Fiction has a fascinating relationship with reality. Some people claim that all art is but a mirror of the truth. For many writers, their work is a reflection of their understanding of reality or their value systems. Others claim that art shapes reality instead. And this is true when one considers how the media has changed perceptions of different issues. Many world powers have harnessed the power of the imagination for the purposes of propaganda. No doubt philosophers spill much ink reflecting on how both the arts and the real world relate to each other.
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With that in mind, it is always a fascinating exercise, when watching a movie, to ask, “Well, what is this artist/ director/ story writer really trying to say?”. In Dr Strange, we initially find a man who only believes in the material world. In one scene, the lead is asked, “You think you know how the world works. You think this material universe is all there is. What if I told you the reality you know is one of many?” No doubt there are many aspects of Dr Strange that Christians will be able to relate to. The idea for example that reality consists of much more than the material world (John 4:24). Or that there are different powers and principalities at work unseen which affect the world we live in (Ephesians 6:12). The movie even emphasises the truth that in relating to others, “It's not about you.” A conundrum that the viewer is left with is that one can have a great deal of power at one’s fingertips, but ultimately, what guides its use? In a universe where there is no higher moral order, humanity makes the rules (Judges 21:25). We all have flaws though, so can a flawed people come up with a flawless system of order?
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