Jessica Mesman has written a thoughtful postmortem of the recently-canceled TV drama Joan of Arcadia over at Godspy. She paints an interesting and not uncritical picture of the rise and fall of primetime TV’s most blatantly God-focused show.
Among the many factors cited as contributing to the show’s ultimate cancellation, Mesman wonders if evangelical (and other religious) viewers grew bored with the show’s “vague ecumenical monotheism” and hesitance to allow the protagonist’s faith to mature:
The best-selling books in Tim LaHaye’s Left Behind series and the phenomenon of Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ demonstrated that overtly Christian material can be wildly successful. And with NBC firing off the apocalyptic miniseries Revelations this past April and a new dramatic series Book of Daniel, about an Episcopal priest, in September, the ante is being upped on prime-time television. When Joan debuted in 2003, the mere sight of this Cute-Boy God on prime time seemed racy. By ducking divisive issues of faith, the show appealed to seekers. But in the post-Passion world, Joan couldn’t afford to be so coy.
It may be that Joan played it too safe and lost in the end because of it. But I think Barbara Hall, the show’s producer, deserves a salute for tackling the question of God without getting either too preachy or too cynical.
And reading the above quote, I’m struck by a thought: five years ago, many evangelicals were lamenting what seemed to be a complete absence of God in the world of pop culture and entertainment. Now it seems that God is showing up in everything, from horror movies to blockbuster epics to teen television dramas. (Or maybe it’s always been there, but we’re just noticing it?) But now that God is a hot topic in movies and books, the challenge of communicating Christ to our world seems more complicated, not less.
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September 28, 2005 at 13:50
Joan of Arcadia was a cool show. It just ran out of steam because people got bored! It has nothing to do with whether or not it promoted God.
Television is all about entertainment. Whatever the content, if you keep people’s interest you are staying on tv.
I applaud the producer of the show for coming up with an interesting concept. It really has no major bearings on the job of the Christian to spread the gospel.
Christians still have to represent Christ and having a television program during prime time about a girl who talks to God can only help.
Regards,
Donnell Duncan
President and Founder
The Cracked Door
If the Door is Cracked, the Door is Open
September 28, 2005 at 14:30
I agree! Joan of Arcadia was a really cool show. Sad to hear it’s being taken off the air.
September 28, 2005 at 14:37
actually, i think it got cancelled because it was starting to make God more personal (effecting people other than joan) and was introducing good vs evil (where God would win) and it started leaning toward catholicism….a specific denomination as opposed to ‘vague’ vogue.
i miss the show. loved the song.
September 28, 2005 at 18:34
Leave it up to us, the christians, to never get enough entertainment just like the world, even if it isn’t slightly the correct portayal of who the only God is.
To sit and watch shows about gods and want more shows about gods even if the portrayals don’t even coincide with who God is, and call it good, is flat out wrong or not understood why.
Here is why I say this: God doesn’t need us to help Him bring people to Christ. He allows us to only for His glory. Remember, we will toss the crowns He gave us to Him.
When will some understand, God doesn’t wink at the shows that blend man’s religions and false teachings, while we say it will help bring the ones he is calling to Him.
The only method for the clear presentation of who God is, and what the requirement is for right fellowship, is the clear presentation of the Gospel.
Paul strived for this. He wrote and encouraged persecuted believers to fight the good fight for the sake of Christ, because without men understanding Christ and who He is, men don’t meet God. Wouldn’t it be well enough for us to seek and give our approval for the same?
Have we outgrown even desiring the proper presentation of the Gospel? We are not even grieved at the twisted presentation of God let alone at the non-presentation of the Gospel. It isn’t just a show,it is a false portrayal of God.
We just say that it will help bring people to talk about God. We say it is a cool show, because why? Now we just settled for a luke-warm swish of tv’s god, and called it good, and cool, because we were entertained.
Timothy 3:4-5
”... lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
September 28, 2005 at 20:12
Wrong: “Remember, we will toss the crowns He gave us to Him.”
I said that wrong, The elders in Revelation are the ones who do this.
Revelation 4:10-11
10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
sorry
September 28, 2005 at 22:26
It is so like many things in life—something that was good, is cancelled. It seems that if your not ill-tempered, using bad language, are with very few clothes on; your show bites the dust. Even the children’s programs have to be selected with more care now, than in years gone past.
If this sounds like an “Old Person’s” grip? It is! I have almost stopped watching TV, altogether because of the bad shows on it. Now, another good show is cancelled. Maybe GOD, should take over the TV completely, so we could get back to what we should remember. Shows that show how we should act and treat one another. Respect for one another and to remember to Give HIM the GLORY and PRAISES!
October 4, 2005 at 21:39
Hi everyone,
Back to the intro:
Have you guys heard that they have just completed the third movie in the “Left Behind” series? It is called “Left Behind, World at War” starring Louis Gossett Jr. and Kirk Cameron. All the same actors are reprising their original roles from the original film.
There is one difference, though. Instead of releasing it to theaters, they are releasing it to churches!
For more information, and to sign up your church, go to
http://www.leftbehind-worldatwar.com/index.php
I’ve seen the theatrical trailor, and this looks like a FABULOUS film!!!! I can’t wait!!!