Some Perspectives on Art: Part II
In case you wanted to know how to take a picture
This is part two of my ramblings about Francis Schaeffer’s eleven perspectives from which Christians can evaluate art, from his book Art and the Bible. You can read my introduction as well as my thoughts on Perspective One, Art for Art’s Sake, here. Tonight, I give you two perspectives for the price of one …
Perspective Two: Art Forms Add Strength to the World View
In other words, whether or not a worldview is true, art adds weight to a worldview that could not occur without the benefit of a work of art. I think the best way of illustrating this point is the phrase, “I’ll never look at ______ the same way again”, where ________ is the subject of some work of art. Art takes a subject, no matter what it is, and gives it an importance it did not have before.
Silverton, Colorado is a city with a rich history. I have never been there, myself, but I imagine it would be a nice place to stop on a road trip. My wife could find some little boutiques perfect for window shopping. But when I saw the photograph “Silverton, CO”, the town took on a whole new meaning for me. What was once a nice little town among hundreds of nice little towns across the country now means more to me because of a work of art created by Ansel Adams.
Schaeffer applies this concept to written works with the following statement:
“In fact, the effect of any proposition, whether true or false, can be heightened if it is expressed in poetry or in artistic prose rather than in bald, formulaic statement.”
If the church were to grab this perspective and run with it, I think the way we do business would be much different than the status quo. Imagine a sermon that were more epic poem that practical talking points. Or, to take it a step further, imagine if the Almighty Sermon — the centerpiece of the modern church — were forgotten one week in exchange for a short film or dramatic presentation. I imagine there are churches where this happens. I imagine those churches are labeled as “weird” by most.
I think the reason for this is the fact that our modern approach to faith is constantly trying to remove the mystery and wonder of an Awesome God and replace it with a God We Understand. The problem is that our minds are incapable of completely understanding the vastness and greatness of God. Perhaps art can give God just a fraction more of the weight He deserves.
I think that a healthy appreciation and embrace of art would do things for the church that they just aren’t going to accomplish if they keep doing like we’ve been doing it.
Perspective Three: Normal Definitions, Normal Syntax
Yeah.
Put simply, the audience’s understanding of a work of art depends on how the artist chooses to employ a normal use of symbols, syntax, and definitions in their art. If they disassociate their language from generally understood definitions at too great a level, then their meaning will not be as easily discernable.
I think Schaeffer helps explain this in terms of modern, abstract art:
“Totally abstract art stands in an undefined relationship with the viewer, for the viewer is completely alienated from the painter. There is a huge wall between them … Like poetry or prose which has no contact with normal syntax and the normal definitions of words, it is a quarry out of which the observer or the hearer has a personal emotional response.”
In other words, when the art rejects commonly understood symbolism and definitions, the observer is left to make their own conclusions and have their own reaction, and it may be a totally different reaction than the one that inspired the artist.
I don’t believe that makes modern art less valid or somehow inferior to more “realistic” forms of art. I am impacted by Rembrandt and Pollock. But my reaction to Pollock is much different than my reaction to Rembrandt. And while Rembrandt’s subjects are infinitely more clear than Pollock’s, it does not mean that my reaction to Pollock is less valid.
That being said, the believer should understand that perhaps the best way to express the emotions we all face as human beings is in something a little more abstract. But we must also understand that if our goal is to increase the weight of a subject, we have to communicate that subject clearly.
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more to come …
February 17th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
[...] evaluate art, from his book Art and the Bible. You can read about the first four perspectives here, here, and here. Today’s perspective is meaty [...]
February 17th, 2009 at 11:52 pm
[...] Christians can evaluate art, from his book Art and the Bible. Perspectives 1-5 can be found here, here, here, and here. Today is another two-for-the-price-of-one [...]
February 22nd, 2009 at 8:50 pm
[...] The Art Work as an Art Work (Part I) Perspective Two: Art Forms Add Strength to the World View (Part II) Perspective Three: Normal Definitions, Normal Syntax (Part II) Perspective [...]