Suggested Programming For Ewtn

[ACS67]

EWTN shows art all the time.  Sundays has a feature of classical music. Yes, that is art.   They use to feature Sr. Wendy Beckett and her views on museums and art. 

 

As to "fun" I think you need to define "fun".  I would like to quote Fr. Seraphim Rose (RIP).  Although an Eastern Orthodox priest/monk he was known to be quite "spot on" as they say today. 

Our abnormal life today can be characterized as spoiled, pampered. From infancy today's child is treated, as a general rule, like a little god or goddess in the family: his whims are catered to, his desires fulfilled.; he is surrounded by toys, amusements, comforts; he is not trained and brought up according to strict principles of Christian behavior, but left to develop whichever way his desires incline. It is usually enough for him to say, "I want it!" or "I won't do it!" for his obliging parents to bow down before him and let him have his way. Perhaps this does not happen all the time in every family, but it happens often enough to be the rule of contemporary childrearing, and even the best-intentioned parents do not entirely escape its influence. Even if the parents try to raise the child strictly, the neighbors are trying to do something else. They have to take that into consideration when disciplining the child.

 

When such a child becomes an adult, he naturally surrounds himself with the same things he was used to in his childhood: comforts, amusements, and grown-up toys. Life becomes a constant search for "fun" which, by the way, is a word totally unheard of in any other vocabulary; in 19th century Russia they wouldn't have understood what this word meant, or any serious civilization. Life is a constant search for "fun" which is so empty of any serious meaning that a visitor from any 19th-century country, looking at our popular television programs, amusement parks, advertisements, movies, music—at almost any aspect of our popular culture—would think he had stumbled across a land of imbeciles who have lost all contact with normal reality. We don't often take that into consideration, because we are living in this society and we take it for granted...

 

It seems to me many young Catholics today want to be able to have their "cake and eat it to" in regards to both practicing their religion and holding on to secular culture.  Being a Christian and more so a Roman Catholic requires an ontological change. This is an ongoing process throughout ones life and it is a great help to have such programs as EWTN and Fr. Barron's Word On Fire, among others, who walk with us in this life, God willing, on our way to Heaven. 

Edited July 17, 2013 by ACS67

[Lil Red]

it's not like she's advocating to get rid of everything. but most people I know that are Catholic, don't watch EWTN because it is boring. it may be great, and holy, and orthodox, but i don't want to watch because it bores me to tears. The Crescat is advocating to show all the beauty and wonderfulness and FUN (yes, Catholics can be fun and not so damn serious!) of the Catholic faith. And if you read the comments of the piece, many people in media HAVE approached EWTN with some great ideas and were rejected. And of the second article, he is saying that if people think you mustn't criticize anything Catholic - because of course if it's Catholic, it must be wonderful. Sorry but no. Some media/books/cds/etc etc etc just suck. They're not any good and they don't do the faith any favors. But some people are stuck in the past and don't want to change anything. 

 

And yes, I figured that when I posted this article, some people would freak the fuzz out because I dared post something that criticizes EWTN and I agree with it. 

[Lil Red]

EWTN shows art all the time.  Sundays has a feature of classical music. Yes, that is art.   They use to feature Sr. Wendy Beckett and her views on museums and art. 

 

As to "fun" I think you need to define "fun".  I would like to quote Fr. Seraphim Rose (RIP).  Although an Eastern Orthodox priest/monk he was known to be quite "spot on" as they say today. 

It seems to me many young Catholics today want to be able to have their "cake and eat it to" in regards to both practicing their religion and holding on to secular culture.  Being a Christian and more so a Roman Catholic requires an ontological change. This is an ongoing process throughout ones life and it is a great help to have such programs as EWTN and Fr. Barron's Word On Fire, among others, who walk with us in this life, God willing, on our way to Heaven. 

 

got it. no fun allowed in the faith. 

[Era Might]

I don't think EWTN trying to become more hip would be a good move. It's not really their brand identity...they cater to the broad serious / pious Catholic market, not the hip young youth group market, unless they spun off a different network brand.

 

It's like expecting the Pope to write a cool Buzzfeed encyclical. Encyclicals are boring for a reason...that's the Papal style.

[Lil Red]

But she make a valid point. While its important to remember that EWTN is a primarily catechetical station, the shows for kids, teenagers, and young adults are sad and unappealiing. About the Catholic movies about Saints--- that's the fault of the filmmakers, not EWTN. 

 

if you read the comments of the article, EWTN and their board has been rejecting proposals for different shows. so yeah, it is EWTN's fault. 

[Lil Red]

I don't think EWTN trying to become more hip would be a good move. It's not really their brand identity...they cater to the broad serious / pious Catholic market, not the hip young youth group market, unless they spun off a different network brand.

 

It's like expecting the Pope to write a cool Buzzfeed encyclical. Encyclicals are boring for a reason...that's the Papal style.

 

why can't they change? brands successfully change their image all the time. but then again, they'd actually have to want to change. 

[dUSt]

I don't think EWTN trying to become more hip would be a good move. It's not really their brand identity...they cater to the broad serious / pious Catholic market, not the hip young youth group market, unless they spun off a different network brand.

 

It is possible to be less corny without becoming hip. In fact, I think EWTN's attempt to be hip is what makes it bad. They'd be better off trying to become less hip.

 

They should stick with mass, documentaries, classic Catholic movies, and Fulton Sheen.

[Era Might]

When such a child becomes an adult, he naturally surrounds himself with the same things he was used to in his childhood: comforts, amusements, and grown-up toys. Life becomes a constant search for "fun" which, by the way, is a word totally unheard of in any other vocabulary; in 19th century Russia they wouldn't have understood what this word meant, or any serious civilization. Life is a constant search for "fun" which is so empty of any serious meaning that a visitor from any 19th-century country, looking at our popular television programs, amusement parks, advertisements, movies, music—at almost any aspect of our popular culture—would think he had stumbled across a land of imbeciles who have lost all contact with normal reality. We don't often take that into consideration, because we are living in this society and we take it for granted...

 

I wouldn't go around quoting 19th century Russia as a model for the ideal society.

Edited July 17, 2013 by Era Might

[Era Might]

It is possible to be less corny without becoming hip. In fact, I think EWTN's attempt to be hip is what makes it bad. They'd be better off trying to become less hip.

 

They should stick with mass, documentaries, classic Catholic movies, and Fulton Sheen.

 

Yeah I don't really watch EWTN except once in a while or for live coverage, but I've seen one show on there for men, something like "Crossing the Goal" with a football theme. I guess I'm the target market but I wouldn't watch it.

Edited July 17, 2013 by Era Might

[Era Might]

why can't they change? brands successfully change their image all the time. but then again, they'd actually have to want to change. 

 

I guess they can change, but that's a big move. They've been successful with their brand. I agree with dUSt that they should stick to "serious" stuff and let other people come up with new networks with a different marketing focus.

[BG45]

why can't they change? brands successfully change their image all the time. but then again, they'd actually have to want to change. 

 

I want to pre-emptively apologize to our members with psych degrees.  However, my department chair, with his PhD in Psych told this one at a Department get together last week.  "How many psychologists does it take to change a lightbulb?" "Potentially none, it has to want to change first."

[ACS67]

got it. no fun allowed in the faith. 

Again, "fun"...what is "fun" to you in regards to the Catholic faith?  Please define. 

I agree with Era.  For EWTN to start showing programs that you and Ms. Fernandez (and Mr. Rocha, whoever he is) are advocating would require them to "spin off" onto another network/channel.  If young people want that, then go for it...start your own channel.  I'm standing my ground on this on Lil Red.  I ain't budgin'.  

[Seven77]

if you read the comments of the article, EWTN and their board has been rejecting proposals for different shows. so yeah, it is EWTN's fault. 

 

I've known about rejection of proposals from the year 2000 so I don't need to read the comments.

 

 if you mean that it is EWTN's fault for being boring sometimes I don't disagree.

 

 When it comes to my EWTN watching, I just tend to take the good and leave the bad out of everything.

 

My problem with the article is that I'm not very sure whether Ms. Fernandez has a grasp of what it is she is criticizing. I do agree that boring shows must be remedied… the author articulates some things I've been thinking over for more than 10 years.

[ACS67]

I wouldn't go around quoting 19th century Russia as a model for the ideal society.

He was Russian Orthodox (convert at that).  This was written in 1982.  He is now deceased (RIP).  But the gist of what he is saying is valid.  "Fun".  Define "fun" in regards to the Catholic Faith? 

[Seven77]

I guess they can change, but that's a big move. They've been successful with their brand. I agree with dUSt that they should stick to "serious" stuff and let other people come up with new networks with a different marketing focus.

 

I agree with you and with what dUSt said. Leave it up to other Catholic networks to be hip.