me for a bit--it felt so odd. Obviously it's good to have our values perceived beyond our doors... but I'm not sure "admiration" is such a good thing, implying, as I think it does, that the admirer is safely outside the boundary of the thing being admired, and is not necessarily likely to try to embody those values himself. You left out one of my favorites, the recurring character of Quaker Joey Lucas on West Wing. Her character is particulary in the spotlight in the episode where Jed Bartlett is trying to decide whether or not to commute a death sentence. (Guess what Joey’s position is?)

I think that this example is pretty typical of what I’ve seen of portrayals of Quakers in the media–the characters usually behave in ways that are pretty consistent with Quaker testimonies, and the depictions are usually quite positive. Unfortunately, I think that, to some degree, that probably contributes to the tendency to treat Quakers as symbols…

I remember recently mentioning in passing, quite casually to a coworker, something I was going to do with my meeting over the weekend, and how it elicited a really fervent exclamation:”Quakers! I admire Quakers so much!” That threw me for a bit–it felt so odd.

Obviously it’s good to have our values perceived beyond our doors… but I’m not sure “admiration” is such a good thing, implying, as I think it does, that the admirer is safely outside the boundary of the thing being admired, and is not necessarily likely to try to embody those values himself.

]]> By: Rich Accetta-Evans http://27wishes.wordpress.com/2007/05/19/quakers-in-the-media/#comment-166 Rich Accetta-Evans Tue, 22 May 2007 13:43:12 +0000 http://27wishes.wordpress.com/2007/05/19/quakers-in-the-media/#comment-166 I saw a Law and Order episode involving a fictional Quaker Meeting in Manhattan. As I recall it, the principal Quaker involved was a rape victim or attempted rape victim who refused to name her attacker. The Meeting (which looked like a failry realistic liberal Meeting) was depicted as passively resisting when the cops tried to search their records to find the attacker. This program was pretty upsetting to some Friends here in NY who don't think that portecting rapists is part of our testimony. To be fair, the moral dilemma (if one considers it a dilemma) was resolved somewhat at the end of the show when it was revealed that the rapist was not only reformed but, because of an injury, incapable of repeating his crime. I saw a Law and Order episode involving a fictional Quaker Meeting in Manhattan. As I recall it, the principal Quaker involved was a rape victim or attempted rape victim who refused to name her attacker. The Meeting (which looked like a failry realistic liberal Meeting) was depicted as passively resisting when the cops tried to search their records to find the attacker.
This program was pretty upsetting to some Friends here in NY who don’t think that portecting rapists is part of our testimony. To be fair, the moral dilemma (if one considers it a dilemma) was resolved somewhat at the end of the show when it was revealed that the rapist was not only reformed but, because of an injury, incapable of repeating his crime.

]]> By: Joe G. http://27wishes.wordpress.com/2007/05/19/quakers-in-the-media/#comment-165 Joe G. Mon, 21 May 2007 22:45:56 +0000 http://27wishes.wordpress.com/2007/05/19/quakers-in-the-media/#comment-165 Also check out these TV movies/series from the 1990's: Lynda Carter played a Quaker matriarch in the thriller <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119933/#comment" rel="nofollow">"A Prayer in the Dark"</a> (1997). Guess what it's about? (Quaker confronted with gun slinging madmen!) Tyne Daley had a re-occurring role as a traveling Quaker minister in the TV series <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108725/" rel="nofollow">"Christy"</a> (1994), (more information on the series via Wikipedia <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christy_(TV_series)" rel="nofollow">here</a>) although if I remember correctly, her being a Quaker was not highlighted all that much (and yes, I did watch it for both Daly & the Quaker angle at the time). Also check out these TV movies/series from the 1990’s:

Lynda Carter played a Quaker matriarch in the thriller “A Prayer in the Dark” (1997). Guess what it’s about? (Quaker confronted with gun slinging madmen!)

Tyne Daley had a re-occurring role as a traveling Quaker minister in the TV series “Christy” (1994), (more information on the series via Wikipedia here) although if I remember correctly, her being a Quaker was not highlighted all that much (and yes, I did watch it for both Daly & the Quaker angle at the time).

]]> By: martinkelley http://27wishes.wordpress.com/2007/05/19/quakers-in-the-media/#comment-164 martinkelley Mon, 21 May 2007 21:03:49 +0000 http://27wishes.wordpress.com/2007/05/19/quakers-in-the-media/#comment-164 Considering our numbers are so small as to make us little more than a rounding-off error in religious America it's amazing we get depicted at all. I think we're doing pretty well with niche media. I'm amazed at how many Friends I'm meeting who first learned about us (or learned we didn't look like the Quaker Oats man) after taking the Beliefnet "What Religion Are You" Quiz. There seem to be a lot of Quaker-curious seekers out there. The general American public might not blog but a <a href="http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/126/report_display.asp" rel="nofollow">Pew Internet study</a> two years ago found that 64% of Americans have used the internet for "spiritual or religious purposes." The meager studies of American Friends have suggested that most meeting newcomers are twenty- and thirty-somethings and surely most of them will hit Google or Wikipedia looking for more information. They'll find the blogs, meeting websites and directories. But your point is about movies, TV shows and mass media. I wonder if interests perks up when Friends do make an appearance as a "spicy" character or sub-plot? I've stumbled across interesting discussions on boards devoted to Six Feet Under, Joan of Arcadia and Law & Order when we've been shown there, though I haven't met anyone who said they came to us after watching any of these shows! Martin @ <a href="http://www.quakerranter.org" rel="nofollow">Quaker Ranter</a> Considering our numbers are so small as to make us little more than a rounding-off error in religious America it’s amazing we get depicted at all. I think we’re doing pretty well with niche media. I’m amazed at how many Friends I’m meeting who first learned about us (or learned we didn’t look like the Quaker Oats man) after taking the Beliefnet “What Religion Are You” Quiz. There seem to be a lot of Quaker-curious seekers out there.

The general American public might not blog but a Pew Internet study two years ago found that 64% of Americans have used the internet for “spiritual or religious purposes.” The meager studies of American Friends have suggested that most meeting newcomers are twenty- and thirty-somethings and surely most of them will hit Google or Wikipedia looking for more information. They’ll find the blogs, meeting websites and directories.

But your point is about movies, TV shows and mass media. I wonder if interests perks up when Friends do make an appearance as a “spicy” character or sub-plot? I’ve stumbled across interesting discussions on boards devoted to Six Feet Under, Joan of Arcadia and Law & Order when we’ve been shown there, though I haven’t met anyone who said they came to us after watching any of these shows!

Martin @ Quaker Ranter

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