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 art’s sake)
• 18^th 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 doesn’t 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