Believe to See

Spider-Man has been one of the world's most popular superheroes for more than sixty years—but why has the character endured through so many radically different versions? In this episode, we trace the history of Spider-Man from Stan Lee's original Peter Parker through the Sam Raimi films, the MCU, and all across the Spiderverse. Along the way, we ask what actually makes Spider-Man . . . Spider-Man. Peter Parker? The powers? The costume? Uncle Ben? Or is the character built around something deeper—the idea that great power creates responsibility, sacrifice, failure, and the obligation to keep getting back up?

Why has Batman remained one of the world's most popular superheroes for nearly 90 years? From the dark, pulp-inspired Batman of 1939 to Adam West's colorful 1960s TV series, Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy, and even The LEGO Batman Movie, Batman keeps reinventing himself. In this episode, we trace the history of Batman to discover what makes the character so enduring—and what separates a great Batman adaptation from one that misses the mark. How much can you change Bruce Wayne, Gotham City, the tone, the setting, or even Batman himself before he stops being Batman? And what can Batman teach us about the difference between honoring an artistic tradition and merely copying it?

What could Dolly Parton and Wendell Berry possibly have in common? One embraced rhinestones, celebrity, mass media, and an audience of millions; the other championed farming, limits, local community, and resistance to consumer culture. Yet both offer surprisingly powerful models for Christian artists. In this episode of Believe to See, we compare these two very different artistic lives and explore what they can teach us about living faithfully as a Christian artist.

Words like "rules" and "tradition" tend to make us squirm We're creative! Aren't we supposed to break free of the ordinary? Join the roundtable as the hosts discuss the necessity of learning, understanding, and practicing the "rules" in order to unleash our own creativity.

Some artists find fame while they're living . . . and may wind up forgotten once they're gone. For others, that script is flipped. Join the hosts at the roundtable as they share stories of artists whose works were only truly appreciated after their deaths. Why was their brilliance overlooked when they were alive? What led to their eventual (re)discovery and acclaim? Is it tragic, or inspiring, or a bit of both? ("Obscurity" by Brian Wight used with permission.)