Thursday, July 29, 2004
Some Thoughts on Art, Part 1
If you boil it down, what we call "art" is just communication. Symbols that represent ideas. A medium (images, shapes, or sounds that represent ideas) and a message (the idea that is communicated). Paintings, music, film, writing, preaching, talking to your friend — all consist of a medium and a message. Even if a piece of art is just for entertainment or decoration, it still communicates a nonverbal message that causes recreation or a feeling of comfort. Now of course, it helps if you understand the language of the medium, else you don't receive the message. Some works of art take research to figure out what the artist was trying to say, by learning the language, context, etc. Likewise, an artist has to learn the language in order to communicate his message to his audience.
So instead of asking of a piece, "Is it art?" (because it is), perhaps a better question is "Is it good art?" How technically skilled is the artist in manipulating the medium? How well was the artist able to use the medium to convey his idea? How novel is the piece, and/or how well was the artist able to use or combine concepts in an original way? Has the artist created a new medium, language, or set of symbols in which to communicate his ideas (which would mean the audience has to learn the new language as well)? And so on.
Now, some mediums are better at communicating different messages than others. Blueprints are good for communicating how to build things. Music can convey emotions in an amazingly efficient manner. And when the style of music matches the message, all the better (for example, Rage Against The Machine is good art because it takes an intense style of music and matches it to a message of not-always-peaceful social upheaval.)
What I find interesting is that God, in His sovereign plan for history, decided to make His Word in a text-based format. Not film, painting, sculpture, or music, but prose and poetry, narratives and treatises. Hmm. Easily portable, easily reproducible, and not requiring too many resources, when compared to say, paintings and film. After all, sometimes a word is worth a thousand pictures. Text/speech has a clarity that music and paintings don't always have, and as Christians, don't we want to make our message as clear as possible to as many people as we can? When was the last time that you heard of a genuine revival occurring as the result of movement in the world of music or painting? Oswald Chambers realized this early on, and gave up the life of an artist to become a missionary (and posthumous author of the best-selling My Utmost for His Highest). As Paul says, "But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!'" (Romans 10:14-15)
Now, just to clarify, I am both a visual artist and a musician. I have a BA in art and I make a living as a graphic designer. I paint, write songs, and make short films. I like "art" (by that I mean what we typically mean by "art": painting, music, etc.).
If you like making "art", great! God has gifted you with those abilities, and if you want to, you have the freedom to use them as you see fit. But remember, we are Christians first, and "artists" second. When we seek to communicate the Gospel, we must take care to never let our medium obscure the message.
Thoughts and comments?
EDIT (3-23-2005): Link to Part 2 (click here).
Labels: film/tv/books/arts, religion/theology/philosophy
Tuesday, July 27, 2004
Geek Update:
Star Wars Original Trilogy DVDs
Whatever you may think of the additional changes you might think that they're making to the original trilogy, just think how bad it could be:
Labels: film/tv/books/arts, geek stuff
Sunday, July 25, 2004
Sunburns + Jellyfish: 0
Andy: 1
So, I went to Florida with my church's youth group for summer youth camp. It was great. We met another church down there at Laguna Beach (west of Panama City) for a week of worship and relaxation. I got to play in the Gulf of Mexico for a significant amount of time, and received no sunburns nor jellyfish stings. Nor sharkbites for that matter. I sorta surfed (I stayed on the board for 2 whole seconds), and I got to hang out with the kids and get to know them. On the way back home, we went through Atlanta to eat at Pappasito's, a fantastic tex-mex restaurant with live mexican music. It was great.
Atlanta Traffic: 2
Surfboards: 0
As we approached Atlanta, where the interstate highway went from the normal four lanes to six lanes, the surfboards (belonging to Smedly and Janet) fell off the trailer and were subsequently destroyed by traffic. It was sad. So we pulled over and Smed jumped out of the van to retrieve them. I wasn't too far behind. Janet and Rolando came after me as well. One board got knocked to the median and Smed ran out and got it. The other board was broken in half and I was able to get it out of the highway. Thankfully, no one got hurt, and there were no car accidents. Running across a freeway dodging Atlanta traffic is not fun, but God was gracious to protect us.
Labels: life
Thursday, July 08, 2004
Stupid Geek Debate, moderated by Mr. Floyd Paenut.
The question that plagues the fanboys now is this: "What happens when you detonate a spherical metal honeycomb over five hundred miles wide just above the atmosphere of a habitable world?" Did the destruction of the Second Death Star in Return of the Jedi lead to an environmental disaster on Endor? Did enough material strike the surface of the moon to create a "nuclear winter"? (links: 'For' Essay, Rebuttal Essay) Do we really even care?
Discuss. Leave a comment.
Labels: geek stuff
Tuesday, July 06, 2004
Weird Dream.
So, I was minding my own business when the weather got bad. I saw a tornado forming on a nearby hill, so I decided to hide under a nearby table. Hosea, the Hebrew prophet, was standing nearby, so I told him to get under the table for his own safety. He did, and the tornado went by. Some little kids happened to show up, and I told them to stay put while I went for help.
Labels: dreams
