Further Rumiations on LDS Art

I only have enough time to explore two of the possible problems that I mentioned earlier, so here we go.

Problem 4: Not enough education and training of artists
This one could be looked at in several different ways. On the one hand, are some extremely well-trained artists who are LDS. But on the other hand, that level of training is the exception, not the rule. You can argue that BYU and the other church schools have enormous numbers of applicants to their fine arts programs, so clearly there is an interest, but quantity doesn't equal quality, and our programs continue to be sort-of mid-range as far as their quality. For me, I think this is a problem for one reason: the evidence of supply and demand. There is a market for the huge amount of banality peddled by Deseret Book and its imitators. To at least some degree that market is fueled by people who don't know or don't care that something themed around the Book of Mormon is not necessarily created with care, quality, or artistry. If we as a people were better versed in the arts and culture, then we'd be better able to recognize those who try to profit off of our devotion to the gospel without adding anything to it.

Problem 5: No depth of thought among our people

This is a thorny issue. If my blog had more that five or ten readers, it could get me into trouble. I worry that deep thinking, while not discouraged, is not always held up as a virtue in LDS culture. Many of the prophets were deep thinkers who spent hours pondering on the scriptures, but we, being the beneficiaries of their intellectual and spiritual legacies, are often given so many astounding answers and insights that we don't bother to think more deeply about issues. When you get the meaning of life laid out for you on a platter when you're five or six years old, it's hard to figure out where to go from there.

As far as your religious faith is concerned, you'll be fine if you take what the prophets say and pattern your life accordingly, but art needs to have questions, issues, insights, conflicts, doubts, triumphs, and failures. I don't want to say that there isn't depth in our ideas and feelings, but for great works to be produced, there has to be more thought put into the gospel than what I often see on Sunday.

On a side note as I hit the half-way point here, I don't want anyone reading this to think that I'm in any way criticizing the church, the gospel, or any of the Lord's anointed leaders. The church is God's only true church on the earth, the Gospel is the Truth the Christ came to bring us, and the leaders of the church are what they claim to be: prophets, the Lord's mouthpiece on the Earth. What I am criticizing is the prevailing culture of LDS people accepting gospel-themed mediocrity as art.

This is basically amazing

Yes, the time stamp is correct. My back hurts so I can't sleep. Anyway, here's what I'm doing with my insomnia.

Best invention ever

Good night. (hopefully)

Even more on LDS Art

I'm going to take the first few things I mentioned in the last post and examine their validity. Assuming that they're valid, I'll go ahead and offer a possible solution or two. I figure that it's easy to see problems with something; the real trick is finding effective solutions.

Problem 1: Lack of inherent talent among our people

Anyone who thinks that this "problem" is a legitimate one hasn't read President Kimball's talk or doesn't know that he's a prophet.

"As I have traveled throughout the Church, many times I have been entranced with sweet and lovely voices. I believe that deep in the throats of these faithful Saints of today and tomorrow are superior qualities which, superbly trained, can be equal or surpass these known great singers.

"Members of the Church should be peers or superiors to any others in natural ability, extended training, plus the Holy Spirit which should bring them light and truth. With hundreds of 'men of God' and their associates so blessed, we have the base for an increasingly efficient and worthy corps of talent."

Natural talent shouldn't be the issue with the poor quality work being turned out.

Problem 2: Lack of focus on the arts

This problem is actually a problem. Colleges want generalists, society wants specialists. Unfortunately, many LDS kids choose to explore a multitude of hobbies and activities, but choose to excel in none of them. Parents justify this behavior to themselves saying that their child is just trying to find something that they like, but the reality is that most kids are just trying to find something that comes easily to them or trying to pad their college applications. Once something becomes hard or something is expected of them they switch to their new interest. They're not doing themselves or anyone else any favors.

If we want great artists then we have let people specialize. The day of the Renaissance Man is long past. It's time for the specialist to take over.

Problem 3: Few full-time professional artists in the church

I'm not advocating that the church suddenly start hiring artists full time, but that practice has been a major contributing factor to the rich tradition of art in the Catholic church. Artistic greatness is rarely achieved by those who work towards it in their spare time. There also seems to be a general feeling in the church that professional artists are unable to keep their standards, so many who would lean in that direction shy away from it.

Here's the reality: you will find dishonest, immoral, evil people in any profession that you choose. Just because the art community tends to flaunt it more openly doesn't mean that you're safe from ethical and moral challenges just because you've decided to be an accountant. If you do the things that you need to do in order to stay close to the church and keep your testimony, then you'll be fine no matter what profession you choose. If you don't then you'll have problems no matter what proffession you choose.

Well, that's a quick look at the first three of the ten problems that I mentioned. I'll get to the rest in the next few posts.

More on LDS Art

If you're going to examine LDS art at this point, the place to start is with Spencer W. Kimball. He gave what is essentially the landmark address on LDS art and artists. You can read it here. In fact, you should read it. Go read it. Now. Done? Okay good. For the majority of LDS artists of the day, this became a major part of their inspiration/vision. I know at least one of my teachers who completely changed his career path so that he could help fulfill in some small measure this vision.

This talk is also heavily emphasized in many of the classes that I've taken, so most people of my generation are pretty familiar with it as well. I want to look at the talk and (working from a position of belief that the prophet is in fact a prophet) examine what possible issues are holding LDS art back, and what can be done about them.

I took a few minutes and jotted down several actual or potential issues with LDS art:

1. Lack of inherent talent among our people

2. Lack of focus on the arts

3. Few full-time professional artists in the church

4. Not enough education and training of artists

5. No depth of thought among our people

6. Unrealistic views of life and the human condition

7. No market for quality work

8. Intolerance for "black sheep" in the LDS community

9. Cultural stigma against real art

10. Assumption that LDS-themed art is bad

I could obviously stretch this discussion into a lot of posts, but I'll try and limit it to three or four. And of course, if you have anything to add, feel free to comment.

LDS Art

So, I've been thinking about a conversation that I had with a friend of mine many years ago. It centered on the fact that, aside from a few notable examples, there was a whole bunch of terrible LDS art (by art I mean anything that could pass as one of the fine arts). She's a painter and I'm an opera singer, and we both see a serious lack of quality LDS work being done in our respective fields. We decided to do what we could to create a renaissance of LDS culture, so here's my call for an LDS renaissance. I want to see some quality work done. No kitsch, nothing vulgar or unclean. Put all your creativity and craft into it.

For the next few posts I'm going to be talking about what the problems are and what we can do to fix them. We'll see how it goes. I'm not guaranteeing any conclusions about anything, since most writers agree that what you think about a subject changes as you write about it. I suppose writing is an essential key to lucid thought. Anyway, we'll see where we go.