Representations of Adventists
I'd imagine that most of us are familiar with the occaisional reference to Adventists in Gilmore Girls. It's always connected to Lane's incredibly strict family and her mother's choice of college for her. We've heard that Adventists don't dance, smoke, drink, or bowl. Well, most of us don't mind bowling anymore, but for the most part, they aren't too far off. They just tend to focus on one very small aspect of our culture. Well, today I was watching Hex (season two, episode 9) and heard a rather different view of Seventh-day Adventists. First, a bit about the show. It's one of those Buffy-wanna-be shows that takes a shades-of-grey approach to the war between good and evil. There's a demon posing as a priest, a witch that got pregnant by the devil with a messiah for demons (who now is six months old but supposedly looks 17), a 446 year old "annointed one" demon hunter who is supposed to look 17 years old, a frustrated lesbian ghost (the best character), and an assortment of characters who are "normal" to one degree or another. Normally, such shows are a bit off-putting to me, but the British accents make the angst of posh teens palatable. Plus, the theme tune is Garbage. That brings us somewhere close to the moment in question. Annointed goth chick is falling in love with Demon Messiah whom she is sworn to kill. Both sides are upset about this Romeo and Juliet twist and are punishing the lovers. The girl is smitten with boils by an angel (who is a bit creepy and has a French accent) and the boy has gone blind. While the angel pleads with the demon slayer to return to the righteous path, he says, "There is another in your heart. A good man. A better man." She thinks he's referring to God/Jesus/who knows and says "What are you, a Seventh-day Adventist?" Actually, the French angel was referring to her ex-boyfriend Leon, but that is beside the point. In Hex, Adventists are coded as touchy-feeling Jesus-loves-you Christians. That seems quite the opposite of Gilmore Girls. What makes the difference?
Well, I'm not sure of the difference, but this does help clear up the boil issue in my own life. Now I just need to figure out who this demon messiah I'm in love with is, and all shall be better.
Posted by
Unknown |
11/21/2005 07:05:00 PM
Of all the badventist things to do, dancing and bowling are my favorites! Thanks for the background on the show. Once it was I heard Adventists mentioned on TV--followed by a little brain caniption--"did I really just hear that?" It's uncommon, and as you pointed out, plunked down unpredictably on a long continuum of misconception and mystery. No, we are not all Vegan. At least on Hex some junior Devil (or sultry producer) thinks we like Jesus. That's not far from the mark is it?
Posted by
Seth Ellis |
11/22/2005 01:45:00 PM
The "What are you, a Seventh-day Adventist?" line made me laugh out loud just now. I'd never even heard of the show, but I like the idea of SDAs as Jesus-loves-you Christians. Shouldn't they be? I'm with Seth: dancing is way too much fun for its avoidance to be the primary facet of my Christian experience...
Posted by
CëRïSë |
11/22/2005 01:51:00 PM
Interesting. Yeah, if your interpretation of the SdA comment is right, then I'm with Ceri--excited that people are starting to associate Adventists with more than our "Don'ts". And also agreeing that dancing is fabulous.
Posted by
Kate Lechler |
11/23/2005 09:02:00 AM
After watching Gilmore Girls I've wondered what past relationship the writers had with SDAs (and if it involved Oklahoma Academy), but that may be the psycho in me...
Posted by
Melinda |
11/23/2005 10:26:00 PM
My apologies in advance for the following rant...
Did anyone stop to think that the difference may be due to the locale of the production? It seems that the descriptions I've heard of Adventists in Europe, particularly the UK, indicate that they are more Jesus-loves-you types, than those in the US, who are usually more concerned about either making sure everyone obeys their favorite rule(s) (generally older members) or discussing ad nauseum just how bogus all the nitpicky rules are (generally collegiate or post-collegiate members). Both sides are annoying to no end, and both reinforce the view presented on Gillmore Girls.
Posted by
Piiwite |
11/26/2005 10:35:00 PM
Scott, did you get the e-mail I sent to your Yahoo account several days ago? 'Just checkin'...
Posted by
CëRïSë |
11/27/2005 01:55:00 PM
Thats an interesting thought. Over Thanksgiving we were watching All In the Family reruns, and in one epsiode, Archie makes a comment about everyone these days becoming religious. You've got the Holy Rollers and the Seventh-day Adventurers, what else do we need?
Just another example of adventist mention in the media, albeit from the 70's or whenever that show aired.
Posted by
Schlomo |
11/29/2005 11:49:00 AM
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