Do artists take themselves too seriously?
Do we take artists seriously enough?
These are the questions I’ve had coming out of my post last week, where I offered a few preliminary thoughts (in response to a well-intentioned but generally frustrating video from the Gospel Coalition) on the question of whether artists serve some kind of “priestly” role in contemporary (pop) culture… and if so, if such a thing is altogether self-serving or may in fact serve a greater purpose as far as “theology and culture” is concerned. Following the twists and turns of the original video – and with those two opening questions in mind – I would also like to consider the artist as “prophet.” Is this a role that artists should avoid or embrace, and is their “prophetic” voice one we (especially as the church) need to heed?
A recent article in... Read More
Tagged with artist as prophet, Bob Dylan, Derek Webb, Evangelicalism, Gospel Coalition, Greg Thornbury, John Dillenberger, protest music, Rage Against the Machine, Sinead O'Connor, Walter Brueggeman
In his seminal Art in Action (1980), Reformed philosopher Nicholas Wolterstorff emphasized the way in which the artist, “when he brings forth order for human benefit or divine honor,” participates in “man’s vocation to master and subdue the earth” (77). Such a creationally-grounded ‘job description’ applies equally to artists inside and outside the boundaries of the church. On the basis of the shared human... Read More
If you are a regular follower of the Mediation blog, I (on behalf of myself, Brian, Thomas, Aaron and Kelly) have to apologize for a slowdown in posts, especially over the Christmas season. In all of the far-flung places we are found across this great continent (from Seattle to Atlanta to Toronto), things have been prohibitively busy! And the media waits for no man, woman or creature that crawls across the face of the earth.
Part of the challenge... Read More
David Wheeler is the author of Contingency Plans and a fair number of essays around the internet. He’s been selling books for the last few years, currently at the Elliott Bay Book Co in Seattle. He works on the events team to introduce authors and sells books during any number of the 500 readings we put on throughout the year, in addition to his work on the floor in customer service. Mediation writer Thomas Turner chatted with David to discuss... Read More
The documentary The People vs. George Lucas, with all its jokes about Ewoks and midi-chlorians, is perhaps destined to be enjoyed most by Star Wars superfans. However, it raises a series of intriguing questions about creativity and control which extend far beyond a certain “galaxy far, far away.” Who “owns” a film or work of art, especially in this digital age? The auteur director? The writers or producers? The corporations... Read More
