Father King’s Conversations: Keith Tester

24 June 2009

Father Robert King, the Catholic Chaplain to the University of Bristol and Clifton Diocese Vocations Director, continues his new weekly podcast series exploring faith and culture today (24 June).  A new episode of ‘Father King’s Conversations’ will be online every Wednesday only on cliftondiocese.com.  Father Robert is in conversation with leading thinkers and local people who enrich our lives through their cultural work.  Father Robert speaks with Professor Keith Tester. 

In the third episode of my new podcast series I spoke with Professor Keith Tester, Professor of Sociology at the University of Hull.  As a mirror of popular culture, films can often provide us with a surprisingly clear glimpse into the culture from which they emerge. As a sociologist, Keith Tester is particularly renowned for insights into the understanding of characters: his oft-cited edited collection on ‘The Flâneur’ (The Drifter) explains the ambiguity of the title in relation to character; while in Martin Scorsese's, ‘Raging Bull’ there is no character that is bull-like. In ‘Raging Bull’, the central character is unpleasant; yet the viewer is made to sympathise with him, and even wish him well. Such ambiguity creates a contradiction that is both compelling and credible.

Keith explains his love of the films of the quietly masterful French director, Éric Rohmer. Influential in New Wave cinema, Rohmer combined cinematic innovation with introspective ways of exploring questions of faith. It comes as no surprise that Rohmer was a catalyst in Keith’s journey towards Catholicism.

Keith’s interest in the liminality between popular culture and cultural expression also extends to music. Here, he explains his passion for Nick Cave, both with the Birthday Party and the Bad Seeds. Nick Cave is a wonderful lyricist who expresses pain with humour, and has even explored medieval hagiography. Keith’s interest in popular culture also extends to television. He sees it as perceptive and reflects the breadth of his cultural sociology.

Plans for the future: a project on the great director Ingmar Bergman.

You can listen to our podcast in the multimedia panel on the right.  Next week I’m joined by James Patrick, a barrister, judge and priest.

Father Robert King

Last week's episode is still online.