One of the most interesting, thought provoking, rage inspiring conversations I am want to have with fellow Christians is about the place of Christians in art, and the concept of Christian art in general.
note 1: There are men who have dissected this topic in far more detail than I am able to do here, so until I can write a book on it I recommend looking into them if you have the time and or passion, if you live near me you can borrow them. Franky Schaeffer (not to be confused with his father Francis, the esteemed mid-twentieth century theologian) wrote a critique on Christians in art called Addicted to Mediocrity that boldly looks at everything from music to bumper stickers (and there are ironic and funny drawings in the book too) and its just under 150 pages so its an easy read. The lead singer of Stavesacre, the Crucified, and Outercircle (mentioned below) wrote a book about being an artist in the "Christian-rock industry" (which is a sinfully ridiculous term in my opinion and the writer of that book agrees). His name is Mark Salomon and his book is titled Simplicity. For the really intense student on the subject (I don't know if anyone I know but me has been nerdy enough to read all three of these books, especially within a month's time) you can check out the U2 biography At the Edge of the World where the band is followed for close to a decade and they discuss Christians and their place in the exploration of the arts. You may not agree with all of these books (and if you disagree with me here you may not agree with any of them) but they are interesting to check out.
Note 2: this essay highlights artists I respect and therefore I believe they should be appreciated and enjoyed. Therefore each of the bands and books has been linked so you can easily get to them on amazon. It's kind of lame, but I thought I'd be helpful and might inspire you to actually check them out.
end of notes.
There deserves to be an indepth study on the progression of Christians and their place in the artistic world. I have neither the space nor resources to do that right here but it needs to be done someday, soon if I had my way. In a modified version of that work I can say that the place of Christians in art has changed dramatically over the centuries. As in the sciences Christians were at once on step with the rest of the world (or even more progressive than what was happening artistically in the world). Art was dedicated to exploring Christian themes in a creative and innovative manner. Creative minds were investing themselves into creating new works of art to be shared with the world, and those creative minds were dedicated to the best possible product, not just a product that was good, but better than anything else created. Things have changed. Rather than being in step with society Christians have become imitators of modern culture. We have been content to recreate and Christianize what is rather than to innovate artistic mediums. Consider how many Christian artists are presented as Christian alternatives to what is happening in popculture (usually at least 5 years behind the trends). When boy bands were huge and prepubecent girls were pining over Justin Timberlake and Nick Lache some Christian executive decided it was time to create a Christian boy band. Frank Peretti (a good writer in his own right) has been marketed to me as the Christian response to Stephen King. KJ52 seems overly fixated on Eminem. And DC Talk answers the question what if U2 and Sugar Hill had a baby and it became a Christian? I'm not trying to detract from the talent of the examples given, but showing rarely are they encouraged to do anything innovative or risky. They go with the flow of culture, giving a Christian alternative to what is carnal and popular.
This is not the best we can do! Art is one of the greatest tools we have to communicate our faith, deal with our struggles, gain encouragement, and find refuge in times of pain. Art is a gift from God, not a tool in the hands of Satan that we need to exorcise. If it is a gift from God, and we are his people we should feel the responsibility to produce and consume the best art possible, not settle for merely what is available. We need to call our artists to a higher standard. We need to subject our pocketbooks to a higher standard. One way to honor Christ is to be people who communicate our faith through art in the best way possible (possibly calling into question our choices in automotive paraphernalia, clothing designs and music choices). Art should communicate in a way that is new and interesting, that digs into your soul and shows you something that was lying dormant, that you can run to and be soaked in its warmth and encouragement, that you can identify with on a level that is entirely personal. It should convict your heart. It should inspire change. It should instigate thought and discussion. It should (in some respect) make you uncomfortable. Good art changes things where it is displayed and demands a response. We need to be interacting with that kind of art more often, and seeking it out where ever it is. Read an old hymn (A Mighty Fortress is Our God, or Amazing Grace) and compare it to modern day praise songs, in my opinion, often something is lacking from the latter. Those songs can stir the soul, not because they are played on an organ but because artist creativity is wonderfully on display.
Because this is my conviction I have decided to point out some art that has had this effect on me and I am confident will resonate with others as well. Check them out and look for your own and lets continue this conversation of searching for art that is innovative, creative, and honors Christ.
1) Stavesacre. For my money this is one of the best bands I have ever heard. I have been listening to them for ten years and their music continues to speak to me. I am encouraged, convicted, challenged and refreshed when I put on one of their albums. But I am never bored. Their lyrics hit on universal themes like depression, loss, hope and perseverance, but spend most of their time hitting on the greater themes of grace, redemption, and victory. They ask probing questions (one song lyric states: "I couldn't tell you why good people suffer, I couldn't tell you why the bad ones run free, God showers blessings on the righteous and the wicked, I only know that that covers me." Gives me chills), and seek to examine life for what it is rather than for what we wish it were (no cliche Christianese phrases used here). The Members of this band are artists who deal with real issues of being a Christian in a fallen world. Nothing is sugar coated, and nothing is trite or simple. They were a band that sought to be part of the music discussion of their time rather than to emulate it. If you like them and have some more punk roots you might consider checking out the singers other bands Outercircle (my personal favorite punk band), or The Crucified - the band that really got punk music into Christian ears.
2) Most music by artists who are Christians that is innovative is not as easy to find as the less-than-stellar examples of "Christian music." The simple reason is that innovation is risky and most people want something easily digestible. To borrow the from the milk verse meat model of truth most people would rather sip through a straw then chew. Or at least that's how executives see it. Executives who market to Christians are no different. From my research and talking to people in the industry standards of integrity are no higher in the Christian business world than in the real business world. For some its just easier to negotiate so they chose to live in it. Because of this finding music that resonates takes a little work. It takes research. Uneducated buying off the rack is inexcusable unless you don't have access to the internet (which clearly isn't you blog reader). There is myspace, purevolume and a plethora of other sites where you can hear music and google is a great way to search artists and read about them (interviews, bios, etc). Often finding music that is progressive means listening to musical styles that are a bit more progressive, which means adapting your ear. One of the great bands to come from Christian artists was known as Overcome. They have distortion and screaming but of any band I have listened to they weave scripture into their lyrics like no one else. Their songs are filled with encouragements and challenges, all born from a rich understanding of the teachings of Scripture. They go were many bands don't (lust, greed, doubt, etc) and use creative lyrics to communicate hope. They also have the most intense modern worship song that I have ever heard (I'm not using hyperbole, ten years of owning that cd it can still make me fall to my knees and weep). Granted all that is done through screaming, but why not give that a chance. The quality of the music and especially of the lyricism demands that we try and listen to something that is foreign. It does make me sad that a gigantic number of Christians have lost out on being challenged and encouraged by this band because they do not care for the musical style.
3) Often research is your only way to find good artists who are Christians, there are a few bands I fell in love with only to discover later that they were Christians (Attack! Attack! is an example of this, another hardcore band but a fun one with some nice lyrics and musical concepts). Many Christians have gone, what I believe is, the noble route and tried their hands in the secular market. I am not against artists who stay within Christian based record or publishing companies but I think some of the best work is done by those who are trying to make it in the real world. Not listening to a band because they are on a Christian label is the same as not listening to a band because they are on a secular label. Some of my favorite bands remain on Christian owned labels (Project 86 who is my favorite band is on a Christian owned label-buy all their albums and thank me later!). But my cynicism keeps me from fully trusting most bands who wave the Christian banner too high, not because I am ashamed of my faith but because I am proud of it. I don't want it being disrespected. This whole Christian music industry (that has only really had any life since the mid 90's) has created a strange sort of bizarro music world. If you say you're a Christian you automatically have a built in audience, regardless of talent or work ethic. Well meaning Christians want to support Christian bands, thereby supporting their brothers and sisters in the faith. This is a noble intention but there has to be more to it than that. In the same way as I want the best dentist operating on my grill I want the best artists to inspire me. Yes, I would love to go to a dentist who is a Christian but that takes more research than finding a dentist with an icthus (Jesus fish) in his ad in the yellowpages. Often the bands who are Christians and make it within the mainstream of music are the best we have to offer (the best within the Christian market are often those who settle to be in that market to be an encouragement and challenging voice for Christians, examples Project 86, MewithoutYou, and Emery). In my opinion the best example of Christians operating in the secular world would be Thrice. As far as I understand, up to this point, not all members are believers from this band. Artistically they are well respected. They dare to do things that are new and different, preferring to create a new experience rather than float on their past successes. Each cd is different than the last but they are all remarkable and all sound like Thrice. Thrice and Staveacre I believe are the two most commercially accessible bands I have listed. Dustin Kensrue, the lead singer of Thrice (who also has a solo project) is one of the best lyricists I know of. He is self aware of the topics and issues he hits on. His lyrics are deep and rich in meaning. He can make you want to rise up and change the world, and he can make your heart break, the emotional range is there in spades like no other band. They offer hope in a way that is refreshing and creative while many bands are all too comfortable to bath in cliches. In addition he is heavily influenced by CS Lewis which make for some great song concepts. Finally their lyrics are some of the best poetically, using imagery that is vivid and can capture your imagination if you allow yourself to do anything but listen passively.
4.) C.S. Lewis, The Space Trilogy buy these books and read them immediately. I am not being cute here! Before you even think about Harry Potter or Twilight again read these books. But be ready for crazy imagery, literary references, and metaphors (in other words, these books will make you think, which is an amazing and beautiful thing). Why are you still reading this blog? Buy those books!
5.) The most mainstream of Christian music I listen to is pretty much just Derek Webb. Admittedly I am not an avid listener. I only have his first cd but it gets regular play along with the other bands listed (often when I am in a quieter and more reflective mood). I started listening to him because my indy roommate from college told me that he looked like me and he wrote the kinds of songs I would sing if I had any musical talent. This made me laugh so I picked up the cd. Webb pulls no punches and says stuff Christians need to hear but often don't like to, calling into question our allegiance to our country when it contradicts our faith, raising questions of pacifism (I'm working through that one...), and dealing with what its like when you know all the words you're supposed to say but you don't feel any of them in your heart (popularly called hypocrisy). Check his music out and be prepared to hear a thing or two you might not agree with. That's a good thing! It forces us to come to terms with what we believe. Side note: most Christian theology was born out of arguments against wrong doctrine. In the same way we shouldn't be against hearing things we might not agree with, perhaps it will strengthen our own beliefs, or make us change our wrong beliefs.
6) If you are interested in really looking into a band that is progressing rather than floating with the tide (in addition to Thrice) you have to listen to Norma Jean. Norma Jean continues to surprise and thrill with every new cd. Their newest album rests on a new kind of scream/singing that they have flirted with up until now. They continue to sound original while most ever other hardcore/rock/metal band tries to sound like Norma Jean's previous album. Lyrically and creatively they stand alone, introducing complex themes and expressing emotions like few others can. They are also one of the best bands at creatively quoting Scripture (quoting Isaiah and Ezekiel is always a good way to go) which serves as a way to strengthen themes they are addressing rather than simply paying lip service to their audience.
7) I have an OCD kind of habit I have no intention of breaking: I frequent books stores, I can spend hours just looking around at books. When I am there I will spend a large amount of my time looking through the Christian fiction section. I do this to either prove or disprove my thesis in my own mind. My thesis is this: all Christian fiction is either by Frank Peretti or modelled after Frank Peretti (meaning it is a dark and almost scary look into the supernatural and the powers of darkness) or it is about girls living on the prairie (sometimes the location is moved to rural England or something like that but almost always the character on the cover is wearing a bonnet). I search through the shelves to find a book that breaks this mold and does something different. In my search thus far I have found one book The Almost True Story of Ryan Fisher by Rob Stennett. The book's cover tries to tie this work in with authors like Kurt Vonnegut, and the author himself also mentions Christopher Moore as an inspiration. He doesn't reach their level of brilliance or their depth of social criticism or satire but it is the first of its kind that I know of: a modern day piece of literature that does more than cater to the formula. In addition it touches on some of the subjects I have discussed here. The main character is a real estate agent who decides if he puts an icthus (Jesus fish, in case you forgot in the last few minutes) on his ads then he can get a built in Christian clientele and increase sales. And just like it would in real life, it works! He then goes on to attempt to create a mega church. Is the satire and criticism as well executed as someone like Vonnegut has always been know for? No. But it is the start of something good I hope. This is a book that raises more interesting questions than it answers, and I think that is what art is supposed to do. Bono would agree with me, if you read At the Edge of the World you will see that. My prayer is that we will become a culture that actively engages art rather than passively consuming it. Art can make our lives rich rather than just providing background noise. We just have to let it.
