Some Perspectives on Art: Part VI
This post better be WAY better than Leonard, Part 6. Seriously.
If you are looking at this thinking, “I have got to read five other posts before I can read this one?”, I would say “no”. I hope each of these perspectives are able to be digested on their own. So start with this one. Or go back to the beginning. Whatever you want to do is fine.
This a multi-part series on Francis Schaeffer’s perspectives by which Christians can evaluate art, from his book Art and the Bible. I have commented on perspectives one through seven. Only four more to go.
Tonight I am going to do another two-for …
Perspective 8: Modern Art Forms and the Christian Message
The Devil's playthings.
“There is no such thing as a godly style or an ungodly style.” Thank you for that, Francis. There are some who would disagree. I once came across a website that declared that the distorted guitar sounded like the guttural cries of the devil. Ah, the internet, where anyone who takes an hour to learn basic html can tell the world things they used to only be able to tell the blue hairs at the prayer breakfast. My question to that person is how do you know what the guttural cries of the devil sound like?
So no art form is in and of itself ungodly. But some art forms, by their nature, do a better job of communicating the Christian message than others. Schaeffer targets modern art forms, where the content is not obvious or even clear, as being poor carriers of the Christian message. I wouldn’t disagree. That does not mean that they are ungodly or wrong, but simply that if your goal is to proclaim the Christian message clearly, you should choose your art form carefully.
There is also a hidden danger. As Schaeffer puts it, “while we must use twentieth-century styles, we must not use them in such a way as to be dominated by the world views out of which they have arisen.” For instance, while there is nothing wrong with a Christian making punk music, the Christian should consider that unless his song writing is clear, he might be grouped into a class of punk musicians who have little regard for Christianity.
Personally, I think an artful and talented Christian musician might find punk music to be the perfect outlet. Punk music has always stood in opposition to the establishment, and a good songwriter who understands that Jesus, in many ways, stood in opposition to the establishment, will find great freedom in writing punk songs. But the artist should be aware of the pitfalls. That’s why excellence in artistry is key.
Perspective 9: The Christian World View
Schaeffer divides the Christian world view into a major and minor theme. The minor theme is that we live in a revolting and fallen world, where life for the lost is meaningless, and Christians must grapple with sin and darkness in their own lives. The major theme is really the opposite of the minor. Man has hope and purpose because of God, and there is forgiveness and life because of His grace.
The Christian artist must explore both themes. How can we understand grace if there is no sin? How can the Christian artist offer no hope when she has been given so much? The good news for the Christian artist is there is room for both in the artist’s body of works. David could write Psalm 13, and he could write the Psalms of Ascension. In fact, how could a believer artist be honest to himself if he only emphasized one theme?
For Christians, unfortunately, we have no problem with the major theme. Truthfully, it’s what sells. Our radio stations are “positive and family friendly”. We spend so much time protecting ourselves from the difficulty of living in a fallen world, that we back ourselves into a corner. As a result, when we fall, we fall hard. We are excellent at covering up the warning signs, so the disaster rocks the church. Our approach to art is a reflection of this. And it promotes it. The struggles in our books and movies are cliche, and they are easily dealt with. There is very little duplicity, even though our hearts are often very duplicitous. It’s always black and white, and the darkness is glossed over and quickly appeased … if there is darkness.
For the Christian artist, it is imperative to explore both themes with honesty and candor. Maybe, just maybe, we should asks ourselves if it is genuine before we ask ourselves if it is family friendly. I heard it said that some of the best art is born out of the pain of living. I would agree with that. The Christian artist is free to explore that pain. But the rest of the best art is born of beauty, even the beauty in tragedy (what is the cross, if not beauty in tragedy?) The body of a Christian’s art will explore both themes, if she is being honest.
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Only two more perspectives and one more post in the series left!
February 22nd, 2009 at 3:58 pm
dude, that is so “bottom-right”
February 22nd, 2009 at 4:56 pm
At LEAST bottom-right. I have to admit that I have thought of the four squares several times while blogging about Schaeffer.