A question posed in the latest precis:
The legitimacy of art has been contested for centuries, but Christian questions about its "usefulness" can sometimes seem valid. For instance, as Seerveld asks, how is it all right to enjoy a live theatre performance when our neighbour is going to hell? Some might argue that art's allusivity can have a purpose, but is less useful than a more direct method, such as bringing aid to a third-world country. How should we respond to this?
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Since art is a way of communicating, can't it be seen more as a tool for ministering to our neighbour? I guess the concern comes mostly from the phenomonen of entertainment, which is generally thought of as frivilous. But entertainment can serve to inspire, provoke thought, and give hope.
ReplyDeleteI think that art can serve as a role for awareness and move to response. I found it interesting how Elias touched on the intimacy, sensory and emotional response that musical worship evokes. I think that the arts have an essential role in justice as they effect us on a more guttural response and can have a deep empathetic effect which is important in ministry.
ReplyDeleteI think that the theatre is a common place for all North and South Americans, and using art that reaches out to that many people is an excellent starting point to raise the awareness of what's going down in our world. Like Jemica mentioned, the arts often generate an emotional response that can effect us deeply. I don't think that the emotion should end there, but the theatrical arts can be the starter for that internal change to happen.
ReplyDeleteI have always struggled with this question. How can drawing a picture be a legitimate use of my time, energies, and financial resources when children are dying from not having enough food to eat? The difficult thing to admit is that art is not a necessity of life. Anyone who lacks food, water, shelter, security, or community/love will agree that those things are necessary. However, I think that art holds so much value and beauty precisely because it is unnecessary. One story of Seerveld's that has always haunted me is about the donation of bright red lipstick to the women waiting to get out of a concentration camp. No one would say that lipstick is necessary for life, but in that circumstance, lipstick gave those women their humanity again.
ReplyDeleteLast time Seerveld was at Redeemer, he mentioned that obviously we don't play the trumpet at a child dying of hunger, but there are children dying every day to bad music as well. They might not be dying physically, but their soles may hunger for life. I think it is more difficult to witness to people who's physical needs are all met, but one cannot say that one witness is more necessary or more valuable than another.
I still often feel the need to justify being an artist to myself, and remind myself that artists and the gifts they bring are indeed necessary in God's plan for redeeming this world.
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ReplyDeleteI'd agree that art is an awesome way to meet people at a more tangible level to witness. So many people are turned off of religion because they are 'preached' at, but a piece of music or art or dance is a new/different approach, it isn't as in your face and provokes questions that can lead into a wonderful faith witness. I'd agree with Denise though, that it is hard to justify being a musician/artist when there are so many terrible things happening, like hunger, poverty and war. The arts keep us alive I think. If our minds were constantly overwhelmed with saving the world, helping the lost on a physical level, we would burn out and emotional die. The emotional response that Jemica mentioned is so important in keeping our spirit lifted.
ReplyDeleteThe challenge of ministering to people who have their physical needs already met is one that I'm especially interested in. I had never really thought about it until I went to Japan a few summers ago. Japan is an extremely wealthy country, yet the suicide rate among university students is very high. How do we interact with the spirit, with the allusive feel or vibe of a place? I think that the arts are vital for interacting with issues that are less obvious than hunger and AIDS. Not to say that hunger and AIDS don't matter - not at all! I think that they are different problems, so they require different responses. I don't know that one is more valid than the other... I like what Prof. Cuthill said near the beginning of the course - that we are called to artistic activity, but that's not all. I think we're asked to feed the hungry and to paint them pictures as well.
ReplyDeleteEverybody engages life, understands it, and communicates in unique ways. One might engage with their head, offering practical gifts and the like. This is good and I 100% respect it. However there is much more to death than simply the physical. As artists, I believe we have the charge and the joy of providing life in other means for other parts of the soul.
ReplyDeleteAs an echo to much of what has been said, I believe art can really be useful to uplift and empower our neighbour. A well crafted poem, a beautifully composed melody or a thought provoking painting will not give a starving child a loaf of bread or conquer one of the many injustices surrounding us today. But how it serves its purpose is helping to empower those with the the ability to do so--namely, the church. Now, making others aware of issues of injustices in the world is not the exclusive purpose of art, but it can be a valid avenue. To repeat what Denise brought up, I really appreciate Cal Seerveld's analogy of "children dying to bad music". As Christians we are called to bring God's light to all corners, even the ones we do not think are that important. Maybe, we need to re-evaluate what "the little ones" to whom we are to bring a cup of cold water, and we may find the ones who are thirsting may not only be thirsting for liquids.
ReplyDeleteMany people would consider music, theatre, and art a waste of time and effort when that time and effort could be used to feed the hungry or witness to unsaved people. But both of these serve a vital purpose in the world. An artist should not become too wrapped up in what he does to never find the time to help others out in a more obvious and direct way. But artwork, music, or drama done for the purpose of raising awareness for social justice issues around the world can sometimes be just as effective if not more effective in demonstrating the need for action in various areas.
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ReplyDeleteI don’t necessarily think we should feel guilty for “enjoy[ing] a life theatre performance when our neighbour is going to hell” to me this statement is extreme, but there is truth to it at the same time. I think the arts can be used in a very effective way and we should take advantage of this method of witness. In fact I have seen many people greatly affected by performances with a Christian message. I think that Christianity in theatre performances as well as music and visual art are very effective ways of witnessing. For someone like myself for example, I often understand things and am more appealed to them when they are communicated in an aesthetic way. I think that it is validated in that God created each of us differently and we each have different gifts for a reason. Someone with a gift such as music, drama or visual arts I feel should use it to his greater good and therefore art can easily be a useful way of witnessing.
ReplyDeleteAlthough it may seem frivolous to go to art shows or live theatre performances and enjoy ourselves while other people are condemned, but God also calls us to use our gifts and share them for others. I think that it is fine to go watch and enjoy whatever it is that we are doing as longs as we are aware of what is going on around us and doing something about it instead of just letting people slip by.
ReplyDeleteIf God has given the people the talent of performance, I think that it is important that other Christians support them - whether they are Christians or not - and praise the God given talent that they have.
Witnessing can also be done through the arts here in our own country. It would be easy to give the profits of a production to a third world country; combining what we are blessed with here with those less fortunate...just a thought...
I agree with many people commenting that art can be a means of communicating with those around us to inspire or evoke discussion or action concerning social justice issues. This question made me think of our discussion near the beginning of the course about living in a culture saturated with imagery. How many advertisements do we take in every day? How many of us carry an ipod or Mp3 player? How many of us watch movies or T.V. series? In a history of modern Japan Dr. Zietsma said something that really stuck with me: everything we see, watch, and listen too is trying to convey a message. Knowing this I think its important that as artists we use our mediums to send a message. Not that this is the only way of approaching art but I find it encouraging that in a culture of visual and auditory consumption we can put a message out there.
ReplyDeleteI do not agree that art is "less useful" than going to aid in a third-world country. This brings up the issue of the role of an artist and say a businessman. Many say that the job of an artist is not a valid occupation, but someone who attends an office everyday and calculates numbers is. I do not understand why being an artist is not considered a job when say a cook performs their culinary arts and that is considered a job. Although this dives into a whole other issue of what art is, but we'll leave that for another day...
ReplyDeleteHowever, I think that art has its place and it is just one way that people can communicate, as others have mentioned, or how they can do their part in mission work. I think that creating a work that creates awareness is just as effective as actually physically being of aid because a piece of art can draw in those who are maybe more able to help. I think that art has its purpose and can be a part of the process of more direct method.
I just finished watching Life is Beautiful for Media Language. In the film, a Jewish man is sent to a concentration camp with his young son. Not wanting to his son to know that death is near, he tells him they are there for a game-- the final prize, a tank. By using imagination, humour and dreams, this man ultimately brings his son joy in a time of desperity. I think oftentimes we view art as a luxury-- thinking of it as rich paintings and design when infact, art is in us; our imaginations, dreams, and re-creativity. It is both visible and invisible, and is something that should not be put on a pedistal as a luxury, but brought down to a human, natural level.
ReplyDeleteArt has so much purpose. It a safe place where the artist can retreat to, to express their deepest, fears, hopes, dreams and work through enormous challenges. These expressions can speak so powerfully to people because they highlight moments of extreme vulnerability, which viewers can relate to in moments of their own lives. I strongly believe that feeding the soul is often more important than feeding the physical body. Though I think ministry in third-world countries is also very critical, it is not an issue of either or, but of marrying the two. People need nourishment in both aspects of their lives.
ReplyDeleteAll work and no play makes jack a dull boy.
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