"I have met some set-apart believers. In truth, they often bore me. Oftentimes, their art is didactic and they do not see the ding an sich."
Do NOT get me started!
May I recommend Addicted to Mediocrity: Contemporary Christians and the Arts
*Frank Schaeffer
In this provocative book, Franky Schaeffer shows how Christians today have sacrificed the artistic prominence they enjoyed for centuries and settled instead for mediocrity. The evidence for this sad state of affairs abounds. We are flooded with "Christian" doodads, trinkets, t-shirts, bumper stickers, etc., that use God's name as an advertising slogan--"Things Go Better with Jesus"--putting the Creator of the universe on the same level as soda pop! Moreover, Schaeffer writes, "Whenever Christians, and evangelicals in particular, have attempted to 'reach the world' through the media--TV, film, publishing and so on--the thinking public gets the firm idea that, like soup in a bad restaurant, Christians' brains are best left unstirred." But it doesn't have to be this way. Schaeffer shows how Christians who care can begin to reverse the slide toward by demanding excellence in the arts and media, and in all areas of life; by giving our time, talents and money to those things which are worthy of our support and are truly honoring to God; by staying away from the cheap, the shoddy, and the make-a-fast-buck mentality. Schaeffer offers not only an unflinching critique, but specific and practical direction for becoming "unaddicted," and for recovering artistic excellence. The punch, humor and satire of the text is effectively enhanced by nineteen original drawings by Chicago artist Kurt Mitchell.
*before he decided his mother and father ( Francis & Edith Schaeffer) wee bad Bad People and everything they taught was wrong.
That sounds pretty compelling. I might have to grab the book. I’m not familiar with the details of his denunciations, but a negative uninformed opinion remains in my head. Instead of assuming he’s an egoistic deconstructionist, I’ll give him a chance.
As a fan of Klavan's fiction and a novelist myself, I started this book last night, and the introductory essay alone blew me away. Can't wait to read the rest. Thanks for this thoughtful essay.
This is an excellent and compelling review. Seems like your own personal experience, especially within the last several years, has deepened your understanding of where an author like Klavan is coming and writing from.
"I have met some set-apart believers. In truth, they often bore me. Oftentimes, their art is didactic and they do not see the ding an sich."
Do NOT get me started!
May I recommend Addicted to Mediocrity: Contemporary Christians and the Arts
*Frank Schaeffer
In this provocative book, Franky Schaeffer shows how Christians today have sacrificed the artistic prominence they enjoyed for centuries and settled instead for mediocrity. The evidence for this sad state of affairs abounds. We are flooded with "Christian" doodads, trinkets, t-shirts, bumper stickers, etc., that use God's name as an advertising slogan--"Things Go Better with Jesus"--putting the Creator of the universe on the same level as soda pop! Moreover, Schaeffer writes, "Whenever Christians, and evangelicals in particular, have attempted to 'reach the world' through the media--TV, film, publishing and so on--the thinking public gets the firm idea that, like soup in a bad restaurant, Christians' brains are best left unstirred." But it doesn't have to be this way. Schaeffer shows how Christians who care can begin to reverse the slide toward by demanding excellence in the arts and media, and in all areas of life; by giving our time, talents and money to those things which are worthy of our support and are truly honoring to God; by staying away from the cheap, the shoddy, and the make-a-fast-buck mentality. Schaeffer offers not only an unflinching critique, but specific and practical direction for becoming "unaddicted," and for recovering artistic excellence. The punch, humor and satire of the text is effectively enhanced by nineteen original drawings by Chicago artist Kurt Mitchell.
*before he decided his mother and father ( Francis & Edith Schaeffer) wee bad Bad People and everything they taught was wrong.
That sounds pretty compelling. I might have to grab the book. I’m not familiar with the details of his denunciations, but a negative uninformed opinion remains in my head. Instead of assuming he’s an egoistic deconstructionist, I’ll give him a chance.
As a fan of Klavan's fiction and a novelist myself, I started this book last night, and the introductory essay alone blew me away. Can't wait to read the rest. Thanks for this thoughtful essay.
It’s an inspired work.
And, thank you.
This is an excellent and compelling review. Seems like your own personal experience, especially within the last several years, has deepened your understanding of where an author like Klavan is coming and writing from.