Why did Dr. Kenneth Morefield give a thumbs-up to the foreign film, “Requiem,” based on the life of the same individual who was the subject of “The Exorcism of Emily Rose;” but wasn’t all that charitable to “Left Behind?” An assistant professor of English at Campbell University, Morefield reviews newly-released films in a monthly column for the online literary journal, The Matthews House Project. He not only screens movies for Christian viewers, but analyzes their content as well. “‘Left Behind,’ the movie based on the bestselling fiction novel by authors Tim LeHaye and Jerry Jenkins, was an exciting film but lacked depth and character development,” Morefield said. “I’m interested in talking about films in terms of theme and substance, rather than how many swear words a movie contains.” The independent German film “Requiem,” for example, differs greatly from the American version of the same story, “The Exorcism of Emily Rose.” “The American version emphasizes suspense and plot, while the German film explores the story thematically,” said Morefield. “For example, the American film focuses on whether or not Emily Rose is sick with epilepsy or possessed by the devil. The German film explores the theme of whether or not we treat religion as an inoculation against disease.” The Matthews House Project promotes and develops a place in which the intersections of faith and culture can be explored. The site, http://www.thematthewshouseproject.com, contains religious poetry, prose, interviews with religious figures and film criticism. It seeks to foster participation, inspiring criticism, reflection and creative expression. “The site’s emphasis is on exploring a story as a means of promoting cultural awareness, facilitating the role of the arts and pursuing the arts from a Christian perspective,” Morefield said. “It examines how looking at the arts from a Christian perspective changes what we see.” Morefield has also reviewed films for the Christian Web sites “Christian Spotlight on Entertainment” and “Looking Closer,” a site operated by Jeffrey Overstreet, a featured film writer with “Christianity Today Online.” The Matthews House Project is under the direction of Zach Kincaid. A native of Annandale, Va., Dr. Kenneth R. Morefield graduated from Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, Va., with a Bachelor of Arts in English. He received Master of Arts and Ph.D. degrees in English from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Ill. Prior to coming to Campbell, Morefield served as an assistant professor of English at Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Va., and as an assistant professor of English at Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove, Ill.Photo Copy: Dr. Kenneth Morefield, assistant professor of English at Campbell University.
Morefield reviews movies for Christian audiences in online column