Introduction
Any visual art or content is important to the creator and their audience. Notably, for the creator, it is the formulation of content that carries a message to their audience. Various theories in the film industry explain how a specific media such as a movie or a show produces the kind of content it does. For purposes of this research paper, the organization theory is explored in reference to the Passion of Christ. This purposefully helps analyze the thought process that goes into content in the film industry. Therefore, this essay relates the organization theory to the Passion of Christ in a bid to understand the media content and its audience approach better.
The organization theory dictates that visual content is created and distributed through a series of coordinated events which serve a specific goal (Ott,& Mack, 2014). This theory of production pays respect to process and structure. Structure refers to the framework of the organization which included three elements which are a hierarchy, differentiation, and specialization, and formalization. On the other hand, the process is the substance that sustains the structure. The structure and process meet to create organization culture. This term defines the norms and values that media content is associated with the audience's mind.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
The elements of the organization theory are evident in the Passion of Christ. This is a 2004 American biblical drama that tells the life-story of Jesus Christ as expressed in the Bible. Primarily, it focuses on the last 12hours of his life from the Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane to a brief depiction of his resurrection. The movie was a favorite among many religious persons on account of its coverage of Jesus’ struggle ( Weldon, 2016) . In this research, The Passion of Christ is assessed according to the Stuart Hall’s formula of Production. This is an encoding and decoding theory that suggests messages are strategically included in media content for the audience from different backgrounds to interpret in their way. This production formula looks into production, distribution, use, and social reproduction.
Production
As mentioned, content from The Passion of Christ gets its content from the Bible. Specifically, it focuses on the Gospel Books which are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These books tell the story of Jesus and his final hours of trial and suffering. Notably, there are varying interpretations of the Bible but The Passion of Christ portrays mainly the Catholic understanding of these events. The origin of this content makes it sensitive since any deviation would deter the religious audience. The producers worked to get the facts as closely related to the stories in the Bible.
The movie also got some of its content from the Tanakh which is a canonical collection of Jewish texts. From this source, the director and writers put together the opening scene in the Garden of Gethsemane. Also, it gave them quotes from psalms that Jesus used. Additionally, the movie reflected content from traditional iconography and stories. The movie is a mirror to traditional art depicting the passion of Christ such as the fourteen Stations of the Cross by Via Dolorosa.
The Passion of Christ was independently produced and shot in Italy. Specifically, most scenes were produced in the ghost town of Craco found in the town of Matera. The production team was relatively small but crucial to the delivery. As suggested in the structure element of the organization theory there was a hierarchy in place. It was directed by Mel Gibson. He also played a role in writing the movie with Benedict Fitzgerald. The movie also included Jim Caviezel who took on the role of Jesus Christ, Maia Morgenstern as the Virgin Mary, and Monica Bellucci who played the role of Mary Magdalene.
The director and actors in this movie honored performance elements depicted in the organizational theory. For the audience, the performance was ritual meaning it reflected practices that were common to them. This is especially since many Christian churches recreate Christ actions in their lives and churches. Also, the movie’s performance addresses the political strife during in the old times. This resonates with today’s struggles where citizens look to their leadership but often it fails them and persecutes the wrong people. Therefore, the movie suggests that the organizational theory analyzes the content making process in depth.
The cost of production for The Passion of Christ was fully catered by Icon Productions. This is Mel Gibson’s company. It is estimated that US$30 million was only the production cost. The marketing cost accumulated to $15million ( Kreider, 2014) . The movie would have actually cost more but Gibson made informed decisions to save money. For instance, he reconstructed a set for The Passion of Christ from the recently finished Gangs of New York set. It was later released on February 25th, 2004. This release date was set deliberately because Christians celebrate the Passion of Christ from this day which falls during Easter.
On opening weekend the movie earned an estimated $84million. This earned it 4th place in domestic opening weekend earnings. It went on to earn a little over $370 million in the United States. These numbers remained the highest-earning R-rated movie in the United States. Critics were impressed that the movie sold over 59 million tickets during its theatrical run. The movie faced opposition in countries that did not advocate Christianity. Consequently, audiences in Malaysia protested until the opportunity was granted while in Israel no promoter was even willing to market the movie in their country. Ultimately, the movie earned $611,899,420 worldwide which was considered a great success.
The Passion of Christ received significant support from the evangelical community in America. Before the movie’s release, Mel Gibson reached out to evangelical leaders and attended pre-screening for the evangelical audience that took the opportunity to criticize the movie and its influence on their faith. Notably, church leaders such as Joel Osteen, Ted Haggard, and Rick Warren were involved in the process. This was particularly important for the movie because its target audience was the religious community. It was produced by the faith of the Christian community and required their stamp of approval before it could move forward.
However, the movie polarized critics significantly. Jim Caviezel’s portrayal of Jesus was appreciated. Also, the musical score, cinematography, make-up, and sound were greatly appreciated. However, the violence and its depiction was singled-out and not appreciated. The general idea was that the beating of Jesus was hard to sit through and did not give the audience an opportunity to understand and internalize the message fully. It earned a 49% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and 59 out of 100 Metacritic score ( Reinhartz, 2016) . However, it did earn positive reviews that credited Gibson for transforming art into spirituality. They appreciated that he created a film that resonates with the audience’s faith.
There are controversies sparked by the movie’s release. First, was the question of historical and biblical accuracy? Mel Gibson added some content that is not included in the Biblical account of the crucifixion. However, evangelical leaders such as Father Augustine defended him by concluding that the movie is not a documentary of Jesus’ life but a recreation of His trying time through piecing information from different sources. Also, there was controversy when the news broke that the Pope had watched and loved the movie yet there was no press release from the Pope himself. Ultimately, the movie was received positively by the target audience who felt their faith visualized in this movie.
Distribution
The Passion of Christ was released at the Box Office first. This acted as its distribution point for the first few years where it was repeatedly played. Now, there are theatres that still feature the movie especially during Easter weekend when individuals from different Christian faiths have made it a tradition to watch the movie every year. A theatrical release of the movie followed. This version did not include the violence featured in the film since Mel Gibson headed to his critics.
Later, the movie was made available to the home audience through DVD, VHS, and D-VHS. This proved very popular and registered $24million in sales. In 2009, it was released in Blu-ray in North America. This distribution options included sub-titles in Spanish and English which were very popular among the movie audience. The movie was also broadcasted on television. Trinity Broadcasting Nation (TBN), a faith-based network, continuously showed the movie throughout the release year. Notably, some scenes were censored for television because the network purposed to accommodate it family audience.
In addition to the discussed sources, The Passion of Christ is available on various internet platforms. This distribution approach is as a result of the shift to a digital and globalized age that relies on the internet. It is available for online streaming services such as Netflix. Also, there are scenes featured on YouTube as well as previous. The distribution channels that carry the movie allow it to reach a wide and global audience. The Passion of Christ is often viewed as a family movie which further widens its demographic. Notably, the Muslim, Buddhist and other religions are left out but the movie has a great following around the world.
Use/Critique
This movie is a worthy investment of time. First, it represents a fundamental element in the Christian community and honors spirituality across the board. Christianity is based on the principle of forgiveness and retribution which is possible through the death and resurrection of Christ. Therefore, the movie allows the audience to have an idea of the struggle, pain, and suffering that filled the last moment of Christ. Also, it establishes the glory for his resurrection and conquering. The movie resonates with Christians because it tells their story and explains their beliefs.
Additionally, Mel Gibson does a phenomenal job in the execution of the movie. He understands the weight of the story that The Passion of Christ tells. This comprehension is evident in the way he writes the story and produces it. His casting was clearly deliberate and he chose to tell the story in the manner that Christians see it when they profess their faith. The movie provokes a raw emotion that allows Christians to fall in love with their beliefs and re-affirms what the stand for.
Notably, this movie is not for Christians alone. It is a learning opportunity for its entire audience. The Passion of Christ is a recreation of an event that has influenced many societies around the world. The trials, death, and resurrection of Jesus are the beginning of Christianity. In turn, Christianity influenced social systems and the rules that governed them in regions such as the United States, Europe, Africa and some parts of Asia. Since the details in the movie are an almost accurate depiction of the Bible, it is a good reference point for people who are curious about what Christianity is or its meaning for followers of the faith. Consequently, it is a recommendable watch.
Notably, the Passion of Christ is simply a good movie to watch. Aside from the religious message, the movie is a well-executed production that every person should take an opportunity to enjoy. Jim Caviezel embraces Jesus’ role and portrays it with passion. His acting fulfilled the expectations of a person whose legacy is greater than the world. Mel Gibson direction resulted in a masterpiece that resonates with audiences from different backgrounds and walks of life. He successfully tells the story of a figure that everybody in the world has heard of and one whose reputation precedes any other. In addition, he tells the story in a way that an ordinary person can relate to.
This applauded executions earned the movie well-deserved recognition and awards from various walks of life. For instance, The Passion of Christ won the National Board Review-Freedom of expression award, the Satellite Award for best director, the Moviefone Moviegoer Award for best picture, the Holywood Film Festival Award for best producer and the Cinema Writers Circle Award for Best Foreign Film. Critics applaud Mel Gibson approach towards a project that many avoided due to the risk of controversy. He courageously took on a delicate project and it paid off.
Even to this day, The Passion of Christ is criticized for its violent scenes. Many words are used to define the scene of Jesus beating such as gruesome and horrifying. However, it is the candid nature of the film that adequately describes the suffering and death of Jesus Christ. When people read the Bible they wonder how extreme the situation was at the time. Therefore, Mel Gibson did the scripture justice by capturing the sacrifice that Jesus made for his followers in every capacity. The audience would not have the emotion of watching the movie if Mel Gibson protected them from the truth.
The Passion of Christ is a Hollywood production and not a Christian phenomenon. As discussed, it resonated with all people even if they are part of the religion or not. The fact that is a Hollywood Production does not stop it from contributing to the Christian community. Evidently, it received evangelical backing because it is a tool of teaching in the church. It provokes biblical questions that religious leaders can address in their sermons. Also, it helps them provokes conversations about religion and Christ’s legacy that allows individuals from various walks of life to discuss and understand each other’s background.
One particular flaw in The Passion of Christ is that it does not relate the atonement of sin to the death of Christ. The bottom line in the movie is that Christ volunteered himself to die on the cross. However, the production does not address why these events took place. Therefore, for a non-Christian or a non-believer, it is not possible to relate personal transgressions to Christ’s death. Perhaps, this was Mel Gibson’s way of not imposing religious views on his audience. In this approach, he stood out as a writer and director who wanted to tell a story without bias. Consequently, he left the interpretation open to his audience without judgment.
In The Passion of Christ, Mel Gibson maintained his integrity as a storyteller. Critics believe that this movie gave him the opportunity to challenge the church. He had the platform to question the Biblical details that did not add up or left room for question. On the other hand, he had the chance to push Christianity and urge more people to convert ( Bixler, 2014) . Mel Gibson simply told the story as it is written. Bias would have probably polarized his audience. A polarized audience would definitely take the attention of the movie and set it on Mel Gibson’s religious views or his cast’s religious affiliations. Therefore, he walked a fine line when he chose to produce the movie and emerged successfully.
Social Reproduction
The Passion of Christ is definitely a movie that plays a continuous role in the society. Notably, the greatest use is in the religious community. The content in the movie is emphasized in Christian living which includes interaction with others on a daily basis. The movie instilled a sense of belonging for Christians who watched the movie during its release as well as every year during the Easter season. It is a responsibility that Christians have to the man who gave his life for theirs. Notably, religious leaders use The Passion of Christ as a bar for the content they encourage their audience to watch or learn from. In their sermon’s they reference the movie and easily paint a picture of their message to the people. Consequently, the congregants find it easier to understand and apply what the gather in their Bibles and at church. Therefore the content in the Passion of Christ is relevant for all Christians today.
Additionally, Mel Gibson’s work set standards for approaching movies or content that affects masses of people socially, politically or religiously. He was diligent and acknowledged the parties that resonated most with the story of Christ. It is an easier option to put the movie out there and leave it opens to interpretation. However, he took deliberate effort to ensure he told the story of Christ from the perspective of those who knew it best such as the religious leaders. Consequently, it encourages generations later to produce content that is true and honors the characters in their experiences.
The movie is a continuous source of healthy discussions. Evidently, it provokes questions about Christianity that followers have an opportunity to address. This was clear from the fact that journalists sort out the views of religious leaders on the controversies that the movie raised. Also, it raises questions relevant to the film industry that many students and shareholders in the film industry benefit from. They learn how to encode a message in their work and how the audience decodes it. The Passion of Christ helps creators in the film industry comprehend the influence they have in how their audience receive their work as well.
In conclusion, The Passion of Christ remains relevant to date because it tackles an issue that many people are passionate about today in a manner that all audiences can enjoy and relate to it. This movie was clearly well researched and the actors treated their roles with utmost passion and purity. Therefore, it will remain a movie that students and critics learn from in years to come. The content stands out because of its brave approach and leaves no more to be desired. Mel Gibson and his team put in plenty of effort that paid off in ratings and the social reproduction.
References
Bixler, D. (2014). Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ: a Personal Response. Mennonite Life , 59 (June 2004).
Kreider, H. R. (2014). The Passion of Christ. Mennonite Life , 59 (June 2004).
Malden, MA: Wiley Blackwell. [Second edition]
Ott, Brian L. and Mack, Robert L. (Eds.). (2014).Critical Media Studies: An Introduction.
Reinhartz, A. (2016). Jesus in Film: Hollywood Perspectives on the Jewishness of Jesus. Journal of Religion & Film , 2 (2), 2.
Weldon, C. M. (2016). The Passion Re-Cut: If" It Is As It Was”, Why the Redaction?. Journal of Religion & Film , 10 (2), 5.
