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Representing outcomes 209

and it has carried all the way through life. I am still moved by it when
I see it. It is really wonderful.

Most of us can think of examples like this, where television, films, books,
or plays affect us in deep and lasting ways. It is also not surprising that
Fred – whose expressed attitudes about media are less moralistic than
those of more religiously conservative parents – would identify a primarily
“secular” as opposed to “religious” film as particularly moving or inspira-
tional. It is further interesting to note that, for Fred, this film is one that
has stuck with him. He continues to think of it as a major influence in his
life, and still finds it moving today, as an adult.
Roxanne Connor, like Fred Kline, is more of a “seeker” than a tradi-
tionalist, and she also readily identifies film as a source of this kind of
“moving” experience. 3

Interviewer: Do you ever seek out anything related to spirituality on tele-
vision or in movies, on the Internet, in music or other media?
Roxanne: Not on the Internet, no, but certainly there are movies that have
moved me spiritually and music that moves me spiritually, or that I
glean a spiritual message from.

Roxanne also readily identifies the moving quality of film and music with
her spirituality. It is interesting as well that she excludes the Internet from
having this sort of capacity, in her experience. The notable thing here is
that it seems to be taken-for-granted that certain media, at least, can easily
have emotional impacts on viewers and audiences. Neither Fred nor
Roxanne made an easy extension from this media experience to more
conventional ideas of religion, faith, or spirituality.

“It inspired me”
To be “moved” by something is a different order than being inspired by it.
For Fred Kline, for instance, what he drew from To Kill a Mockingbird
was a kind of heightened emotional experience, something that continues
to this day. Being inspired by something involves a different state of reac-
tion, one where the individual is both emotionally engaged and moved to
either identify with or emulate characters or ideas. Chris Chandler is a 35-
year-old single father who was raised Catholic, but who has fallen away
4
and become more of a “seeker.” Asked to talk about media that might
inspire him, he gives the following definition of inspiration, and along the
way, gives an example of an “inspirational” film.
Let’s just say that there are some movies that are inspirational, you
know. Not so much in a real Christian way, but I think that if you are