The Unexpected Guest?
When does Christmas start in your household? At what point is it socially acceptable to put up your tree and start playing Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas is You’ at full pelt? With the regularity of a liturgical calendar, the Christmas adverts on TV arguably mark the beginning of the festive period for many of us. Nowadays, the Christmas ad is as much a part of the season as Boxing Day sales, broken toys, and left-over turkey.
Although it’s perhaps lost something of its lustre over the years, the John Lewis ad is still something of a benchmark. This year’s – ‘Unexpected Guest’ – sees our young hero befriending an alien who has crash-landed their ship in his local woods.
This article is one in a series (Connecting with Culture) from the the London Institute of Contemporary Christianity.
The Great, the Good, and the Green
Warning: Contains plot spoilers for the film The Green Knight
David Lowery’s daring, dark, and dizzying film The Green Knight re-examines chivalry for the modern age.
In the ancient poem that inspired the film, the gallant Sir Gawain sets out to prove his chivalric credentials by taking on a peculiar axe-wielding contest proposed by the other-worldly Green Knight. Along the way he faces various challenges. Can he maintain his purity despite seduction? His loyalty despite temptation? His bravery despite fear?
This article is one in a series (Connecting with Culture) from the the London Institute of Contemporary Christianity.
What Do the Apostle Paul and Ed Sheeran Have in Common?
It’s unlikely Paul had red hair, nor do I think he was particularly musical. I’m pretty sure Ed Sheeran couldn’t make a tent, and probably hasn’t ever been shipwrecked. So, what’s the link?
They both know the power of habit.
Take, for instance, Ed Sheeran’s new single – Bad Habits (watch below). His bad habit of choice isn’t nail biting or doom-scrolling but an inability to say no – to one-night stands, to alcohol, to strangers’ invitations to parties. His bad habits lead to ‘late nights, endin’ alone / conversations with a stranger I barely know / swearing this will be the last but it probably won’t’.
This article is one in a series (Connecting with Culture) from the the London Institute of Contemporary Christianity.