Inquiring After God through Art II
12/14/04
Nicholas Wolterstorff
Introduction
- iconoclasts
icon-smashers, no decoration in the church, classic Reformed stance, not
symbolism,
- iconodules
use of art in the church for piety and formation of Christians
- Catholic,
Anglican, Lutheran (with moderation), Eastern Orthodox iconodules
- Reformed
tradition iconoclasts
- no
symbols
- PTS
chapel nothing is raised up except the pulpit
- cross
was removed in favor of the organ
- not a
theological change, but a post-literate age
- Charlotte
church message accompanied by presentation of art by a layperson
Wolterstorff
- one of
finest Christian philosophers of this country
- develops
argument for use of art in worship
- doctrine
of creation
- supports
liturgical and memorial art
- argues
for accountability and answerability in art
- argues
against disinterested contemplation (art for arts sake)
- 18th
century the Enlightenment tradition discipline of modern aesthetics
when Kant wrote his third critique (critique of judgment) gives rational
for taste, his goal was to find a way for universal judgment in taste (and
beauty)
- JDL
trying to make others like what you like in music
- JDL
a mix of 10 songs, unique to each individual
- when
art is no longer instrumental, modern writers (writers in aesthetics) are
freed from answerability
- worship
all directed toward God (musician, composer, architect, stain glass
person)
- sermons
and Bible study way of ignoring all other means of leading people toward
God
- not
preaching
- before
Protestanism other forms of expression also used to preach the gospel
- Scripture
words are iconic in themselves
- working
against modern notion that art is meant to do anything
- instead,
art, in the modern sense, is used to express oneself or to solve problems
within the genre
Straw Man
- this
dichotomy is setting up a straw-man
- is
there disinterested art?
- problem
the viewer doesnt always know the meaning as given by the creator
- artist
is not completely responsible for responses of the viewer
Art
- there
should be a direction where you are being taken
- same
with theological text
- allow
yourself to be instructed by the text (to add something to you)
Charry
- view
theology as art
- for
some, it is simply solving puzzles
- modern
art for art sake a product
- art as
a process instead of a product
- the
artist went through a process to arrive at this point
- you
become part of the shaping
- not
simply presenting it, you accept it, or leave
- Carmen
art with capital A, Justin Martyr with Logos, artist stumbles upon art
and truth in it all the time
God creates, we were created to create
Theology / Art
- Art
will never capture what is trying to capture
- Same
with theology, change over time
- Painting
will never be able to exhaust that which is trying to represent
TH 291 vs. PH 330? solving problems or an art
Calvin argued against the organ because people would focus
only on music
- JDL
music brings people into presence of God
- JDL
have I mapped this over to visual art?
not yet
Catholic view grace perfects nature, enjoyment of things
fits into this
Definition of art deconstructed
- postmodern
deconstructionism - all belongs in eyes of viewer
The Will
- Augustine
will is no longer propelling the body but the other way
- Calvin
same applied to art, humor
- The
moment that you are no longer self-aware then you forget God?
- Roller-coaster
analogy rush of the moment, once you realize the rush, then you lose the
rush
Pharisees
- like
the iconoclasts
- if
something could be dangerous for you, then get away!
- protect
your piety
Paul took issue with the Pharisees
- go be
with the Gentiles
- Pharisees
did not want to associate with pagans
- go
into them and make them like us
JDL
- words
used to define
- art
leaves room for interpretation
- intimidating
to those who want to control using words
- maturity
needed in assessment of art
- also
information overload due to text input