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Joel Mayward

@jmayward.bsky.social

Asst. Professor of Christian Ministries, Theology and the Arts @ George Fox University, OR β€’ PhD, St Andrews β€’ Pastor-Theologian β€’ πŸ… approved Film Critic β€’ Author (books on Dardenne brothers, Christopher Nolan, Sufjan Stevens) β€’ Human (he/him)

1,403 Followers  |  293 Following  |  510 Posts  |  Joined: 20.09.2023  |  2.0172

Latest posts by jmayward.bsky.social on Bluesky

Watching Dallas in the air ducts is a formative memory for me (I was in high school)

08.10.2025 02:00 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Sufjan Stevens reviews a movie
YouTube video by ShoegaziTheBassCadetBicycle Sufjan Stevens reviews a movie

youtu.be/NutUoJnLF0Y?...

08.10.2025 01:55 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

😐

08.10.2025 01:50 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0
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FFP2025 Mayward Now Where Was I Wed Oct 8 FFP2025 Mayward Now Where Was I Wed Oct 8

If you happen to be near Gonzaga University tomorrow night, I'm speaking about the films of Christopher Nolan at this free event hosted by the Gonzaga Faith & Reason Institute. www.gonzaga.edu/news-events/...

08.10.2025 00:33 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

they're needle drop films

05.10.2025 02:42 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Theology and the Films of Christopher Nolan: Cinematic Transcendence (Theology, Religion, and Pop Culture) Theology and the Films of Christopher Nolan: Cinematic Transcendence (Theology, Religion, and Pop Culture) [Mayward, Joel] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Theology and the Films of Christopher Nolan: Cinematic Transcendence (Theology, Religion, and Pop Culture)

amzn.to/4pSdmhQ

04.10.2025 16:17 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The Dardenne Brothers’ Cinematic Parables (Routledge Studies in Religion and Film) The Dardenne Brothers’ Cinematic Parables (Routledge Studies in Religion and Film) [Mayward, Joel] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Dardenne Brothers’ Cinematic Parables (Routledge Studies in Religion and Film)

amzn.to/46Td15Z

04.10.2025 16:17 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Cillian Murphy, star of many of Christopher Nolan's films, apparently loves the Dardenne brothers. This basically now makes him my favorite actor. youtu.be/v4Ze7Yo9jgY?...

04.10.2025 16:16 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER: It's as good as you've heard.

29.09.2025 03:06 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

It's been a good week.
#letterboxdfriday #lastfourwatched #filmsky
My Letterboxd profile: boxd.it/3muJ

27.09.2025 01:07 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

1. Magnolia
2. Phantom Thread
3. There Will Be Blood
4. Punch-Drunk Love
5. Licorice Pizza
6. Boogie Nights
7. The Master
8. Inherent Vice
9. Hard Eight

24.09.2025 03:19 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Taking Tylenol because my arm is sore from my COVID vaccine booster shot.

22.09.2025 22:52 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

A Hidden Life (Terrence Malick)

22.09.2025 06:27 β€” πŸ‘ 23    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0
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Subscribe - Bright Wall/Dark Room Subscribe for $29 a year Subscribe now to receive immediate access to each new essay we publish, plus our entire 135+ issue archive. Bright Wall/Dark Room is 100% independent, runs no ads, and strongl...

πŸ’² SEPTEMBER FLASH SALE πŸ’²

Through this weekend any new or returning subscriber can grab an annual subscription to BW/DR for $6 off! (Coupon code: SEPTEMBER6)

Receive FULL access to our entire siteβ€”142 issues featuring over 1500 essaysβ€”for just $23 the first year!

Help support independent media!!

19.09.2025 19:37 β€” πŸ‘ 35    πŸ” 29    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1

What movie do you consider β€œperfect”?

20.09.2025 19:50 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 4
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Sufjan Stevens' Carrie & Lowell | Powell's Books Upon the release of Sufjan Stevens’ seventh studio album,Β Carrie & Lowell, two divergent groups found themselves as strange bedfellows: the LGBTQIA+ community and American evangelical Christians. Both...

My upcoming book on Sufjan Stevens' "Carrie & Lowell" is now available for preorder from my favorite bookstore, Powell's Books in Portland. www.powells.com/book/sufjan-...

20.09.2025 05:39 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Sufjan Stevens' Carrie & Lowell | Powell's Books Upon the release of Sufjan Stevens’ seventh studio album,Β Carrie & Lowell, two divergent groups found themselves as strange bedfellows: the LGBTQIA+ community and American evangelical Christians. Both...

My upcoming book on Sufjan Stevens' "Carrie & Lowell" is now available for preorder from my favorite bookstore, Powell's Books in Portland. www.powells.com/book/sufjan-...

20.09.2025 05:39 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Yes! I'm excited to read the other chapters in the collection.

10.09.2025 03:42 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Or both! πŸ™

10.09.2025 02:17 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Theology and the Films of Christopher Nolan: Cinematic Transcendence (Theology, Religion, and Pop Culture) Theology and the Films of Christopher Nolan: Cinematic Transcendence (Theology, Religion, and Pop Culture) [Mayward, Joel, Callaway, Kutter] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Theology and the Films of Christopher Nolan: Cinematic Transcendence (Theology, Religion, and Pop Culture)

Or preorder this book. amzn.to/3V5O7ux

10.09.2025 02:16 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Sufjan Stevens' Carrie & Lowell (33 1/3) Sufjan Stevens' Carrie & Lowell (33 1/3) [Mayward, Joel] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Sufjan Stevens' Carrie & Lowell (33 1/3)

Hey, it's my birthday. Please preorder my book. amzn.to/3JWl7D0

10.09.2025 02:16 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 4    πŸ“Œ 0

Something is wrong with white AI Jesus's hands. Looks like puddles of raw chicken. Or a blobfish.

07.09.2025 15:00 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Le Fils (The Son)

06.09.2025 06:06 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

The Bible πŸ™ƒ

27.08.2025 14:31 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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We’ll Always Have Paris: Tati’s Playtime - Bright Wall/Dark Room The languid pacing of Jacques Tati's 'Playtime' forces us to be present in the moment, to look around and observe this cinematic world, to simply be.

"The languid pacing of Jacques Tati's PLAYTIME forces us to be present in the moment, to look around and observe this cinematic world, to simply be." - @jmayward.bsky.social

26.08.2025 06:59 β€” πŸ‘ 27    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 3

Thank you for reading and sharing! πŸ™

23.08.2025 14:55 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The Scapegoat: The Dardenne Brothers’ The Son - Bright Wall/Dark Room the son

Actually, I've written about my second answer to this question for BW/DR too: watching Dardenne brothers' LE FILS began a journey that would eventually lead me to doing a PhD on the Dardennes. www.brightwalldarkroom.com/2020/03/16/d...

23.08.2025 06:07 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I wrote about my answer to this question for BW/DR.

23.08.2025 06:04 β€” πŸ‘ 30    πŸ” 7    πŸ’¬ 6    πŸ“Œ 1

Hit like if you read film criticism weekly and repost if you read film criticism more than that

22.08.2025 01:39 β€” πŸ‘ 334    πŸ” 123    πŸ’¬ 7    πŸ“Œ 11
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My author copies of "Sufjan Stevens' Carrie & Lowell" arrived today. Thanks to @3313books.bsky.social and Bloomsbury for publishing my book on this beautiful album.

20.08.2025 01:41 β€” πŸ‘ 11    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

@jmayward is following 20 prominent accounts