Joan of Arcadia: Offensive Rag?
I’ve been watching Joan of Arcadia since my Mom and Dad bought me the second season for Christmas. I adored the show when it was on the air, and I felt more than a little sad that CBS decided to pull it from its Friday evening line-up.
I find the irony that they replaced “Joan” with “The Ghost Whisperer” particularly interesting since they both have to do with supernatural. I guess the latter is slightly less offensive than the former, especially since religion is one of those touchy topics that will, inevitably, offend pockets of people.
However, watching it again makes me realize just how offensive the show could be to the atheists and the religious alike. For all of you who have never seen “Joan,” God takes the form of humans to speak to her. God could be anyone from a little old lady waiting at a bus stop to a punk rocker with spiky hair and nose rings. Or, even, an effeminate secretary who works in the vice principal’s office of Joan’s school. That’s right. The writers had God take on the form of a character that could, decidedly, be gay. And we all know how much some religious people like that.
Another underlying theme of “Joan” is the parallel natures of science (specifically, quantum physics) and religion. Some people I know use science as a tool to prove that there is absolutely no God. “Joan of Arcadia” takes the stance that physics is merely trying to place scientific names to what people of faith have called God for centuries. Luke Girardi, Joan’s brother, even acknowledges that Unified Field Theory is a look into God and a higher power.
But the writing of “Joan” is absolutely amazing, and it did challenge its viewers to look into their religious (or supernatural) beliefs. The acting was pitch-perfect, even for the comedic side character that was Friedmann (a curly-haired, weird looking nerd who inevitably understood the most of the teen-aged characters about love). It just makes me want to see more than what was shown on network television. I am still in awe of this show, despite what critics may or may not think.
Posted on January 19th, 2007 by Joy
Filed under: Religion, Television
The show was brilliant.
I could absolutely relate to the idea that science and religion aren’t mutually exclusive. I found that the show made it incredibly easy to understand both religion and science (i.e. quantum…or in layman’s terms: magic).
I really wish they’d bring it back so I can watch it for free.
nya.
Ask my mom for the season one DVDs. You’re on the same island.
This show is amazing!!!! It is absolutly horrible that CBS took it off the air. We need it back. This show accomplished so much with just one simple hour. CBS what were you thinking!! Well it is obvious that you were not. BRING THE SHOW BACK PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!