Comments on: Taking back the arts http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2007/04/taking-back-the-arts/ Just another WordPress weblog Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:40:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: stpattykid http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2007/04/taking-back-the-arts/#comment-292 stpattykid Tue, 10 Apr 2007 04:53:07 +0000 http://reclaimingthemind.org/devblog/index.php/2007/04/05/taking-back-the-arts/#comment-292 Carrie- I was involved in theatre as an actor and producer for fifteen years and I couldn't agree with you more. The problem with Christian media (and for the sake of this argument, let's assume film/TV/theatre) is that art has it's greatest power in revealing something of the human condition through the given circumstances of a text (or situation). We are taken up in the action by watching the "hero's journey", and from that we examine our worldview, or our own circustances through the prism of this artistic experience. Art poses a question and opens the floor to debate. Art then can be, in it's best form, the mirror that reflects society for good or ill. I think Christian media fails because Christianity holds the answer. Christianity embodies truth and the TRUTH (thankfully so). And because of this, those who produce Christian media present the answer rather than the questions we as an audience (or as a human) find so compelling. When anyone claims an answer (see any Oliver Stone film) without those elements of drama that move us...it becomes preaching. Just a thought. All the best. Carrie-

I was involved in theatre as an actor and producer for fifteen years and I couldn’t agree with you more. The problem with Christian media (and for the sake of this argument, let’s assume film/TV/theatre) is that art has it’s greatest power in revealing something of the human condition through the given circumstances of a text (or situation). We are taken up in the action by watching the “hero’s journey”, and from that we examine our worldview, or our own circustances through the prism of this artistic experience. Art poses a question and opens the floor to debate. Art then can be, in it’s best form, the mirror that reflects society for good or ill. I think Christian media fails because Christianity holds the answer. Christianity embodies truth and the TRUTH (thankfully so). And because of this, those who produce Christian media present the answer rather than the questions we as an audience (or as a human) find so compelling. When anyone claims an answer (see any Oliver Stone film) without those elements of drama that move us…it becomes preaching. Just a thought. All the best.

]]> By: Carrie Hunter http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2007/04/taking-back-the-arts/#comment-289 Carrie Hunter Sat, 07 Apr 2007 02:01:01 +0000 http://reclaimingthemind.org/devblog/index.php/2007/04/05/taking-back-the-arts/#comment-289 Thank you both Joanie and Bob for your comments. Joanie that is a great observation about seeing creativity even in the most basic daily things like clothing and furniture. My daughter hears music in basic things... the rhythm of the dishwasher for example. I encourage her to "play along to the beat". Bob very cool about the ballroom dancing. I find that captivating; the grace and beauty and precise execution of each step in sync with the music. Too it Thank you both Joanie and Bob for your comments.

Joanie that is a great observation about seeing creativity even in the most basic daily things like clothing and furniture. My daughter hears music in basic things… the rhythm of the dishwasher for example. I encourage her to “play along to the beat”.

Bob very cool about the ballroom dancing. I find that captivating; the grace and beauty and precise execution of each step in sync with the music. Too it

]]> By: bpratico http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2007/04/taking-back-the-arts/#comment-291 bpratico Fri, 06 Apr 2007 13:53:49 +0000 http://reclaimingthemind.org/devblog/index.php/2007/04/05/taking-back-the-arts/#comment-291 Amen!!! My wife and I are avid ballroom dancers. We even do exhibitions - all for the glory of God. Bob Amen!!! My wife and I are avid ballroom dancers. We even do exhibitions - all for the glory of God.

Bob

]]> By: JoanieD http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2007/04/taking-back-the-arts/#comment-290 JoanieD Fri, 06 Apr 2007 03:10:14 +0000 http://reclaimingthemind.org/devblog/index.php/2007/04/05/taking-back-the-arts/#comment-290 I agree, Carrie. The Psalms are filled with references to dancing and playing instruments in praise to God. It doesn't seem mentioned so much in the New Testament, but they do talk about singing songs in Acts, I think. And I bet when Jesus went to the wedding where he changed the water in to wine that there was singing and dancing going on. Human creativity is everywhere, even in our clothing and furniture. I do think the humans are "hard-wired" for stories. From stories about the beginnings of the universe to fairy tales to novels to movies, and even to jokes, people seem moved to live with stories. Our lives would be drab and maybe even impossible to live without fantasy. And those people with the greatest imaginations may be the ones most capable of opening up to God. It's not that imagination and faith are the same, but I think imagination opens one up to the possibilities of things beyond our understanding. My husband won't believe that ANYTHING miraculous can happen because he hasn't seen a miracle. I think we are living in the midst of miracles every day, but he is talking about the kind of miracles that Jesus did when he walked on the earth during his 3 year ministry. Anyway, I definitely agree with you and like your, "Taking back the arts is part and parcel of reclaiming the mind for Christ." I agree, Carrie. The Psalms are filled with references to dancing and playing instruments in praise to God. It doesn’t seem mentioned so much in the New Testament, but they do talk about singing songs in Acts, I think. And I bet when Jesus went to the wedding where he changed the water in to wine that there was singing and dancing going on.

Human creativity is everywhere, even in our clothing and furniture.

I do think the humans are “hard-wired” for stories. From stories about the beginnings of the universe to fairy tales to novels to movies, and even to jokes, people seem moved to live with stories. Our lives would be drab and maybe even impossible to live without fantasy.

And those people with the greatest imaginations may be the ones most capable of opening up to God. It’s not that imagination and faith are the same, but I think imagination opens one up to the possibilities of things beyond our understanding. My husband won’t believe that ANYTHING miraculous can happen because he hasn’t seen a miracle. I think we are living in the midst of miracles every day, but he is talking about the kind of miracles that Jesus did when he walked on the earth during his 3 year ministry.

Anyway, I definitely agree with you and like your, “Taking back the arts is part and parcel of reclaiming the mind for Christ.”

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