Page - 118 - in JRFM - Journal Religion Film Media, Volume 02/02

118 | Alexander D. Ornella www.jrfm.eu 2016, 2/2, 99–122 the body”.59 The reference to the Eucharistic meal suggests that this Christmas meal does have Eucharistic qualities as it opens the characters’ eyes for each other, allowing them to share in this bodily experience, and experience peace and forgiveness. The idea that sharing food has Eucharistic qualities is some- thing we come across long before Rev. (2010–2014), in the film Big Night (Camp- bell Scott/Stanley Tucci, US 1996), for example, where at the end of the film the two brothers share breakfast in silence after a fight that almost ended their relationship. In both narratives, the Eucharistic qualities of the food consumed express more than what could possibly be said. The overcoming of differences becomes possible and is expressed through the bodily and sensory/sensual ex- periences of sharing food. Making us aware of our corporeal eyes, the plot, aesthetic form, and iconog- raphy of the BBC sitcom Rev. (2010–2014) can teach us that despite existing master narratives, masculinities are not “natural” or “normal” but negotiation processes that are always open and thus vulnerable, even or especially in ec- clesial space. Adam, with all his shortcomings and insecurities, can teach us that “appropriate roles” are just that: roles. Rev. (2010–2014) is not overly provoca- tive or critical of existing power structures. And yet, with the archdeacon who works hard to advance his career in the Church but eventually learns to say, “it is OK”, and the clumsy vicar Adam Smallbone, who sometimes enjoys a drink too many or is all too human in his male, priestly, sexual body, the audience, too, might learn that religion is very human. Maybe church representatives of all Christian denominations will come to a similar conclusion one day, learn to appreciate the richness and diversity of masculinities, and give space to all those different masculinities. And with church officials, the series, too, wants us as audience (believers and non-believers) to appreciate the struggles we often impose on clerics with our expectations and stereotypes. BIBLIOGRAPHY Archbishop’s Council – Research and Statistics Department, 2016. Statistics for Mission 2014. htt- ps://www.churchofengland.org/media/2432327/2014statisticsformission.pdf [accessed 16 June 2016]. Arnold, Ben, 2011, The Reality of Rev – Vicars’ Views on the BBC2 Comedy, The Guardian, 15 Decem- ber 2011. http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2011/dec/15/the-reality-of-rev [accessed 15 June 2013]. Bailey, Lisa Kaaren, 2007, “These Are Not Men”. Sex and Drink in the Sermons of Caesarius of Arles, Journal of Early Christian Studies 15, 1, 23–43. Benshoff, Harry M/Griffin, Sean, 2004, America on Film. Representing Race, Class, Gender, and Sexu- ality at the Movies, Malden, MA: Blackwell. 59 Fulton 2006, 175.