It's hard to understand what the world would be like without art -- it seems so naturally integrated with everything in existence, that I could hardly blame someone for feeling as if it's not so prominent. It's like the way I imagine being a fish. If I lived underwater, I bet I wouldn't really think of everything as wet.
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| If I lived in Spongebob's house, I highly doubt I'd be constantly thinking about the water around me. On land, I'm never that aware that I'm dry until I get wet. |
Because of this, I don't think art necessarily needs to be defined. If God created meaning in this world but left us without the words to fully express it, I think he's able to delight in a little bit of mystery. In fact, maybe art is good when it can't be defined. Art that can't be defined provokes thoughts, conversation, intrigue, or emotion -- which, even if that emotion is very negative, means something.
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| One of Benjamin Cohen's paintings, which is an example of art that makes me feel something different every time I see it. |
The book also says, "when you experience the meaning of something, you need to praise it" (122). I think artists exist because in some capacity they can do this in a way no one else can. I believe artists are born with gifts that enable them to communicate for themselves, but also perhaps for others. The fact that we all interpret one painting differently seems to be evidence for this.
(One final thought I'm still chewing on from this chapter is that each of us is a leaf, and that together we make up a lovely, leafy tree. I love this idea, and I'm still sorting out what my leaf might be. I'd love to hear about yours...)
I have noticed what makes something good, is also what gives something life. Just like the image of Benjamin Cohen's that you included, it is cool to find a single piece of art that is able to mean something different to you each time you return to it. That kind of work speaks loudly, and relentlessly into our lives. Just like the word of God does. "All truth is God's truth." Great post, thanks for your thoughts!
ReplyDeleteCan I say that I love that piece by Benjamin Cohen? Wow. It's stunning. Anyway, I picked up on how you wrote about art by itself being something indefinable, which is really wonderful, in my opinion. I am fascinated by the idea that our language can't actually express everything. One reason for this is that it makes things seem a little less serious to me, as if it's ok to not know everything because there are still things in general that are unknown. But also this concept maybe paints a picture of a big God. To think that he exists outside of what the English language (or any language, for that matter) can describe is pretty comforting to me. It also gives me hope for things that I create. When I can't find words to describe something, because it simply IS, the idea that art doesn't always come with words is very encouraging. Great post!
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