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I think most of our culture, even christian, is detached from it. We like music alot more. It’s easier to relate and understand. I dont get alot of “art” myself. I dont get this picture of a tree in a parking lot on the wall at the local coffe shop…but supposedly it deals with the lines…to me its a tree surrounded by asphalt.

We are eached wired differently as well. Despite being an engineer, I like music and playing the guitar. My best work of art is a stick figure though. But some art is actually beautiful, and CS Lewis describes it (The Great Divorce) as our attempts to capture a glimpse of heaven on canvas.

Sorry your church only sings praise music..i probably wouldnt stay at one that only sang praise music. Especially if its the kind dthat repeats the same line for 10 minutes. I like to sing, and I appreciate great lyrics to sing such as “Thine eye diffused a quickening ray, I woke the dungeon flamed with light”. Few write like that though now. Few probably did when it was written.

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I agree with your counter statement earlier, and I do agree that people who pursue a Phillipians 4:8 principle arent necessairly running away from reality. It is because of reality they can pursue it, but what is our understanding of positive/uplifting without an understanding of the broken reality we live in?

The point is that every artist must create according to the honesty and integrity of his heart and soul. Never counter. A christian’s heart and soul will always reflect those themes.

On the same token that we should express everything that is truly good in the arts, we can also relate to the reality of this life. That we are broken, that we do struggle, but there is an answer to that brokenness. Addressing the honest reality, hearing from those who have struggled, helps us relate, and helps us relate to a Savior that was broken, and bled, for us, yet raised in glory. It is the whole picture that should be conveyed, and there are different people that convey different parts.

I dont think Fujimura, or many of the best christian songwriters/artists are escaping by addressing brokeness. They are dealing directly with their life and the reality of this life and the life to come. Yes they talk of brokeness, but they lead that into an answer.

I think a prime example of the difference will be Stephen Curtis Chapman’s new album. It deals with the pain, grief, in his daughters loss, yet the reliance on God. It wont be your typical SSC album, yet it will probably go down as one of his best ever because the raw emotion and honesty will be poured forth. It wont be “dancing with the dinosaurs”…

The christian music industry has a tendency to put an “Everything’s Ok” stamp on everything. It’s what sells the most. But it is what has contrained it from ever booming. Christianity is a honest raw emotional life. It’s real, with a real Savior, and a real problem of sin. If the industry promoted that, instead of their pocket…

I take issue solely with radio stations and music labels that are afraid of the reality, and instead of presenting that reality, the only stay on one end of the spectrum.

Too many people can relate to a Chapman, or a Lacey Mosely (former drug addicted atheist now lead singer of Flyleaf). But in the end I find it just as uplifting if not more so to see the depth of one’s despair that Christ has rescued them from. To know they have walked in my shoes…to be reminded more so that Christ has. If we gloss over it, ever, then we’ve presented a false reality, and its like attempting to offer a cure, without a disease.

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Actually, some people who pursue the ugly, the raw, the unintelligible, the smutty, the offensive, the shocking and the angry in art (this is not necessarily a description of Fujimura at all–just a statement in general) are often indulging in an unhealthy form of excapism themselves–escaping aesthetic standards, principles and values. Some are just spitting in our cultural faces while riding an elitist presumption that “art” justifies any tantrum they feel like throwing (often using federal funds too).

Again, this is not a reference to Fujimura, but a generalization about a lot of contemporary artists. There are many exceptions.

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Good post.

I can deeply respect good art that communicates “the truth and extent of human sinfulness, in the spirit of Dostoevsky’s Notes from the Underground.” I just don’t honestly see how Fujimura’s work does that. But God bless him, and you.

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Actually, I appreciate freedom across the creative and content spectrums, but my desire is for there to be less depreciation of the art work that is positive, intelligible and uplifting. It can be every bit as profound, deep and creative as the art that allegedly focuses on “brokenness.”

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He is talking about the fall of man, about human sinfulness, which our culture denies. I think it is appropriate to create works of art that communicate the truth and extent of human sinfulness, in the spirit of Dostoevsky’s Notes from the Underground. We need a savior.

There is another side to the coin. Many of the Christian artists that I know are very interested in the idea of beauty – that there is such a thing as beauty. Theirs is a reaction against the denial of beauty by the general art culture around us.

But don’t press me for more, I am only ignorantly repeating snippets I have picked up over time. Mostly I just enjoy looking at the pictures and discussing them. My wife is an art teacher who has a fine arts degree from what is now the University of the Arts.

See It Was Good: Making Art to the Glory of God – it would make a great Christmas gift. Full disclosure: the author is a personal friend.

I could go on about music (especially on Sunday mornings, our music director is a jazz musician, you would be amazed), other visual and performing arts, even architecture – but I’ll stop.

OK, another promotion:
http://byfaithonline.com/page/pca-people/giving-expression-to-worship

Christian artists need to use their gifts to communicate their faith, striving for excellence, while avoiding the narcissism that permeates the art culture around them. I think that is the core struggle for them.

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he doesnt see any separation at all. His work is his faith. His faith is his work.

He lives out the Red Letter

David
http://www.redletterbelievers.com
Salt and Light

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“There is a whole culture, that resides in the brokenness, what Fujimura does is not only display the honesty of brokeness, but that there is a hope and light on the other side.”

“But the best musicians, the Jars of Clays, the Flyleafs, the Skillets, etc who write from the honest brokenesss to the hope of Christ provide some of the best music written in the last 100 years.”

At church, there was a Sunday School class that mentioned just how important art is. My problem is that I don’t find art so important. Music is important to me but words to music are only important if the music is good (to me). I turn off to “praise music”. I used to really like singing in church. I don’t sing in church any more.

Obviously art and some music is very important to you.

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