What does this research mean for the field?

Thomas Aquinas's concept of divine poiesis serves as a model for human self-formation, which can be cultivated through the artform of film as it facilitates a shared, relational 'poetic gaze' that affirms the ontological goodness of creation. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To examine Thomas Aquinas’ theological concept of divine poiesis alongside film phenomenology to articulate a model of human aesthetic and pedagogical self-formation.

August 29, 2026Studies in Philosophy and EducationOpen Access

‘Seeing Like a Movie’: Cultivating the Poetic Gaze with Thomas Aquinas and the Artform of the Moving Image

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To examine Thomas Aquinas’ theological concept of divine poiesis alongside film phenomenology to articulate a model of human aesthetic and pedagogical self-formation.
Synthesized Thomistic perspectives on artistic virtue and divine poiesis drawing on John Milbank, Catherine Pickstock, and Jacques Maritain.
Applied Vivian Sobchack's film phenomenology to explore cinema as a shared relational vision reflecting divine creative acts.
Evaluated Plato's critiques of mimetic art and analyzed the pedagogical implications through the production of the science-fiction indie film The Silent Messenger.
Identified that human artistic creation mirrors divine poiesis through an intentional, self-forgetting movement from concept to physical form, or seeing-as-making.
Demonstrated that cinematic mimesis communicates the ontological goodness of the world by transforming the filmmaker's personal vision into a collaborative sight completed by the spectator.

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Implication

Philosophical analysis reveals how cinematic mimesis mirrors divine poiesis in human formation, highlighting moving images as vehicles for relational aesthetic education.

Cite This Study

Katja Frimberger (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9298d38e5d7d1fc0c10993 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11217-026-10107-x

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Implication

Philosophical analysis reveals how cinematic mimesis mirrors divine poiesis in human formation, highlighting moving images as vehicles for relational aesthetic education.

‘Seeing Like a Movie’: Cultivating the Poetic Gaze with Thomas Aquinas and the Artform of the Moving Image

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Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

‘Seeing Like a Movie’: Cultivating the Poetic Gaze with Thomas Aquinas and the Artform of the Moving Image

Key Points

Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

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