Should Christians Comic book creators have a target audience or should the audience always need to be for the all-ages?
Should Believers add blood to their content and I'm not talking about the cross?
Should a Christian Artist develop mature content?
By mature content, I mean mature subject matter in culture or society like human trafficking or the effects of domestic violence.
Personally, I'm not saying I don't have a heart for it. Yet, can see how other believers can.
Replies
We should be able to pick our audience because our books won't appeal to some. If we write Scifi then we are usually going to attract Star Trek fans. The gospel is cosmic so when we weld it into our stories it becomes a part of it. I would recommend if someone can't write to all that they work on other genres as well. A writer is not limited to one story, Jesus told plenty. Mature content can be done, I believe. We must be true to the message and also our stories. Blood is natural, it would be wrong not to add it if it is necessary.
I agree with everyone's views. I said enough. I wrote my book with a vision from God being both Non- Christians ESP in churches and Well seasoned Christian believers communicating God's love in today's world,I also knew Men, singles, & black part of America, educated, & inner city people would benefit from my book. I also knew comic and regular book readers would benefit from it. I'm working on my 2nd book. To me it's Appropiate for my intended audience.
You make a great point. My only concern though is the need to make everything faith oriented also family friendly. I'm not into violence or sex or anything like that. It's gratuitous and unneeded, but I don't think everything in the faith world can be family friendly. Sunday school for kids is very different from "adult" church. Kids don't need to know the graphic details of the Bible until they are older. I see our work as faith based creatives the same way. We choose our audiences and create for them, appealing to that audience while holding true to God's Word and not causing someone to fall.
Calvary Comics said:
I think the most mature thing to do is to handle indiscreet material discreetly (if it must be addressed at all), so that it will look 'family friendly' to the casual observer (and to children) while still dealing with certain topics pertinent to adults in language, terminology, and expressions which they alone will understand.
This is perhaps the most interesting and most needed post I've ever read. It's something all Christian Creatives struggle with and is honestly why so much of Christian media lacks. I myself am dealing with this very same issue as I produce an animated superhero drama that is geared towards teens and young adults. I wasn't raised Christian, I was spiritual and saw myself above all that and it took some heavy hits to bring me down to reality and my need for Christ. Now as a Christian and having been one for some time I feel called to use my gifts for Him and to bring people to Him. But the trick is that when I wasn't a Christian I remember watching faith based stuff and laughing at how corny it was. As a Christian I watch those same shows aaaaaaaaaand still go, "wow that's really corny. Great message but jeesh, no one is really gonna watch this and come to Christ."
So what is it non-Christians want? That's the point of our minitries right? To attract them to God's Word and God's Truth, to Christ. Well we all know they want high quality action, drama, romance, big budget everything. Deep stories and honest characters and real world struggles (even if seen through sci fi super hero stuffs) that they can identify with and learn from. And they want to be entertained. But honestly that's exactly what we all want! Movies like the Lord of the Rings and Narnia, the Passion of the Christ, Noah (coming out and hopefully will be good and not suck) all have a wow factor to them but are also ministry opportunities if we choose to use them. I can count on my hand the number of Christian films that truly capture audiences and have the power to change lives.
Okay so all this to say what exactly? That looking at stories in terms of "mature" or "not mature" in their content really isn't the best way to go about it. What really matters is who is our target audience and what do we want to teach them. It has to be high quality and it has to be entertaining, otherwise it won't even get a foot in the door of their mind, but let's say we all have that, so what message do we want to convey? Back in the late 80's there was a cartoon on called Bravestarr - not many have seen it, but those who have can agree it was ahead of its time in many ways. One episode called "The Price" dealt with kids using drugs and showed a kid dying from drug overdose. It was well handled and not graphic, but it was mature and powerful and trust me, it made a lot of kids think twice before using drugs.
Showing the reality and the dangers of this world is important. It doesn't have to be graphic and it certainly cannot glorify the sin and cause someone to fall because of it. But it needs to be honest, real, and powerful. Watered down stories are just that, watered down and usless. It's not about shock value either - it's about Truth and showing that in an honest fashion that non-Christians will get. They don't get church lingo. Christianese just doesn't grab them... but showing them a character who struggles with his faith, with his relationship with God, with life, that does. We don't show perfect Christians or "easy fix" Christians. Saying a prayer or two doesn't fix all the problems and then roll credits. It's a war, a journey, and our characters need to show this, to show people the reality of our faith. And the true power of God to come in and be amazing.
So in a nutshell? I disagree with sitting down and looking at your work and debating whether or not to have "mature" content. Instead, ask yourself what do you want to tell and how do you want to tell it - and to who? Better yet, constantly pray about what God wants you to tell and then let Him guide your instincts and create. Make a story that's powerful and painful and tragic and amazing and shows people this "unseen" war we all face as followers of the faith. Then sit back and get critiques, and pray, and ask yourself "if I weren't a Christian and I picked this up. Would it change my life? Does it teach me about Christ in a way I can understand? Or does it water down the message so much I'm just going to laugh and walk away?"
My two cents anyway.
I love both regular comics & especially mature audience comics
Because the art work the art work is off the chain. It helps me
Draw. But enjoy how the mature comics relate more to the real
World. As a Christian I don't think we should be gory or definitely
Not draw sexual nudity ESP with porn being so available & immoral
And addictive in our culture. But to do a graphic comic on the Bible
ESP Jesus' suffering, crucifixion, & resurrection should never be sugar coated
Because that's the heart of GOD's deepest love & God is love. I will at some point
Love do some Christian regular & mature comics. We can't let the world plant
Bad seeds of sin without a waring against wicked things with a great product
To catch the eyes and pierce the hearts of people with God'sChild love
Romans 12 Kjv,Esv,Nkjv
[1] I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
[2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
1 John 4 NLT 1 Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. 2 This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet[a] acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. 3 But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.
4 But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. 5 Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world’s viewpoint, and the world listens to them. 6 But we belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception.
1 John 4
13 And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. 14 Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. 16 We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.
God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 17 And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.
18 Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. 19 We love each other[b] because he loved us first.
[21] He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
Romans 12
[4] For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
[5] So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
[6] Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
[7] Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
[8] Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
[9] Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
[10] Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
[11] Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
[12] Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
[13] Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
[14] Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
I believe we should be just as appropriate as the bible explains it's stories. The bible talks about whores and homosexuality, muder and currupt governments in enough detail to build a imaginative vision...I think christian Artist and designers should do as the bible says so, and explain our vision in that ethical format.
I think everyone here seems to be in something of a unanimous agreement but i'll post my two cents.
Old thread but my church some months back put on a play, mature content kind of play.
Not really hard core border line porno sort of thing. But it had violence, drug use, and dating habits being displayed and the demons behind them.The purpose of the play was to show people a mirror of themselves and the true nature behind what was happening, if you can relate to the actors the more sense it made. It was a very long and serious project because while making it all the actors had to be sure they didn't get pulled into the identity of the role they played- but point being the mature content. It was a tool for evangelism/ministry, it's good because sometimes it's the only thing people will look at, so we lured them in with a play and live music and by the end people were deeply moved, can't say for sure how many were saved, as we had invited people from the streets of the city- sorta left that up to the Lord ya know.
The only thing is the people who are a part of a mature content piece need to be spiritually mature, the content is fine as long as it's being used as a tool for salvation. And of course the creators/workers shouldnt be actively participating or entertaining the sin itself. I feel your work will depend on the kind of ministry you're looking to get into. the people you're reaching and what you can handle spiritually. I feel the mature content tool would be a thing certain individuals might be called into. Because there's a difference if you're called into child ministry and someone else is called into reaching people of an inner city.
mature content in christian piece is suppose to work as a mirror to those who don't have the spirit to even look in a mirror.
I say anyone who's looking to get into mature content needs to know their audience and needs to be a theologian as well as up on their prayer game or they will be susceptible to the things they work with. And of course, for your brothers and sisters out there who can't handle certain things mature work will be labeled as such and authors notes can be given explaining why.
I want to create works evangelizing to the secular world. Some work I want to be obviously spiritual, others not so much.
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