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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.
JRFM
Journal Religion Film Media, Volume 02/02
- Title
- JRFM
- Subtitle
- Journal Religion Film Media
- Volume
- 02/02
- Authors
- Christian Wessely
- Daria Pezzoli-Olgiati
- Editor
- Uni-Graz
- Publisher
- SchĂĽren Verlag GmbH
- Location
- Graz
- Date
- 2016
- Language
- English
- License
- CC BY-NC 4.0
- Size
- 14.8 x 21.0 cm
- Pages
- 168
- Categories
- Zeitschriften JRFM