Saturday Side Quest - The One Where I Hyperfocus on BlueSky
Where has faith and fandom intersected this week?
This week, everyone on God’s green earth moved to BlueSky. I’ve been on the platform for a few months, if not a year. I say this not to #HumbleBrag but to say that I had primarily written it off before the world decided to give it a shot post-election in the X-odus.
The energy in the space has been palpable—I’ve loved it. I find the tools of BlueSky to be interesting, especially with custom feeds. I’ve spent the week exploring the possibilities. I’ve crafted a United Methodist Church-oriented feed and a nerd ministry one. I plan to pause there to see what comes with these experiments.
Time will tell, but the UMC feed has been a delight.
Speaking of the UMC, I’m likely leading a series of Labs on digital ministry for Youth at the Virginia Annual Conference of the UMC as you’re reading this. I’m not honestly sure how it will go. I am optimistic but anxious.
The biggest cinch in the rope is that I often teach seminars on knowing the terms these young people already know. This is most of what I do when I educate, but that won’t work for them. We’re so close to being on the same page; I hope to have enough to offer them.
I hope to offer these young folks hope for the church's future. After all, if the church saw fit to empower and encourage me of all people with the gift of digital ministry, then the future is bright indeed.
I am encouraged right now. It’s been a busy—but good—season. The Remarkable Life of Ibelin has continued to inspire me, as have the words of Dr. Lamar Hardwick at the Nerd Culture Ministry Summit and the general sense of camaraderie in nerd ministry spaces at this moment.
I waxed a bit on this sentiment during a panel that I had the pleasure of joining with Jim Keat of How To Do Digital Ministry on things that a selection of digital pastors were thankful for in their work.
Thursday of this week, I finally bit the bullet. I had the pleasure of connecting with ProfNoctis, a fellow Methodist pioneering a digital community based around education, as he instructs a few classes on Final Fantasy at the University of Alabama. I’ve been creeping on his socials and watched most of his new stream series before finally deciding it was time to connect.
Since launching our Nerdy Sermons at Checkpoint, I’ve wrestled with the challenge of exegeting something as a pastor or educator. They are so similar. I’ve seen many a video essay that feels like a sermon and many a sermon that feels like a laborious, ranting video essay. Meeting someone who has landed in an eerily similar spot and arrived from the opposite side is fascinating.
It is also nice to know that one more Methodist is playing video games on the Internet. Each person I meet that feels familiar makes me feel less alone in the space.
Will It Preach?
I finished a few things this week, so I will reflect on them in this space. Would they preach? See if you agree with my take.
The Art Thief (2023)
This was a novel (winky face) way to tell a non-fiction story. In these pages, the author walks us through a tale of a kleptomaniac art thief who doesn’t sell what he steals; he lives with it. It’s a fascinating exploration of art for art’s sake, as well as the things that go wrong for those with bad vices. Will preach.
Strange House, Vol.1 (2024)
This manga is a fascinating journey. I really enjoyed the heightened suspense. There is something so strangely engrossing about mysterious architecture. In a house where the floorplan makes no sense, there is a secret hiding. And it might be deadly! That being said, it’s a bit light on the throughline narrative, so I’m worried a sermon would be pulling straws. Will not preach.
Kinds of Kindness (2024)
I did not enjoy this film. In this triple-click anthology from Yorgos (Killing of a Sacred Deer, Poor Things, etc.), the stunning cast explores the narrative of how far people will go to get power. I appreciate it for that theme and that alone. The heavy-handed tone and the gross-out shock-jock moments made for a less-than-stellar watch. The minute-long dance scene with Emma Stone did not make up for it, either. Unfortunately, will preach.
How to Have Sex (2023)
Waitwaitwait, trust me, this isn’t lewd content. This film entered my peripheral last year when it premiered. The premise is simple—some girls go on a vacation to get into some debauchery. It’s like American Pie with feminism. However, the vice-filled moments of the story lead to an exploration of assault and issues of consent. The characters are nuanced, and the story appeals to the party scene that is set in, without glamourizing the lifestyle. Will preach, and really should.
Anatomy of a Fall (2023)
Courtroom drama can be a hit or a miss. But this film made the top lists last year…for good reason. This was an exceptional story. A mostly-blind son comes home from a walk with his seeing-eye dog and finds his father dead in the snow. He appears to have fallen from the third floor of their cabin. The boys mother was home with his father when it happened but was working and didn’t hear what happened. Or, at least, that’s what she pleads. This journeys into the psyche of a child, already impaired in his vision, working through the court system with a tough-as-nails mom. I could see a myriad of themes rising up out of this one. Especially vexing is that the movie never actually tells us the truth. So, like the boy, we’re forced to wonder if we made the right call or not in the end. Will absolutely preach.
Mouthwashing (2024)
This indie horror game came out of nowhere and was suddenly all over my feeds. It bumped its way onto the top games of November on Backloggd. JackSepticEye even played it! As a diehard fan of weird indie cult horror, I knew it was destined for me, so I dove in headfirst. I’m unsure why it has taken off so strongly, but it was a fascinating story. It’s told in a chopped-and-screwed storytelling style, much like Memento, and only reveals its full hand in the end. But the main character’s obsession with their hubris is delightfully complex. Will preach, probably at Checkpoint soon lol
Suzume, Vol.1 (2024)
I’ve never understood why they make manga adaptations of anime. The other way around—now that I understand. But Suzume just feels like a worse retelling of an excellent anime film. Will preach, but I did it with the movie already.
The Credit Roll
These are some of the things I found this week that I am sharing as a bonus. Enjoy my custom For You feed.
Indie Game Dev Team Azule pull their best Tenacious D and remake the ending of the greatest RPG of all time
The Elden Rat striving to become an Elden Lord by rolling for defense
Up-and-coming YouTube Creator HumbleMud tackled the unasked question: why is RPG wind always green?
I’m also experiencing growth and success here at Pixel & Pulpit. The number of paid subscribers has slowly but surely increased, and I’m proud of the content I have been able to share. Thanks to all of you who have switched to a paid subscription. Each one legitimizes my efforts here and allows for more to be ahead in this blog.
I do hope you’re all enjoying it, as well. Let me know some feedback if you have anything to offer. I’m always open to improving this space!