the art of faith - dumbing down art

I'm hoping to develop this into a dialogue centered around a few posts on discovering truth and integration of the arts. For today, the dumbing down of art.

Philosophers speak of two [primary] ways of discovering truths: prescriptive and descriptive. For the most part, prescriptive truths are macro-truths. They are truths that can be taught and presented in arguable fashion. Descriptive truths, on the other hand, are truths discovered through the creative/artistic process. Another way to say this is that prescriptive truths for the most part belong to the arena of intellect/reason and descriptive truths are found through experience--most often artistic expression.

I come from an evangelical background that places a high value on the authority and importance of scripture and reason. Unfortunately, the arts and creativity had been sidelined for the better part of the 19/20th centuries as a result of the pendulum swinging too far toward intellect. Without rehashing an "old" argument going on in most of Christendom today ("old" as in about 10+ years old), suffice it to say that as of late the Christian church [for the most part] has been trying to reintegrate these two forms of truth under the same umbrella: not surprisingly, art. My own Christian tradition included. A quick survey of the Christendom horizon might suggest that the pendulum has been swinging back toward artistic experience over the past few years.

Here's the unfortunate part. For the most part, Christian [sub]culture has followed the route of pop-culture. Both pop and Christian cultures have created pop stars (idols?), dumbed-down accessible music and formated kitsch literature. Christians tend to joke about the "insert-names-and-places" format of most romance novels on the shelves of grocery stores, but don't touch the "story-with-an-end-in-mind-so-you-don't-have-to-figure-it-out-yourself" nature of many popular Christian fiction series--you may get left below.

Now, my beef isn't so much with the Christian sub-culture artistic expression as it is with the pop-culture model in general. From an economic/marketable perspective it works. And it works really good. Yet, very little descriptive truth is left to be discovered in most (not all) pop-culture art. Yes, its easily accessible, yes its affordable, but rarely does it inspire mystery, profound questioning or even fear.

Enter the world of faith (descriptive) and religion (prescriptive). A true meshing of these two areas of life should in fact yield art that is both intellectually stimulating and mysterious enough that you can't already figure out the end because its so uncannily similar to something that you just happened to read or hear the other day. This, I believe, is the area that most Christians shy away from. We cringe when we hear that artists like Moby or Bono are professing their faith in Christ because the music they are writing doesn't tie up as neatly as, say, The Elms or one of those vocalists-who-sounds-like-every-other-vocalist and writes songs-about-how-I-never-doubt-my-faith-and-God-comes-through-all-the-time (similar to the pop-Country music format of loosing-my-dog-or-girl-or-job-or-heck-whatever-I-lost-I'm-so-darn-depressed-I-can't-remember).

(As a side note... maybe we're just afraid that Moby or Bono or whoever could actually be a follower of Christ... and we can't "control" them because their music doesn't fit our structured format... In the same way that independent films and artists really mess up Hollywood film and New York recording studios...)

So, my charge is to get messy and discover art-in-faith (or faith-in-art?). The two musicians I have written reviews about are individuals/groups who are doing just that. I like to highlight them because they are wrestling with these issues and putting out some very inspiring, intellectual art.

The Art of Faith series:

1. Dumbing down art
2. The agenda
3. Theology as art
4. The church as art
5. Discipleship as art
6. The sermon as art

Comments

[whipple]

To begin with, check out Derek Webb and his journal section of articles that he has written, several of which address this very issue. Also, from the other side, a shallow intellect (not necessarily a stupidity, but a shallow intellect) produces some interesting problems in encounters with art that requires thought to a higher degree than one dimension. A good example of this is the James Taylor song "Fire and Rain." A line in the song says, "Won't you look down upon me Jesus; You gotta help me make a stand." When questioned about this, James said that he could have just as easily chosen Buddha, but Jesus sounded better. The problem here, is that many people with a shallow intellect hear this and immediately bring the song to the level of theology and doctrine. Our entertainment-based culture is easily swayed by glam. I find myself nervously laughing at what I call the philosophies of the day on the cups at Starbucks. The Athenians, according to Luke, did nothing but listen to and discourse on the latest ideas. I know I've been guilty of the same. But I digress. The point is, how do we find the balance between integrating challenging art to the loss of a demographic (please shudder with me at that word used to denote part of the church) or the acquisition of a new program full of dumbed down art that is 'deep'.

The church has never really been good at balance though. We usually rebound like a cheap and overinflated basketball. We see something that has become a problem and we run from the entire thing, rather than fixing the problem.

[adam feldman]

whipple, what's webb's URL?

i guess when someone throws out the name "jesus" in a song, it gets the attention of many folks (believers and pre-believers alike). i've read some of the pop-philosophies on the s-bucks cups (i just admitted it... i go to s-bucks occasionally) and find it intriquing how s-bucks mixes spirituality, philosophy, art and coffee together. they are so successful simply because they have hit on some of the major interests in our society today. similar to pop-art...

about the balance in the church. i think it would be a falacy to run headlong either direction without considering what that balance should/would look like.

[Rick Marshall]

Great posts on a tough subject. Finding a healthy balance is hard. In my church (a contemporary SBC church) we have several talented 20-somethings and one of them volunteered for the task of creating new artwork for the Youth Center. She came up with some very creative, but failry dark artwork. Many in our church thought it was clearly satanic.

I felt bad for the artist because she was only creating out of her inner expression of Christ setting her free from bondage. And, the older members of the church couldn't understand her visualization of that expression. But, I also felt bad for the older and more conservative members of the church. They were not culturally wired in a way to be able to understant what she was trying to express. We have to be careful to choose our audience a little more carefully when we do let loose. Her artwork would look wonderful in my collegiate ministry, but doesn't fit too well in the 50-somethings church I attend.

We want to expand people's horizons and cause them to think, not get to the point where they feel they have to defend their honor and hetitage.

[adam feldman]

we want to expand people's horizons so they can "think," but also so they can "feel." art has a way of uncovering thoughts, feelings, emotions that may have otherwise been latent or hidden. perhaps that's why we/they tend to react defensively... something got touched deep down and we/they didn't like it.

[evan]

Well, what a can of worms! All i can tell you is what I have experienced in my life. When I was fifteen years old, and a new Christian, I purchased Stephen Curtis Chapman's album, "Heaven in the Real World." And, I also purchased Audio Adrenaline's "Don't Censor Me." While these two albums are not exactly brain-busting artistic expressions, or number one on any chart, they were perfect for the time. They met me right where I was spiritually, intellectually, etc. As I got older, so did my tastes. I shifted from Christian pop to Christian rock/indie labels, blurring into bands and/or labels that were vaguely-Christian-but-not-really, because they wanted to sell albums.

So, what's the point in all this? On one hand, I agree with you. Art is dumbed down, just as Christian theology in general is dumbed down. However, I still feel that bands like Switchfoot have a relevant place in culture, and in Christian culture. I think they speak to their audiences effectively. I think there will always be those people who abuse/misunderstand, or put too much stock in certain singers and bands. (aka - they idolize them).

I also firmy believe there is a distinct seperation between an artist who creates art that is Christian, and a Christian artist who creates anything, (not limited to Christian) or whatnot. For example, I know this actor who is a Christian. He has never been in a Christian movie, that I know of. But, he plays aliens, ghouls, mimes, monsters, arm hairs, and any other kind of work he can get. He's really good and talented at what he does. But, he doesn't pander to Christian cultures by limiting himself to "Left Behind" movies. Plus, he has to make a living. (which is another blog for another time).

I have also learned a lot from watching my parents. They are mid-to-late fifties. And, while they are not necessarily theologically opposed to having rock music in church, they are not culturally willing to endure listening to "rock" music in a church service. Who can blame them? I have to look at it from their perspective. They grew up in a different era. You can say "It's about worshipping Christ, not what style of music it is!" But, you certainly have to have some kind of barometer for measuring what kind of music you play. I mean, how many churches would like to have hardcore speed metal in their church services? I mean, maybe that's not theologically wrong, but who could put up with it? It's just a gray area, and it makes my brain hurt.

As a low budget "Christian artist" of sorts, I have had to deal with this very issue for many years. It's one of the most fascinating subjects in my life. Where do theological and cultural lines intersect? It's a blurry line sometimes. But, I'm more than willing to explore it.